lessons in the landscape

There are times when backing yourself and trusting your instincts are mutually exclusive. Yesterday was one of those times.

I left Broadwood at 1.30pm. These roads were windy so it took longer than the stated 59mins to get to Te Karaka Road.

Except I wasn't going to Te Karaka Road. I was supposed to be on SH15 via SH1. I was meant to be on a four hour journey and breaking it up half way by making a social call. 

I had a funny feeling that things weren't quite right, but I was waiting for a sign to

Whangarei where I would hang a right and be on my merry way. Except what I wanted before that was the sign to Kaitaia that put back onto SH1. I recalled the roads were bendy but when I had driven in to Broadwood (for the first time) I had a passenger and it was green on all sides with minimal signage. So I didn't think anything of it until I realised at the two hour mark that I should have been on SH1 by that time.

Imagine my horror when I finally tuned in to my GPS and realised how long it would take me to get home after already being on the road for two hours (4hr 47mins)

I had to backtrack to Broadwood and START AGAIN. This is after a frantic call to my friend to ask her to contact her parents that I couldn't make it because I got lost. Then, in tears, an embarassing phone call to my partner to let him know I was five hours away from home instead of two. 

I know what you're thinking.

Why didn't you use GPS? Why didn't you check sooner? Like, when you stopped for a photo opportunity at the car ferry that you didn't pass when you drove into Broadwood.

There is no answer. Only inert rage because I had no one to blame but myself, and a five hour drive and a missed visit because I could no longer afford the time to stop. 

If you're wondering what this has to do with yarn, it is to say that it is extremely well travelled! Thankfully this was after the Northland pop ups. My inadvertent detour wasn't ruining anything (except my own plans). Besides, there was plenty to be thankful for:
​
1) I had an almost full tank of gas
2) The weather was stunning
3) The countryside is calming when you are full of frustration
4) I still had plenty of time to get home at a normal hour and mostly in daylight

And if anything, the lessons can be applied to life and business:

1) Trust your instincts
2) Even if you know are following a plan, it's okay to double check things
3) Topping up the tank is important when you are on a journey
4) It's okay to cry
5) The time is not wasted if you learn something
6) Detours can lead to beautiful discoveries

​Safe travels!

Julie 
​X