Sunday, April 26, 2009

Off the Beaten Track

I was taking my regular route back from the grocery store. But instead of passing that corner I always pass, I followed my impulse and turned, onto - not just a street, but a treasure trove of sights I'd never seen before.

Isn't it weird how the littlest thing can make your day? (Okay, maybe the littlest thing makes MY weird day.) But I love how a new route can be a surprise. Sometimes I like to get out of town and follow my nose, explore, go where the road takes me. But I can't always do that, so it's nice to know I can explore locally: take a new route, try a new restaurant, shop in a place with an unpronounceable name. There's always a discovery to be made.

When I've got more time I'm going to go back to my new favorite street and take more photos. Talk about unsticking my head.

22 comments:

Katie said...

Cool truck -- very mosaic-y. Always good to get off the beaten track, as it keeps your brain a little off kilter and your senses awake to new things.

Tash said...

I know what you mean-the simple pleasures of a perfect photo. THAT is a terrific find - in NBC living color. (PDP hasn't been updating on my blog scroll...gotta fix that.)

Dina said...

What a find! Good nose-following!

sjan said...

Kind of like the Partridge Family bus.

cieldequimper said...

What a lovely colourful bus!

Cheltenhamdailyphoto said...

I love to do just that, Petrea. Find a road and wonder "What's down here?" You and I have the same idea... :)
Last time I did, I found a group of newborn lambs and had a great conversation with the farmer.

Shell Sherree said...

Very alive looking! A nice reminder to shake it up a bit from time to time.

Petrea Burchard said...

I might like to find a farmer and lambs, but I'll have to get out of town for that.--Maybe not, you never know! People keep horses in Altadena, there's at least one rooster, and I have a tip on some llamas.

John Sandel said...

"Okay, who ordered the Mondrians?"
…meep…meep…meep…

T Thompson said...

I guess the Partridge Family finally decided to trade in the old bus...

Vanda said...

Kinda looks like those walls where people paint over graffiti, except they do it in colors that almost (but never quite) match. I just noticed that the 11 Ft sign is backwards so the driver can read it in the mirror. How nifty.

Trish said...

wow, looking at that photo on my phone made me wonder whether I am coming down with the swine flu...brought it up on my computer and it makes more sense now (and less flu like!).

I totally get the feeling to turn down a certain street. Sometimes I see someone I know. Other times, like you, I see something cool. Sometimes, it is for a purpose. The other day, for some reason I went a back way to get where I was going and ended up rescuing two beagles who had liberated themselves, almost into a busy street and traffic. Saved them and made my day.

Cafe Observer said...

With all the camouflaging, I almost missed that it was a delivery truck.

-K- said...

Yes, I totally agree. I had a older friend once who advised to not always take the same way to work, go to a different 7-11, etc., just to get out of all the little ruts.

(And of course, sometimes the littlest things can make my day weird.)

marley said...

Very colourful, you wouldn't lose that van!

Christie said...

A color-block truck! Interesting. I wonder what they were going for there, or if they just couldn't reach any higher with the paint!

Have fun exploring, Petrea!

postie said...

So what was this truck for?

Ms M said...

Love the truck in all its colorful glory! Good find!

Petrea Burchard said...

Meep-meep. I'll be so pleased if that comes up in italics.

Vanda I noticed it was backward but didn't know why. You'd think the driver would know.

Trish: saving dogs. You angel, you.

Kevin: so do you follow his advice regularly? I need to take the different route more often, but often don't have the time. I can be hard on myself about such things.

Postie, I don't know what the truck is for specifically. Maybe for my enjoyment.

Shell Sherree said...

Hooray for Trish! What lucky puppies.

Mabel said...

I've been told, like a guy, I don't ask for directions. The truth is, like you, I like the thrill of exploration and discovery.

Petrea Burchard said...

Yeah, Mabel. Me too.