Off the Beaten Track
By Val
@valmnz (17095)
New Zealand
July 18, 2016 1:54am CST
Some of the best experiences in life can be found away from the crowds, in places little visited by others. I'm a great fan of leaving the main road and exploring the back country, where life is still at a slower pace, and city life seems like something from another world.
I'm currently reading a book by a New Zealand woman who cycled 5000 kilometres alone through South America. The book is called, 'Llamas & Empanadas' by Eleanor Meecham and is published by Penguin.
It's a remarkable story of a woman cycling alone and her determination to not give in when the going gets tough. I can't say I'd ever be brave enough to have an adventure like that, but I do like the thought of getting off the beaten track, exploring areas sometimes considered more remote. There's always plenty of natural beauty to be found.
The photo here is of the Pohongina Valley in the Manawatu region of New Zealand's North Island. It's part of an area I love to escape to from time to time.
18 people like this
20 responses
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
18 Jul 16
Don't you think that white embankment is an earthquake fault, Ms. Val?
2 people like this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
18 Jul 16
@valmnz Ah okay, Ms. Val. It seemed like a fault to me plus the act that NZ is earthquake-prone (though it's in the South Island).
1 person likes this
@valmnz (17095)
• New Zealand
19 Jul 16
@sunrisefan we have plenty of earthquakes up here too
1 person likes this
@Inlemay (17712)
• South Africa
18 Jul 16
@valmnz most of Africa is not on any tourist agenda except Egypt, Kenya and maybe Zanzibar, and of course the ones on our borders Namibia, Mozambique and Botswana - Zimbabwe is long off a tourist destinations and everything higher poses great faction fighting if visited. So his visit on his bicycle to the coastal countries that circumference Africa was very interesting indeed and his strife to get VISA's, what he had to eat, and how he starved in some places as the locals do. It took him two years but I loved the read!
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
18 Jul 16
I just read about an old man nearly 80 years old doing a 800 km walk in France.
he did it for charity.
He retired after 65, and before that he did not exercise much.
Now he is very keen in walking, cycling and other outdoor activities.
I think having time and money are necessary to pursue a passion.
1 person likes this
@epiffanie (11327)
• Australia
18 Jul 16
That is an awesome photo! .. I also love places away from the crowds ..I am tree hugger 
I would love to be more adventurous but I don't think I would be as adventurous as that lady who went cycling on her own outside her country. But I am glad there are people like her who can share their adventures by writing books .. very brave woman 
..
I would love to be more adventurous but I don't think I would be as adventurous as that lady who went cycling on her own outside her country. But I am glad there are people like her who can share their adventures by writing books .. very brave woman ..1 person likes this
@epiffanie (11327)
• Australia
19 Jul 16
@valmnz It is indeed! . Reading takes us to places we will never go and introduce us to people we'll never meet .. how cool is that?..
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
18 Jul 16
on foot perhaps, or on a horse, I cant imaging biking all that!
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502729)
• Italy
18 Jul 16
Just like you, I prefer to visit non tourist places. Even when we visited the Caribbean Islands we never choose to stay in a resort, but we always try to find a small hotel where locals go and enjoy their small restaurants and visit the real country.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
18 Jul 16
i admire that woman fer takin' such a trek 'n then bein' able to write'f her journeys so that others could do such through her eyes. i'm with ya, aint one much fer crowds 'n those off-beaten paths suit my fancy jest fine :) what a lovely place ya shared with's here.
1 person likes this
@xFiacre (14794)
• Ireland
18 Jul 16
@valmnz It was a lone Irish women cycling from Dublin to Delhi that inspired me to travel. My father had her book Full Tilt in the early 60s and he enthused about it a lot and that fired my imagination. She's since written a lot of very interesting travel books and I even got to have dinner with her in the early 80s a few times. Dervla Murphy is her name.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
18 Jul 16
That looks like a quiet and peaceful away from people and noise.
1 person likes this
@responsiveme (22923)
• India
19 Jul 16
Beautiful photo.I love great escapes into nature.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
20 Jul 16
I do enjoy going off the beaten track from time to tome.
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
19 Jul 16
You are right-there is plenty of beauty if we take the time to look.
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
12 Aug 16
It's beautiful. I can see why you would want to escape there.
@chrisandmark (606)
• United Kingdom
28 Jul 16
I watched a fascinating programme on TV last night about the 'wilderness' areas of New Zealand - it looks such a beautiful country
@BettyB (4117)
• Summerville, South Carolina
21 Jul 16
Nature can paint a prettier picture than any number of artists. It can be breathtaking.
