As Kelli and I prepare to head to our next house sit in Timaru I want to share 5 photos I snapped tonight in Opotiki.
I attempted to walk around the countryside but Jake – doggy we’re watching – ran after me. Undeterred, I hustled home, hopped in the car and cruised to the orchards around the block.
Imagine a narrow road sitting at the top of a hill, surrounded by deep, sweeping valleys. The South Pacific beckons on the left hand side. Towering mountains greet your eyes to the west and south.
I snapped these photos before sunset, as the fiery ball made way for the horizon.
Enjoy ’em guys.
The body of water: The Bay of Plenty. AKA, the South Pacific. Cumulonimbus clouds often blanketed the horizon, the product of moist conditions and strong updrafts. Yes; I am a meteorologist by schooling.
Lush farm land worked over by cows and sheep supplies the foreground. Dramatic mountains serve as the background. Meadows look like carpets here. Frequent rain combined with fertile soil make for perfect growing conditions. Local Kiwis say you can drop something into the soil and it grows on its own. After tending to gardens in the backyard I nod. Save some watering – Nature did a fair amount – all I did was observe growth and pick spinach, Batchoy, mandarins, lemons, grapes, parsley and basil.
I snapped this shot from the side of the road, beside a wire fence. Cows seemed to be prepping for the evening. None in sight. Look closely; note the featured image for this post. I zoomed in on this picture to establish contrast between towering mountain and ample green pasture. Blogging From Paradise fans may observe how I snapped multiple stunning shots from the same exact location. Turns out; this is one area where I could pull to the side of the road without feeling like I’d be run over by a lumber truck or farmer doing a Mario Andretti impersonation. They drive fast here.
Kelli spotted the billowing clouds hugging mountains after I returned to the crib. I obliged with a photo. You probably noted some 20 shots from this deck alone. We enjoyed stunning views every morning, afternoon and evening, being perched nearly atop a hill some 50 meters over the Bay of Plenty.
Which is your favorite picture?
