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When I plan a trip I’m looking for the out of the way, not typical, adventure laden locations. I want to find places that will inspire my creativity, most of the time my choices aren’t tourist location. Many of the times it’s the roads less traveled that peak and hold my interest.

While in Ireland these back roads also hold a bit of a challenge until you become familiar with driving on the left-hand side of the road in a teeny tiny car with a huge lorry (that would be a semi-truck) coming at you quite obviously partially on your side. While learning to deal with this heart-palpitating adventure you discover the safest method is to just pull over as far as you can and stop, close your eyes and hope for the best. HAHAHA! Once you get used to it you do somewhat the same thing only you keep moving and keep at least one eye open…and hope for the best. Eventually you do master this challenge and transportation fears become a thing of the past. Once this happens you actually start finding yourself getting frustrated with the “tourists” who you no longer consider yourself a part of. There is no problem wherever you are on the scale there is sure to be a pub around the next corner to soothe whatever ails you. This activity can be very inspirational and soothing and I suggest it at least once a day…the pub that is!

Beautiful flowers grow wild and “hedges” take the place of chemical spraying…so much more environmentally friendly. Spraying of chemicals or mowing every square inch of roadside simply isn’t done in Ireland. I’d love to see more of this be done in the states. Nature has a way of making things beautiful all on its own. In many places these stunning, tall roadside “hedges” are actually rock walls covered in plants…yet another good reason to have fear of driving. If you get too close to these walls you will have new “racing stripes” down the side of your car due to rocks leaving their signature. You learn to absolutely love these “hedges” because the colony of flowers calling them home is so impressive. The cracks and crevices of these walls host many varieties of grasses, flowers, trees and wildlife.

While traveling the countryside staying between the walls will be a challenge because beautiful ruins will be calling your name from just outside of site. Let one eye stray just don’t let them call both eyes off the road for too long. Stopping for a moment is usually the best idea so you can gawk in awe of the structures and their ability to remain standing. The alternative to choosing to stop is to have a “road hazard” giving you a reason to stopl. These “road hazards” will facilitate the necessity to slow down or stop and grab a peak behind the hedge/stone wall. These types of stops are my favorite! Who wouldn’t like to see some adorable four-legged friends?

I figure “road hazards” both on the driving roads or the road of life are a reason to slow down and really look at the world around you. Join me in celebrating “road hazards”!

Who votes for more “road hazards”! Me, Me, Me!!!