After covering this week's round of area autumn festivals I ventured down Railroad Grade Rd. in Ashe county. Up here, the New River is a winding, lazy water, and flows much like an old man in the morning--It takes it's own sweet time to get up and going. I did note the water level is way down. We are suffering a drought. There wasn't alot of color on the trees but I did round one bend and found a maple tree that was just being showy.