Now is the time for leisurely drives on roads where traffic is the exception, not the rule, down lanes that are quieter in the chill of deepening autumn. Most of all, it is the time for walks. Birds far outnumber people along our beaches now, the conservation lands and ancient ways never more appealing. A sweater and cap are becoming more necessary, and a dog by your side will only help you notice every squirrel and swirling leaf along the way.