The Missus and I went exploring a portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP) for a couple of days during the autumn color change.
This is the hillside across the road from the Purgatory Mountain View turnout. It was awash with color that just needed to be captured in a picture. I dealt with the sun by cranking my aperture all the way down, which also gives it the nice starburst effect.
It took us quite a while to go just a few miles on the BRP because we live by 2 hard, fast rules when visiting a National Park. National Park Service Rule #1: If the NPS made a road for you to drive on, you drive on it; it's there for a reason - find it. National Park Service Rule #2: If the NPS made a turnout, turn out, park, get out and look at why they put it there. We are never disappointed following these two rules.