Left is Right

I'm getting used to the lefts around here. Left is which side of the road you drive on, wheel to the center of the road. Left is which side I sit on as a passenger in the car. Left is where you can people watch all the other drivers on the road. Left is for slow moving vehicles. Left lane is for exiting the freeway. Left turn on red is allowed.

The roads are so nice and smooth here. There is a bit of construction going on but it seems to only be a minor nuisance and before you know it you have moved on. Once I was thinking this is as well maintained as a toll road when my Kiwi chimed in "This is one of the only toll roads in New Zealand!" It was wide and high as we paved our way through hillsides and over valleys. Everything is quite modern here.. the tollroad doesn't have any toll booths. It has cameras that track the vehicles on it and you have 5 days prior to using it to pay the fee online. www.tollroad.govt.nz

I love the countryside here it reminds me a bit of the east coast in Maryland. The road goes through green rolling hills that wind you up and down through narrow passes. I've learned that everyone here accelerates up hill quite quickly and zip around as though they've seen the countryside too many times to be bothered. I watched the countryside blur past sadly as cars pressed up behind insistent on getting to their destination.

I've been snapping a few shots of our adventures so far. Unfortunately today the power in the house went out and I have not one but two flat batteries that need to be charged for my camera. Sigh. And the south winds have died down so it's a mint day.. sun streaming in and heating up the front room and it's only half past 8am.