Occasionally Auckland Sketchbook escapes the city to somewhere interesting — and close. This time the sketchbook got a workout in The Bay of Islands . Only 3.5 hours by car and a world away from work. The sketch above was made in down-town Paihia, it doesn't look it, but it is literally behind the main street. The view is the back of an old homestead called Williams House . I was attracted by the orchard of very old fig trees on the left that had me imagining eating juicy ripe figs. Sadly they weren't in season but it must be a fun place at harvest time. Right over the other side of the bay you will find his falling down old house on Matauwhi Bay. For a while there the water had a turquoise glow until the sun went into hiding. This is Pompallier House and Clendon Cottage in Russell sketched with my back to the sea. I may have used a little too much artistic licence in moving them close enough together to fit on my page so don't look too closely. Anyway, I have sketched Po...
We got the kids on their bikes and cycled down to Arch Hill for the official opening of Aucklands first inner city mountain bike track (perhaps 4 kms from down-town Auckland). It's been bucketing down here lately, so thankfully the sun was out long enough for a good turn out to enjoy the free sausage sizzle and a blast around the tracks. On offer are two tracks - one for the kids called 'Trainer Wheels' and 'Twist and Shout' for the slightly more advanced. I was pretty impressed – Nice work Auckland City and Auckland Mountain Bike Club!
www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/whatson/places/parksonline/detai...
Comments
Love the header of your blog by the way.