8.30am at this time of the year is early for the sun. As I sat sketching, the colours in the sky and on the land gradually became hazed by the sun. My hands were freezing cold. The high neck of my stepson's windbreaker was zipped up to the top. I started with a couple of thumbnails in my notebook - using a fine-nibbed drawing pen:

The first two thumbnails explored the composition - what I thought I might want to include in the sketch. The third explored tones - the darkest and lightest areas and the tones in between. These only take a couple of minutes to complete but I find it so worthwhile to do them. By the time I come to be using colour, I have already solved the composition and tonal problems. I can enjoy myself.
After finishing the thumbnails, I re-drew the composition on Canson Mi Tientes pastel paper - this time I chose dark green paper. Here's the finished sketch: