It is still autumn in Virginia, and we just had a light snow... so this picture feels just right! Still some color (you have lots of color in this pic), cold sky, some trees already bare. I love your title and I think this pic is so popular (LOOK at your download rate!) because it captures that "between seasons" time that usually lasts only a few days. Nice clarity in this shot, and the gold of that beautiful tree is carried in bits along the road and in the weeds to the lower right.
I think the title of this image is very appropriate. The road leads the eye further and the cool sky really gives it a chiil feel.
I would have been tempted to crop some of the sky and some of the pines on the right to let the full glory of the golden leaves dominate and give more prominence to the road, but there would be many who would disagree :)
I hope you go for more walks and give us some more of this beautiful countyside.