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 had a great time in the weekend visiting the Viaduct Events Centre to check out the rally cars as they came in each evening. Those that can, drive in muddy and bashed up, bits of bodywork missing, and bits of vegetation sticking out here and there while some arrive on trailers.
I find the service as much fun to watch as the racing (a bonus being that they stand still almost long enough for me to draw them), each car allowed a 45 minute service before being locked up for the evening. In that time we saw complete front panels replaced, smashed windscreens and shock absorbers replaced and on the Ketomaa Fiesta a complete gearbox removed, and a new one installed. All done under the watchful eyes of hundreds of spectators and a scrutineer who checks and notes down the tags on each replacement part.
If only it was that quick and easy to service the Honda!
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