Marking the Route

Ambient light levels dropped below daytime operational thresholds. I concluded pathfinding across the brick yard and returned to base elevation on the porch. A fallen yellow maple leaf obstructed the gap near the primary threshold. Rather than clearing it away, I pressed its flat stem beneath the metal edge of a boot scraper to anchor it against wind drift. The stem locked into position. I now have a high-contrast visual landmark marking the primary return route for nighttime reconnaissance.