Mudgee, NSW, 27 – 29 September

The riders and their trusty sidekicks were Tracey & Mick Winters, Lyn & Al Munday, Brian Agius, Trevor McLeod, David Robinson, Karen & Rob Clarke, Maream & Chris Dietzel, Catherine & Andrew Campbell, Kim Moorey & Ron Tito, and Sally & Ian Paterson. 

We met at the EPIC Macca’s, Northbourne Ave on Saturday morning. Despite the chaos of the beginning of school holidays, a 3-day weekend and the crowds of people who attend the weekly Farmer’s Market, we got away only 8 min late (Ian and Andrew had a close watch on the time).  The weather was perfect, perfect, perfect all weekend. Lots of traffic all the way to Goulbourn but after a stop at the Big Merino and coffee (and Ian’s meat pie) we headed for Oberon along my personal favourite NSW road – Tablelands Way, via Taralga, Abercrombie River and Black Springs. The views to the east take in beautiful farms and the stunning Blue Mountains for more than 150 km. 

After a lunch stop in Bathurst and Ian and Andrew checking that their money was lined up in order of denomination in their wallets, we made a short diversion into the struggling Kandos and the trendy Rylstone before getting to Mudgee. Although we missed the Kandos Mountain Hoedown and the Duelling Pianos at Hargraves we enjoyed the last of the Mudgee Food and Wine Festival which had created a rather festive buzz around town. 

We all stayed at the Ningana Motel, located conveniently across the road from the Oriental Hotel, next-door to a supermarket, and around the corner from two excellent cafes and the Lawson Park Hotel. Needless to say we ate very well – in fact a bit too well. 

An additional building, part of the Ningana, was a group of single storey 1920s terrace houses. Ian and I, along with Kim, Ron, Andrew and Catherine stayed in one of those as there was no room at the inn. BUT this place was cute AS. Very vintage. There were lots of ‘My Grandmother’ stories being told. But with six people and one bathroom we were a bit worried. It proved to be a needless worry as the bathroom was big enough to accommodate a 3 on 3 basketball game! We survived just nicely on a ‘whoever gets in first’ roster.

Saturday was the big wine tour hosted by Terry, our bus driver and tour guide as well a teller of bad jokes and good old stories (he’s also a Ulysses member in Mudgee). Three wineries, one delicious lunch at Robert Oatley Estate with lovely bucolic views, three more wineries, a taste of Moonshine that almost blew Maream’s head off, and we were a bit rubbery and smiling a lot and it seemed everyone was suddenly SO in love with their partners! You should have seen Brian and David . . . get a room!!

One more overly large dinner and yummy breakfast at the Butcher Shop Café (great) and off we headed back to the city (sob). We rode just over 900 km and we all agreed it was one of the best weekends away ever!! Thanks Ian for your truly professional organisation and turning on the most perfect (did I say that already?) weather!

Sally Paterson (1st time report writer)