Sunday 11 December 2016

SH 16 woolshed

I've been promising myself for ages that I'd stop and get a photo of this old woolshed beside State Highway 16 which I travel when going to and from Auckland.   I invariably enjoy my drive along this road and have rarely, if ever, enjoyed the drive via State Highway 1.  It always seems to me that other motorists on the main highway are in a bad mood, rushing, not giving a fig if their surroundings are beautiful or not.  I prefer the road less travelled, a twisting, winding scenic road with big views of rolling hills, glimpses of a harbour and endless sky.  For a few years there were far too many logging trucks using the road but that hasn't been so bad lately.

In recent years the transport authorities have urged Aucklanders to consider SH16 as an alternative route north at holiday time.  Take the scenic route they say but all too often the motorists don't hear the warning about the dangers of a rural highway.   Consequently my road of choice is best avoided in summer at long weekends.  The one time I found myself heading towards the most unusual heavy traffic heading north on this road I was a wreck by the time I reached my destination, and I felt lucky not to have been in a head on car wreck.   It seemed  to me that on every other corner there would be a vehicle coming at me on the wrong side of the road, travelling far too fast for the sharpness of the corner, having totally ignored the road speed sign.  I know it is easy to scoff when advised to take a corner at 25 or 35 kph (about 15-20 mph) but it's best to do so if you don't know how sharp that corner is.  

I don't know why I went off on that rant.  Probably I'm already anticipating travelling to Auckland on Christmas Day.  I shouldn't be.  I won't be driving, I'll be going with my son and his family.  I daresay Auckland will have emptied of all those who are heading away for Christmas by then. 

Anyway, last time I travelled SH16, I did stop and take that photo.  

 Just look at the number of power lines!


A closer view.


Linking to Tom's Barn Collective.

11 comments:

  1. Isn't there a famous line about the road less taken. so you're taking the quiet back road.

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  2. Back roads are often best. Around here, some of them have become too crowded, also.

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  3. And in saying that about the roads, of course i forgot to add that it's a really interesting looking barn and i like your pictures of it!

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  4. I'm glad you got the photo. It is beautiful!

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  5. Now that barn has character!
    Have a great week!

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  6. This may be a woolshed, but it looks like a patchwork quilt barn to me. Around here, we would call this thrifty use of material, "Yankee Ingenuity." I so enjoy seeing your rural landscape and barns. Thanks and I hope to see more in the future.

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  7. Looks like a patchwork quilt. I am glad you travelled the back road and captured this wonderful relic.
    MB

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  8. I remember travelling that road with you and a wonderful journey it was too. As you say on SH1 one spends one's time wondering what demon is possessing almost everyone else on the road.

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  9. What an interesting building that is with those colors. Looks like a quilt. : )

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  10. oh yes, I've travelled along SHW 16 many times, especially when I use to take my teens to their orthodontist appts in Kumeu. Hav e you been to the gibbs sculpture farm? apparently it's worth a visit.

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