h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Yes, the winding road is a symbol of travel, adventure, even life itself. This picture captures that well.

This one reminds me of some of the roads we travel on through France, down through the Dordogne area. The white-barked trees are probably silver birch and the tall trees firs or pines.

Thank you for the comments, I am pleaed you enjoyed it and even better that brought back memories.

Great road pic indeed!

It is interesting the way it disappears in the foreground and then reappears in the middle distance.

And what happens in between we wonder? Well, of course the road just goes into a dip, but it makes me daydream about mysterious dips.

It does? It does. It is sort of like optical illusions involving horizons and things.

That wasn't a very technical posting I know, . but hey..

Thanks Bob!

Oh, a bit off topic I know, but you know how when the weather is really hot, you sometimes see roads like this with a water like mirage effect always just ahead in the distance?

Can those mirage effects be photographed I wonder?

Thanks CC praise indeed

Yes I know them they are mirages the same as in the desert not to be confused with the (dessart effect.

Its hard to get a photo you tend to see them whilt you are in a car.
Strangely in "my experiance" they are more commonly seen when travelling west on clear hot days, on black asfelt roads, and in the afternoons.

I have often thought to try and take thaie picture but its always on a dangerous road, you need to be a passenger and take the shot on the move. If you do try dont change your view point as they will probably dissappear if you do.

Ah heat haze. Never ever try and lie down to improve pov whilst on any road in Florida, the local police really don't appreciate artistic effort!

Is there another story behind that comment, FWR?

Yup!lol

Great article - I enjoyed that!

Interesting about mirages - I see them occasionally on the roads, but the best ones I used to encounter were on the beach. I have a feeling I do have a photo of a mirage from those days, as to the eye/photosensitive unit it did look just like water, but I'm not 100% sure as it is a while since I saw the album.

The memories of those days are quite strong, though, and of one day in particular where my sister and I decided to go to the water we had seen. It seemed deceptively close along the coast, so we set off in the baking heat and walked and walked and walked. I got a stitch and my arms and legs were aching, but we pressed on and eventually got there (I think it was about a mile!), only to learn the hard way what a mirage was when we found nothing but sand...

Ah right, ye people, thanks! excellent info! I could get a bit obsessed with mirages.

And I like the !! I didn't know that the strawberry smiley had a jug of cream attached. This is thrilling to me. I have no life.

That's very evocative, SashaQ. It would make a great start to a story. Imagine you and your sister journeying all that way, just to find out that the water you saw wasn't water.

I'd love to see that photo, if you find it.

Now I must go and find out the science of imaginary water, which I probably won't understand. Its maybe to do with hot surfaces and things happening in the air.

Things happening in the air??? Ah yes, I'm an expert scientist.

Strawberries and cream, well it is the closest smiley we have to a desert CC.