When I was very young, many Sunday afternoons were spent piled into the back of an olive-drab Pontiac Ventura with my brother as my dad and mom took us on a drive.
Sometimes we would pack a picnic lunch, and a cooler of drinks. We kids never knew where we were going, and most of the time there wasn’t a specific destination… the fun was in the going, not in the arriving.
There was no air conditioning, so we’d roll down all the windows to get a breeze flowing through the car. The back window ledge was wide and deep enough, and I was small enough, that I would crawl up into the window to watch behind us and where we’d been. (That was back in the day with there were no back seat belts or car seat laws. With gas at about 36¢ a gallon, driving around for a few hours cost less than $3.)
When I go on my photo trips, most of the time I have no real plan for where I want to go. Usually I just jump in my car (snapping on my seat belt) and drive (spending closer to $3 a gallon for gas and not per trip).
It’s when I’m on these unscripted journeys, that I often find the most wonderful surprises.
“A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.” ~ Lao Tzu
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Serendipity is the best companion, correctamundo? Love the vibrance in these photos. Happy New Year, m’luv!
I remember rides when we were kids. Out in the country. Sitting in the sun in the back seat and falling asleep under the gentle warmth seeping through the glass.
Thanks. I needed that.
Love these photos Tara…especially the bridge and the sand dune cross. Sweet story….the those car rides sometimes. Happy New Year Tara…
wow, what amazing shots! I love the ocean one and the cross on the sand dune! Great pictures! I will have to go check on Sunday in my city!
With bustling through airports and “hurry-up and get there” mentality, it is so true that we forget it can be all about the journey.
Oh man..that second photo? print it and frame it. I just love it! I could spend all day there. Happy New Year!
I love this post Tara! Mostly because that’s what I do too, just get in the car, go without a plan or destination and just sort of feel my way. I find that essential to the excitement … that alive feeling of the unknown.
I read somewhere the other day that people who travel a lot (like backpackers and world wanderers) are addicted to that aliveness and live for it … I could totally relate.
(Love all of you shots, the cross on the hill was my fave)
Love the pier with the water – what stunning colors!
The bridge leading to the gorgeous blue water is so inviting– and gorgeous. Thanks for sharing.
Wishing you a wonderful and healthy 2011!
Happy SIMC, jj
The first 2 shots are stunning – for different reasons – almost opposites of each other!
Gorgeous shots, as always. I’m one of your biggest fans!
However you do it, you do a great job of finding those photos. Gas was $3.15 here at Costco today… definitely no more long Sunday drives like my parents used to take me on either. Then again, I don’t think we have “time” for those anymore either ;)
The whole set is gorgeous! Especially love the cross on the hill.
I love all of your shots this week. But, the ocean is my fave.
Beautiful shots! I love the ocean!
Your photos are always, always a delight. Happy New Year! Here’s to a year of good traveling with no fixed plans.
What a lovely memory and your photos are stunning.
i’m drooling over your blue sky in the second shot…
and i love that quote.
That’s a beautiful and uplifting array of photos. I always enjoy seeing what you see through your lens.
I love that quote!! love love it! I feel that way too. I find the best things in life happen when you least expect them to and when you don’t plan, on the regular days! Happy New Year to you! hope it treats you well! this is a great set, and my fav is def the one with the cross!
The cross on the sand mountain is absolutely gorgeous. That one really struck me!!!!
All of your photos are beautiful. The boardwalk bridge to the beach is breathtaking.
Love love love the cat-tails!! I always love those!! I’m so jealous that you live where you can take a photo walk every week. It gets so bitingly cold here, taking out my lenses isn’t always the smart thing to do. I’m going to make a concerted effort this year to do it more often, though!!
Amazing shots again. We used to do those drives too… :)
Happy New Year!
How very beautiful Tara : ) This made me want to go for a drive today! Too bad I have about 6 weeks of paperwork to do : (
LOVE your captures and the memory you shared : )
What a pleasure it was to sit in the back of the station wagon and watch the world go by. Lovely photos, lady!
I love the shot of the little wooden bridge!!
I remember getting up onto the back ledge in the car too. Good times!
It’s too bad that in today’s day and age, there are less trips on which it’s just the journey that’s the fun part.
Gorgeous pictures as always Tara!! The sand in one of the shots looks like snow! My favorite today has got to be the board walk with the blue sky and ocean. I miss summer!!! Happy New Year!
I filled up my car for the first time when I was 17 for $.67 a gallon. On New Years Eve I filled up for over $ 3. Craziness!