Categories: sightseeing
Date: 01 August 2008 01:21:49
A weekend trip to the Hunter Valley for me this weekend; I'm taking my last half-day in lieu from my overnight effort so I can, hopefully, beat the traffic and get up there in a restful and holiday mode.
I will be staying at the Crowne Plaza, which is a step-up for me from my usual stays: I prefer hotels/motels, as I like my own space, but I tend to go to the lower-end of the market. I had a buy-one-night-get-one-free voucher for a Crowne Plaza, so I thought I may as well use it. It does look rather pleasant.
The Hunter is known for its vineyards, but not being a big wine drinker, and travelling alone [though they do have winery tour buses], I will not be sampling a great deal of the fruit of the vine. The last time I was up there was for a church retreat with my old Anglican parish: I do recall a lecture and Bible study being postponed due to some extra time spent at the wineries. I plan to see a couple, where I hope to have lunch [or dinner], sitting and looking over the vineyards with a book in one hand and a glass in the other.
There are a few things I would like to see: the Hunter Valley Gardens, the Hunter Valley Cheese Company, the Hunter Valley Chocolate Company and Maitland Gaol [jail for our US friends]. Weather permitting [looking out the window I note the wind is whipping up and the clouds are rolling in...], I may look at some bushwalks and some time spent in the sun reading a book or two.
Looking forward to it. Hope you all have a most wondrous weekend too.