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've been taking advantage of the warm weather lately and escaping Auckland for the beaches of Northland.
This last long weekend we headed up to Waipu Cove. We had pretty nice weather, with the water temperature around 22°C so the days revolved around spending as much time in the surf as possible with regular pit stops to fuel the hungry hoards.
This last long weekend we headed up to Waipu Cove. We had pretty nice weather, with the water temperature around 22°C so the days revolved around spending as much time in the surf as possible with regular pit stops to fuel the hungry hoards.
Occassionally I obliged their requests but mostly I had a blast learning to catch waves on a paddleboard. It's exhausting work and I had lots of embarrassing and uncoordinated failed attempts which are all very funny to onlookers apparently, but it's pretty damn nice when you get it right and actually hook up on a swell.
As a result my sketches were generally completed while laying exhausted on the beach recovering from the surf (and at one stage a blood nose from trying to get out through the break).
Unfortunately all this great beach weather has had a major impact on drowning rates in New Zealand this year. For a small country we have an extensive coastline with some pretty rugged tide and surf conditions so it's always satisfying to be at a beach with a surf lifesaving patrol. Our surf lifesavers are all volunteers, and they're absolutely indispensable. In recent years their fundraising drives have seen them pick up some pretty cool new tools, just check out this Yamaha 4x4 Wolverine - I'm desperate for a blat on one of those.
By the way, the rocky headland in the background of these sketches is called Whangarei Heads. Legend says the largest mountain, Mount Manaia, was named after the chief Manaia who arrived by canoe from Hawaiki during the great migration (today the mythical island of Hawaiki is thought to be the islands of Tahiti). Fast forward 1000 odd years to 1984 and the craggy headland filled in for Tahiti in the filming of the movie The Bounty starring Mel Gibson and Anthony Hopkins.
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