Jolly Valley

Hunter Valley is a place where many dreams turn to mushy moments of slushy slurs. Where words fail you and actions often maim you. Imagine a place where there is nothing on your breakfast, lunch or dinner's menu but a glass of classy wine, a plate reflecting rosy cheeks and broad smiles and you'd probably find yourself here. I'd never been on a wine tasting trip before and I thank Philippa, Lorrie and Zaid for putting the whole thing together, and to Lynda and April for inviting us onto it. The trip started with a pleasant, two and a half hour train trip northwards up the coast to Maitland where Adam and I were picked up from the train station. We weren't exactly sure we were in the right place to start with. The three old fashioned clocks that hung on the wall and told us the times of the few trains that went there, made us feel like we'd somehow been chucked into a time machine and strewn back a good hundred years or so. It was a bank holiday and nothing was open. Not that there seemed to be many things that could have been open. We hopped in the car and drove up to the house we were staying in. A beautiful cottage-like-place with a pool in the front and vineyards round the back, travelling off for as far as the eye could see. The night approached with stars a plenty and made for a gorgeous first evening. Day two was fun. The plan was to go bushwalking and the place was a supposed two hour drive further up the coast. It probably would have taken just that, were it not for the fact that the last fifty kilometres were all off road. Meandering round prominent rocks like as if it were a rally course and plunging through fords eventually meant it took us a total of four hours to get there. Philippa displayed some smooth driving skills whilst simultaneously playing a game Adam suggested called "Hey Cow!" The objective being to call the attention of random cows by the side of the road (and some on them) by shouting "HEY COOOOW!!!!" at the tops of our voices. By the end of the drive, we were all pros and I'm sure the cows were getting rather annoyed at being pulled away from their grass consuming activities. Terrance - Philippa's car - deserved many plaudits for holding up through the bumps and bashes it received and also putting up with the pumping tunes we subjected it to. Well done Terrance! Zaid's car also received a bit of a drubbing and both cars' mud ridden sides made them look like twins by the end of the trip. After all that, we actually only got one hours worth of bushwalking done, but the day was fully worth it. The evening was embellished with wine and laughs and tales a plenty and served well as a preparation for what was to come the next day. Day three turned out to be the day of a life time. I woke up with a horrid hangover. Great. Just what I needed to start a wine tasting tour! The tour was not what I expected. I'd heard of it being like this, but just didn't expect it to be true! The first place set the tone for the rest. As we walked into the barn-like establishment with a large baril to our left, a gentleman welcomed us from behind a counter, propped up on two cases displaying the type of vine their grapes came from. He pulled out six glasses and started with the bubbly, proudly describing it as if it were his latest art piece. From that came the whites and then the reds. Six sips later and smiles on our faces were already evident. Most were lovely, but there was a jug that you could tip the ones you didn't like away... which didn't happen too often I must say. Eventually, we went to eight or nine different wineries, tried about six to eight different wines in each place and even threw in a quick trip to the pub where April, Philippa and I simultaneously ended up falling over each other at the door... before we got in! Admittedly, I did challenge them both to lean up against me as I attempted to prove that I'd be able to support them from either side. Not a good idea as on-lookers stared in bewildered amazement. When we left, Adam threw himself into a bush and we all piled in on top of him. The experience was a magnificent one and it couldn't have been done if Lynda hadn't offered to be designated driver for the day. For that, I'm sure everyone on the trip would undoubtedly join me in extending our grandest and warmest thanks to her. And Lynda, if you're reading this, we owe you one! Big time. Anything you want? Just shout... well, within reason of course ;-) Thanks also to Philippa for booking the van. To Lorrie for organising foods, trips and accommodation, and also for just being Lorrie. Zaid for being Adam, Adam for being April and April for... well, being the gorgeous, smiling, birthday girl that she was. I don't think I've ever met such a variety of folk that all got together, knowing very little of each other, and managed to part, feeling like they were bordering family-like status. Frickin Rock Awesome!!