Tuesday 31 May 2016

Over the hills and far away

It's been a long time since I took Mangapai Caves Road through to the caves.  When I turned off down the road yesterday it wasn't with any intent other than revisit a drive I hadn't done for a while.  At the corner of Graham Road I decided I'd go that way, I don't think I've ever been up that road before.  

My timing for meandering along an unsealed metal (gravel) road was perfect.  There's been just enough rain to pack down the metal leaving a relatively smooth surface.  The road twists and turns ever upwards.  At least it did when I decided to turn back and return to complete the trip another day when I've remembered to visit the loo before I set out.  There are no public amenities out here.   

I only passed two vehicles and could stop often to take in the views.  This one is looking inland towards the hills of home:


From a different spot looking east, towards the harbour



I know I can't be relied upon to take photos of a straight horizon and I struggled to straighten this shot until I settled on the tree in the foreground.  I just hope it has grown straight as the wind would be a bit fierce on these hills.


When I first came to New Zealand all those years ago green, hilly country like this used to freak me out.  Literally.  I couldn't sleep at night  in hilly countryside.  I'd dream that those hills were closing in on me and wake up panicked, feeling I couldn't breath. (Isn't it weird that you add a k to panic to make the past tense?)  I'd yearn for the wide open harsh dry flat countryside of Queensland's north west.


Now I can't imagine living anywhere else.

18 comments:

  1. Lovely views but yes I can imagine it being difficult to be sure one is getting the horizon in the right place when taking a photo! :)

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    1. No matter how hard I concentrate I never get the horizon straight. I even have difficulty when using grid lines. Guess I just have a crooked eye.

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  2. Hills and mountains thrill me, living in a flat swamp. Your area would be a lovely place to live.

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    1. Yes, it is a great place to live but beauty is everywhere, don't you find?

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  3. I have always preferred hilly country. Plenty of dips and hollows when I get caught short.

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    1. One advantage to being a male, Adrian.

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  4. What a beautiful and precious countryside and I am glad that you realize that!!

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    1. Oh, I do, Tabor. And I give thanks that I have more time for exploring more of it now that I'm retired. It gives me great pleasure to roam the backroads.

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  5. You chose a beautiful place to live.

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    1. Strangely, it wasn't chosen for its beauty but the quality of the soil. Farmers are weird people, Red.

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  6. Your countryside is just beautiful Pauline, from one who knows the harsh brown reality of Queensland. We are entering what is going to be a particularly fierce dry Winter, already pumping water and feeding cattle! I shall enjoy your glorious green scenery.

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  7. I recognize those hills and landscapes, have travelled through there many times :-(

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  8. It's strange isn't it Pauline what we are or get used to. I can't imagine living far from the sea and as for not having hills and mountains to live by that would really freak me out.

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  9. Hello Pauline,

    Now that is beautiful scenery, just caught up with your last couple of posts re the photo use!!! Unbelievable bad manners on someone's part, most likely thought they wouldn't be found out.

    Happy days.
    Bev.

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  10. OH, how beautiful! I LOVE these photos, how I long to see New Zealand! Listen, I am convinced that for me, one of my legs is shorter than the other, my horizon is always crooked! (Richard's is always just right!!)

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  11. Glorious countryside...it makes one's heart sing. :)

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  12. I think you live in a gorgeous area! I would have struggled with the change too. I think I would miss the ocean most!

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