NEVER LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT

OVERNIGHT STOP AT NEWLAND'S OVERHANG


REFLECTIONS AT VERANDAH OVERHANG


ROCKY PASSAGE AT THE CASCADES


SKETCHES FROM THE FRANKLIN RIVER

Several years ago when I was young and stupid - well, middle aged and stupid, anyway - I went down the Franklin River in Tasmania with some friends. It's a great ten day trip in a World Heritage area, and once in, you can't get out or go back. (Except by helicopter in an emergency).

But we had a fantastic time and these water colours are to show you that there's never an excuse to leave home without your sketchbook.

Even though my book and painting stuff had to have a separate waterproof container, it was well worth the effort.

At one set of rapids we lost one out our three inflatable rafts - with everything in it. Luckily we managed to get the raft back again quite quickly - and for the next few days while rowing down the river, we kept picking up floating waterproof containers containing various items - including my sketchbook.

So, although everyone's got photographs of the expedition, I've got my own personal and unique sketchbook diary.

As Picasso said, "Painting is just another way of keeping a diary". And it's always great fun looking back on the sketches and water colours I did on the trip.

If you ever go down the Franklin River in Tasamania, remember to take your sketching equipment with you. And the same applies to wherever you go.