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5/08/2015

taranaki countryside

I have lived in some rural places in my life. A couple of them were on dirt roads, which is understandable when there are just a few houses in the area. There was even a dirt road that was a shortcut to work (it probably had a name, but I never knew it) when I lived in Kansas, so I'm used to dirt roads.

The thing that I'm not used to--and that still makes me giggle on occasion--is the fact that the paved roads in the outlying areas sometimes just turn into dirt and gravel. I imagine the crew paving the road using up all the asphalt and just saying, 'She'll be right,' and going home.

We went down one of those today when I left the directions at the house and we were just winging it, looking around the countryside. [I do have to add that Hubby remembered most of the directions he had written down. Thank you, Hubby!]

We started and ended with a street sign naming the road we were on, but in the middle--as we went up and over a saddle (NZ word for a mountain pass)--the pavement turned to gravel and dirt. It was obviously the 'road less taken' because the sheep ran away from the car as we rode by. After we started down the other side, the asphalt reappeared like magic.

I really enjoy these rides that have no particular objective except to see the countryside around us. The hills are amazing to me and I never tire of seeing sights like this:




I'm definitely not in Kansas anymore

24 comments:

  1. Linda KayMay 9, 2015 at 1:53 AM

    I do so enjoy are drive out into the countryside. We will be driving from Texas to Illinois in a week, and I'm looking forward to seeing the sights.

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  2. MichelleMay 9, 2015 at 7:18 AM

    That scenery is just spectacular!!!!!

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  3. RohrerbotMay 9, 2015 at 8:39 AM

    No your not! What an epic drive! So green and beautiful!

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  4. HettyMay 9, 2015 at 5:42 PM

    Dear Betty, Beautiful country side. Who cares about a road? This scenery is so green and lush. thanks for shearing. Groetjes,
    Hetty

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  5. amo sin bloggMay 9, 2015 at 10:19 PM

    Beatiful pictures !

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  6. YvonneMay 10, 2015 at 3:20 PM


    Very beautiful country. I can see why you enjoy so much the rides that are just to see the scenery.

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  7. Rhonda AlbomMay 10, 2015 at 7:17 PM

    Beautiful photos, and you are so on-target. Best quote from any blog this week (or maybe longer): "I imagine the crew paving the road using up all the asphalt and just saying, 'She'll be right,' and going home." That will keep me laughing for hours. I wonder if native Kiwis find it as funny as I do.

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  8. Karen @ Pieces of ContentmentMay 10, 2015 at 10:01 PM

    I would never tire of these beautiful green hills either! I grew up in a green mountainous area of Australia, with our farm far along many dirt roads.

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  9. diane bMay 10, 2015 at 10:59 PM

    NZ is a beautiful country.

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  10. Maude LynnMay 11, 2015 at 6:54 AM

    What a gorgeous place!

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  11. Anita JohnsonMay 11, 2015 at 2:50 PM

    Not Kansa, or Wisconsin. Wow! What a beautiful place! I love Dort road...but only when I know where I am going!

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  12. Crafty Green PoetMay 16, 2015 at 3:50 AM

    beautiful scenery

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  13. DianneMay 17, 2015 at 11:29 AM

    Evverything is so lovely and green over there. worth mozying around with nowhere in particular to go but just enjoy.

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  14. arabesqueMay 18, 2015 at 12:13 AM

    wow! such a serene and picturesque place. ^-^
    i could stay with this view for hours.

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  15. MariMay 18, 2015 at 8:45 AM

    Love those greenery. I can imagibe how fresh it feels there. It's an amazing huge scenery.

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  16. LindyLouMacMay 21, 2015 at 9:26 AM

    So much more interesting when a journey turns into a mini adventure. :)

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  17. carol l mckennaMay 21, 2015 at 10:22 AM

    What a panoramic vista! Great shot and delightful post ~

    Happy Mid Week to you,
    artmusedog and carol

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  18. AlMay 21, 2015 at 1:21 PM

    That is beautiful countryside. Where I live, when a road turns to dirt it's a sign it will come to an end eventually, usually after climbing partway up a mountain.

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  19. Pat @ Mille Fiori FavoritiMay 21, 2015 at 5:52 PM

    New Zealand is a spectacular country! My best friend's daughter vacationed there this year and I was amazed by her photos.

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  20. AnonymousMay 22, 2015 at 2:08 PM

    Kansas is beautiful! Am laughing too, the first time, I realized that we live on a road like this (moved last year, and was so focused on the house we bought that I even didn't see that there were other houses in the same street, let alone the asphalt - o rather, lack of it!

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  21. DougPhoto2009June 5, 2015 at 5:44 AM

    Wonderful countryside. Thanks for sharing.

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  22. PaulineJune 6, 2015 at 2:02 PM

    Love the hill country of inland Taranaki and you have captured it perfectly.

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  23. Sri KriJune 9, 2015 at 5:48 PM

    Love the countryside.New Zealand is the beautiful country.Need to visit to experience this less traveled countryside.

    http://srikri.com/

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  24. AnonymousJune 11, 2015 at 11:35 AM

    Love these green hills! Am glad you got out and shared your drive with us!

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