Bay of Islands

Arrival in this part of the world is spectacular as you catch glimpses of sea and rocky outcrops from some of the highs and lows in the winding road that ends up here. The Bay of Islands area is as beautiful as it can get and there is one way to explore that cannot be ignored. The boat excursion. Deciding against some of the various over active choices, like parascending and swimming with various fauna at sea we plumped for the more sedate, or so we thought, trip out to Cape Brett to experience the ‘Hole in the Rock’ and spend an hour or so on one of the many islands in the bay.

Leaving Paihia

Cape Brett Lighthouse

The only problem with visiting photogenic locations in groups is the reversion to behaviour that Darwin would have readily recognized. Fortunately, being a large and grumpy individual, this does not prevent me from getting into the correct position for the shot that I want but equally I am quick to vacate those positions so that others can get their shot. Not so some folks who attempt to ensconce themselves and all of their immediate and extended family in position and who then require some vigorous prompting to allow others an opportunity. It is fair to day that I don’t always endear myself in over crowded conditions. That’s today’s rant out of the way, sorry but it is becoming something of a feature of this blog.

Look out Big Lad coming through

Hole in the Rock

Coming out the other side

Needless to say the ‘Hole in the Rock’ was a visual treat before some of us were lucky enough to be abandoned for an hour and a half on Urupukapuka, a picturesque island in Otehe Bay. Here I was able to dig out the watercolour box and complete a quick sketch before the boat arrived to deposit us back in Paihia.

Evening consisted of a pleasant meal and numerous applications of After Sun to combat the effects of a day on the ocean in hot conditions. Hope the snow is gone.

Michael's Sketch