Walk to Work Wednesdays

In August, New Plymouth organised a promotion to get people to walk, cycle or take the bus to work during this winter month. You could apply for a card from several cafes, and, each of the five Wednesdays, get a coffee for a dollar. Since I bike to work pretty much every day, I signed up and figured I'd just carry on cycling... but then, I hurt my back. It took a few days just to stand up so I wasn't doing anything for quite a while. The irony is that during this campaign to get people out of their cars, I've haven't driven to work more all year.
I'm on the mend now as long as I take it easy. I caught the last two Wednesdays and came away with this sketch of the inside of a cafe called Joe's Garage.

TROPICAL PALM LEAVES

Tropical leaves at Pukekura Park

PORCHE CLUB VISIT

Outside Len Lye building, New Plymouth

QUEEN STREET VISTA

Nice day to sketch the view down Queen Street , New Plymouth  to the sea,   with the clock tower in the foreground and on past the Len Lye Centre   MLB

Vintage Industries

Steve's Vintage Industries/ Lighting an internet based business now opening in New Plymouth.
https://www.facebook.com/EricksonIndustries/

Rocks by the Sea

Sketched by Patricia

Boats Boats

Through the fence near Port Taranaki

Rainy mornings in New Plymouth

More wet weather this week. This drawing was started last month. On a busy corner in New Plymouth, there's a cafe that looks out into the intersection. Since it's winter, it's still dark before work and the wet roads have lots of reflected light. I get a drink and sketch for about 15 minutes at a time. Now that it's August, I've noticed that I've filled up half a coffee card.

The Third Eye

Tuatara means 'peaks on the back',  It's ancestors are 200 million years old. They can grow up to 80cm in length. They have a pronounced photoreceptive eye - the so-called third eye.

It is unique in having two sets of upper teeth which overlap one set of lower teeth.  They are able to hear but have no external ear.  They typically live 60 years but can be well over 100. 

Giant White

An afternoon sketching at Puke Ariki Museum , New Plymouth. This massive model of a giant white shark  ( Carcharodon Megalodon),  which hangs high above the main entrance ,  is  an ancient relative of the current great white and is popular with the kids  and adults who can view it at eye level.  MLB