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...
After a very enjoyable ride with the kids around Narrow Neck, Cheltenham and Devonport we settled in for Huevos Rancheros at the excellent Five Loaves cafe on Church Street. It's well away from the mad cafe strip and has lots of space, bike racks and the area has loads of sketchable character — and sketchable food — but I just don't have the patience for food sketching!
Here's a shot of the Rancheros, they're not quite like what you'd get in Mexico but delicious anyway, the tortilla (would be corn in mexico) was stuffed with salsa fresca and avocado, with black beans, nice!
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