an ordinary typical landscape

an ordinary typical landscape, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

We were driving out to Makara, over the hills from Wellington, and I saw a typical landscape. A land of hills streams and gullies once used for farming seemed to be returning to it's original state, even the power poles had no wires. To see two sheep you must go here.
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The bypass road

The bypass road, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I stood on this hill with a tunnel beneath my feet, looking at Aro Valley with various apartment blocks, and old colonial villas. And cutting a swath though the valley was the bypass road heading towards Wellington airport. Several timber and corrugated iron buildings had to be removed, and people were upset, but no one probably thinks about it anymore. BIG and colourful.

urban motor way with various buildings

urban motor way with various buildings, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

Traveling into Wellington and the road looks like this, and because Wellington has hills there is a long tunnel, a little further on. Look at the big picture.

mudflats with railway going south

mudflats with railway going south, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

There were no trains, the tide was out, and the clouds were rolling in. It was a good a time as any to take a photo, since I was already up on the pedestrian over-bridge. It's truly better here.

the road north with round-a-bout

the road north with round-a-bout, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I like any sort of journey however small, there is always the pleasure of exploring, so any sort of road, path, track interests me, even State Highway 1 at the Paremata round-a-bout. The best view is here.

rock pool, hills, village, and cloudy sky

rock pool, hills, village, and cloudy sky, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I carried my tripod through the grass cover and sand towards the rocky outcrop. I set the tripod up among the scallops, mussels, seaweed and crabs. I then without shame took a scenic photo of a rock pool and Onehunga Bay backdrop, for no other reason than just enjoying being here. Expansive View On Black

sand, seaweed and a road called sunset parade

sand, seaweed and a road called sunset parade, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I decided to stop being precious and actually drive the motorcar out of the city this weekend. North of Wellington there are village like communities dotted around small bays and inlets, usually with small fishing boats bobbing in the water. This one is called Plimmerton. BIG is good

plastic, sticks, netting, string

plastic, sticks, netting, string, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

I had returned for a second look, thinking that this subject would be better under an overcast sky, and without the shoveling and hacking around me. After careful observation, I could see that it took many materials to make a garden. It was not just seeds and soil. Maybe better bigger.

chives, pumpkin, tomato, spinach

chives, pumpkin, tomato, spinach, originally uploaded by Lester Ralph Blair.

On one of my rambler excursions I came upon a gate with a sign saying "community garden". There was someone carrying a bucket, I held up my tripod and asked if I could enter this interesting plot, and take a photo, she giggled but I don't think she understood my language, but she could see that I was possibly harmless and opened the gate. Here, for a more descriptive botanical view.