Throw the Dart

The previous topic was rather serious. So today I will take a more lighthearted approach. Several years ago there was a reoccurring story on one of the news stations where the reporter would take a dart and throw it at a map of the United States. Then he would travel to the spot and find a story.

Darts. Photo by John;  (CC BY 2.0)

I don’t have those kinds of resources but I can figuratively throw the dart at Google Maps in its Street View mode. Then I can pop onto a random spot and take a look around. I haven’t developed stories on any of these locations but I am enjoying them simply for their inherent beauty. Some of the locations are stark and empty, while others are busy and urban. Some are classically scenic while others need some time to appreciate.

Open the images, take a look around and imagine what it might be like to stand in each of these places. I used to do something similar many years ago when I was a kid with my books of maps. Now I can repeat this photographically.

In future postings I may borrow from that same idea the news station developed to put my research skills to their ultimate test, and try to create stories from random spots. Today, however, let’s derive simple joy from the images alone.


What is the most interesting thing you can find?

  • Did you find the row of parked motorcycles?
  • An approaching car in the distance with its headlights on?
  • Where does it seem to be trash day?
  • Or a thunderstorm brewing on the horizon?
  • Did you see the pole with the zebra stipes?
  • How about the school crossing sign in a most inexplicable place?
  • There’s a recycling center, with a tractor?
  • Why is the bicyclist riding under the power line?
  • Are you sure it’s a road?
  • Is there an 18 Wheeler riding your tail?

Latham, Kansas, USA


Salford, England, UK


Duinkerkenbrug / Winschoterweg, Netherlands


Gunbar, New South Wales, Australia


Inagi City, Japan


Gueishan Township, Korea Taiwan


Bay of Plenty, New Zealand


Chinook, Montana, USA


Quart, Valle d’Aosta, Italy


McCrae’s Brae, Northern Ireland, UK


Humboldt, Iowa, USA

Comments

2 responses to “Throw the Dart”

  1. Randolph Clark Avatar
    Randolph Clark

    What are the coordinates for the Gueishan Township one. Are you sure it’s not Taiwan?

    1. Twelve Mile Circle Avatar

      You are absolutely correct, Randolph. It’s Taiwan. I must have had a brain hiccup while I was typing yesterday evening. See kids, here’s a perfect example of why people shouldn’t be allowed to drink and type. Yeh, I wish I could blame it on the single beer I had while working on the post. Sadly, it was a failure of the stuff between my ears rather than the alcohol.

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