Hunter Valley

Posted by Brian

Posted on May 6, 2008

Last weekend 7 of us rented 2 cars and headed to Hunter Valley, the wine area north of Sydney. We left after work on Friday. I had Niamh and Linda in the car with me. It was really funny because they were really giddy. Even when we got a bit lost, proving the theory that people who are lost have a natural tendency to go around in circles. It took us about 3/4 hours to get there, less than 2 to get back.

When we finally got into the hostel on Friday night it was fairly late so it was off to bed. Up early on Saturday for our day of activities. First was kayaking. That was about an hour or so on a creek (to use the local lingo). It was 2 per kayak but because there were 7 of us, I was on my own. I've been canoing a few times and never had a problem before but this time I spent most of the early part of the outing in a ditch or going in zig-zags instead of straight ahead.

After that we went horse riding. I've been once before definitely, I've been told about the time I went down the neighbours hill on a pedal horse and trap straight across the road, down our drive way and into a wall... sitting the wrong way! This experience was worse than I imagine that was. I was given the angriest bloody horse. This thing tried to eat other horses and even at one point started kicking other horses... all with me on top. At one point I wanted to get off and walk back. Then horses more kind of walked around with us on top rather than us riding them. When we finally got off I was in bits and delighted to get back to the car. Thats the only type of horses I want to be near from now on. At the same time though I'm glad I did it because there are some funny stories.

That night we headed for dinner and drinks but I took it handy enough because I knew I'd to drive on Sunday. The next morning we went off to visit some vineyards. After 2 of them we headed to Hunter Gardens. There we played Aqua golf. This was fairly cool. Its hitting golf balls from a driving rang into a lake. Then there was targets in the water and if you got the ball in a net you win a prize. Kieran and Aine both won stuff. Then it was back to Sydney to face Monday morning.

On traveling news I have BOOKED MY SOUTH AMERICA TICKETS!!!!!!!!!! Wohoooo.

The plan is this:

June 29th - Sydney to Christchurch
Make our own way to Auckland
July 10th - Auckland to Buenos Aires
July 14th - Buenos Aires to Rio
make our own way to Quito
Sept 30th - Quito to Madrid

After that we will try to spend some time in Spain but that will depend on cash. The ideal thing would be to travel to Barcelona and hopefully meet Isa when I'm there. So I still don't know when I'll be back in Ireland.

All 7 happy travellers at the Glenworth Valley place. We're smiling so its obviously before the horse riding!

Linda and Niamh in the car boot... should have left them in there

Niamh fell on her arse when dragging the canoe back in!