500,000 Steps Seeking Sensational Food and Stunning Wines

  Friday 30 April An early departure for the Biddles and us driving through fog along the scenic route to Sydney. After many tunnels, which Flashy loves, Alyssa our driver, deposits Lady P at the international terminal, Patrick and Truus at the Qantas domestic terminal and then out of the airport to find a service station to top up the vehicle. Back again into the domestic terminal and to deposit Flashy on the footpath of the Virgin terminal with all the left over food and wine, baggage and hats and coats, while Alyssa takes the car back to the depot. Phew!

    Thursday 29 April Five of us braved the 4 am cold and fog to drive into the Crown Hotel and participated in a morning hot air balloon flight. Apart from the long wait in the bus while they faffed about chasing wind direction and launch sites and the call to arms to pack up Australia’s biggest balloon at the end, the flight was interesting. Like most things, the first time is usually the best and our Mareeba flight seven years ago was more memorable and with less fog, but we enjoyed the experience. Back home to a quick breakfast and then back on the wine trail with De Iuliis wines. A quick stop at the Lovedale Smokehouse to collect some smoked cheese and salami and we headed home to lay out the terrace table, groaning with cold cuts, pickles, cheeses and salads.  Wines were consumed, including the second bottle of sparkling shiraz, expertly opened by Tas without the previous eruption.  Later in the afternoon we walked up to the cellar door at Whispering Brook. This is about 50

  Wednesday 28 April A similar day to yesterday, with two wineries – one good, the other ordinary. Gundog was first up with six wines, most of which we liked and well presented by the attractive and knowledgeable woman running the cellar door. Photos were taken with the gundog statues before we had to leave for Audrey Wilkinson winery.  A very modern cellar door with great views. Wines were OK and well priced. In fact, the cheapest in the Hunter so far. Lady P took umbridge at the pierced ear, designer stubbled, 30 something that was leading the tasting. His imitation of Tom Cruise in the movie Cocktail , did not go down well at all. She was silently (and sometimes not so silently) hoping he would drop the wine bottle he was flipping and tossing around while walking to the tables. Lunch was at the Matilda Bay Brewery, which provided opportunity for more simple fare like pizzas and some craft beers.  Home reasonably early in preparation for dinner at Muse Restaurant tonight. The res

  Tuesday 27 April We have two wineries planned for today, all of which have to be pre-booked and pre-paid. Tyrrells was first up at 11.15 am and it did not disappoint. We were escorted into a private dining room in the old Tyrrell home, where we were treated to 10 very good wines and an excellent presentation from our host, Scott.   We were there for nearly two hours and would still be there if we didn’t have to go to Café Enzo for lunch. This turned out to be another good venue on another glorious day.  After lunch we went to Hungerford Hill for a very average tasting by a disinterested 30 something. Tas purchased two bottles of sparkling shiraz which came with a big label that warned of disaster if not chilled to 5 degrees.  Our two chefs got busy on our return to the house, preparing garlic and rosemary roast lamb with roasted vegetables, a fresh green salad and a tzatziki dressing. Many bottles of Hunter white and red were consumed over the meal.  A small disaster did occur wh

  Monday 26 April An efficient trip from Sydney to Broke to meet up with David and Linda at Bistro Molines. This well known restaurant is situated atop a hill overlooking the vines and was reasonably full, even on a Monday.  Duck and venison were on the menu and a couple of Hunter Valley reds were discussed and consumed before driving to our big house at Whispering Brook.  The old house is reasonably well fitted out and comfortable. A dinner of cold cuts and hot pumpkin soup with numerous Hunter wines completed the day. After dinner, Alyssa hooked up two laptops to the big TV and we all played a game of Jeopardy.

  Sunday 25 th April Today we farewelled our little blue Kona and swapped it out for the Kia Carnival which will enable the transport of both participants and their luggage around the Hunter Valley. We have enlisted the help of Roger’s niece, Alyssa, who is assuming the title of BB – bus boy and bar bitch – for the next 5 days to act as our driver around the wineries in the Hunter Valley. She is currently sourcing a new position as an International lawyer with a senior Sydney firm, so in the interim decided to accept the role of BB as a means to practise her international diplomacy skills on a bunch of old seniors, oft times grumpy and argumentative, definitely self opinionated and competitive – all this while frequently under the influence. International arbitration at it’s best.   The bus is secured (the Kona relinquished with an extra 2,800 kms on the clock) and we all head out to lunch at the Sydney Rowing Club in Abbottsford. It is Anzac Day so there were a large number for f

  Saturday 24 April We move slowly, reluctant to leave our floating home of the past six nights. It’s our longest ‘stopover’ on the trip so far, so we have become very attached to a life on the high seas. With laundry all done, the bags are packed, and we load up the car at the end of the Marina road after farewelling our hostess with the mostest and skipper, Sheryn Foord.   We head for the burbs, and Roger’s sister’s house at Lidcombe where we set up camp for a couple of nights and sort our belongings into manageable carrying devices – it is somewhat surprising how the belongings seem to have multiplied. Lady Penelope picked up a few items in the first week at the ‘Merrygoround Op shop’ in Hawthorn – clothing that in fact has been extremely valuable in the simply stunning Indian summer weather we have experienced and Flashy has now increased his footwear wardrobe with the addition of black dress shoes (for formal functions) and boat shoes (mandatory when one is on a boat). So th

Friday 23 April A chilly morning – 7 degs on waking,  but more blue skies and an expected mid 20’s again. After a slow start, we use the excellent bathroom facilities at the marina, which are a tad bigger than on-board. Sheryn heads off to a meeting and Lady P sparks up the hire car and for the second time this week, departs the carpark without paying. Maybe it’s not reading our numberplate. Flashy suggests going and complaining to the centre management but his suggestion is not taken up by others. Great excitement (for some) today as we head off to explore Manly. We go over the Harbour Bridge – been under it as well twice this week; and across the Spit Bridge – been under, over and through it now; and into Manly. We walk the length of the beach, which despite the glorious weather, is largely deserted, as too is the Corso. We have a beer in the pub on the corner and eventually end up back there for fish and chips, seated outside on the street. A nice interlude in the northern sub

Thursday 22 April Cast off this morning and heading back to go under the Spit Bridge back to Birkenhead Point Marina. The wind is up a bit but still a beautiful day just like all week. Flashy once more skippers the cat   under the Sydney Harbour Bridge – he is pretty chuffed but hands over the wheel when two islands loom in front and he is unsure which direction to take. We slip into our berth with barely a shudder and spend the afternoon doing a bit of admin,   then getting a wee bit thirsty we drive over to the Tram Shed. This is a converted tram depot with bars and restaurants of all cuisines and an excellent bottleshop and wine bar. We sampled a couple of cocktails and a nibble of deep fried cauliflower, before we Ubered to meet Sheryn’s friend Jim.  The location was Saga Bar, which is down a little Alley and to a nondescript door. On pressing the buzzer, the timber door opens and we enter what appears to be a film set of Raiders of the Lost Arc. They do however, have lots of coc

Wednesday 21 April Getting boring this weather and some exercise is called for as there is little chance of getting the 10,000 steps up on the deck of a 51 foot catamaran, even though it is three levels high. Flat seas, bright blue skies and mid 20’s again. We forego breakfast and prepare the dinghy to take us to the old wharf where we tie up avoiding the multitude of oysters encrusted on the piers and rocks. Flashy reckons they’d be Sydney Rock. Groan. A 25 minute walk up the hill on the ‘Timber Cutters Track’ brings us out on a main road beside the Seaforth Oval and just across the road in Burnt Street there is a coffee shop and it’s open. Really good coffee and a couple of ham and cheese toasties and we are off down the mountain to our very secluded reach in Middle Harbour. The ladies have ordered focaccia, cheese and such, so Flashy mixes up some dough and puts it in the sunshine on the lower aft deck. Our late lunch was complemented with an Orange Chardonnay and a French red

  Tuesday 20 April Another glorious day with light wind, blue skies and the prospect of mid 20’s again. Despite the fact that we swing through 90 degrees on our mooring, we haven’t hit the rocks or another boat. Probably because they have moved well away from us after a certain incident last night involving smoke. Breakfast on the aft lower deck and no hurry to move anywhere yet. As the wind is low, we headed out of the heads into the blue Pacific, eight points to starboard and cruised down past Bondi and Coogee, then back into Middle Harbour and up to Bantry Bay, which is a secluded part of the Harbour, surrounded by national park with only the distant lights of a few houses in Cremorne visible. We tie up at a public mooring, many of which are located in little bays around the harbour for 24 hour use and only have one boat for company. A lovely bottle of Gewürztraminer was consumed with the smoked salmon Caesar salad, including warm sourdough croutons from the BBQ (now gleamingly

Monday 19 April We are planning to go cruising on Sydney Harbour today as it is a beautiful day with blue skies, 26 degrees and light wind. We may stay out two nights somewhere. Flashy prepared omelettes to order for breakfast and settled in for some computer work on ARF cassowary historical works for Dave Butler, while the girls went for a 1.5 hour walk. The boat man replaced the nearly empty gas cylinders and we prepared for departure. Three hours cruising around the bays of Sydney Harbour, under the bridge and past the Opera house, in glorious sunshine. Flashy took the helm for a while and managed to dodge the ferries and quick cats, spot the yachts under power and generally keep to the correct side of the road so to speak. We picked up an overnight mooring in a little bay underneath Taronga Park Zoo, looking west to the Bridge, Opera House and the city skyline at 3pm. The Pol Roger accompanied the tapas on the forward top deck and the Aperol Spritz saw in the amazing sunset. The la

 Sunday 18 April Certain readers have commented on the lack of photos. Unfortunately, we are having internet issues, however Lady P is saving them up and we will give you lots in one hit soon. Checking out of the Hilton, we made our way to Birkenhead Point Marina where Sherryn was waiting with ‘Papillio’, her 51 ‘ Leopard motor yacht. . After unpacking and doing a spot of grocery shopping at the complex, we settled in for a gin and tonic. Some had a nap, another had a whisky. We then Ubered to a little Spanish restaurant for four tapas plates and a good bottle of Albarino, before returning to nightcaps and a reasonably early night.

Saturday 17 April   The road trip continues today with Flashy taking the wheel for the first leg to Leura. Lady P mentioned the fact that the car was a bit dusty and before we could say ‘canabolus fog’ Don had washed the car, topped off the windscreen washing fluid and deemed it safe to depart. It was a largely uneventful trip until Google advised us of a road accident near Katoomba. With some trepidation, we took her advice and by passed the town and avoided a 10km traffic jam. A stop at Leura and a light lunch at the Leura Garage for a salad and pulled pork roll and we headed down the Blue Mountains to Sydney and our overnight stop at the Hilton. A very different Hilton to pre-pandemic times, but a comfortable room. Tonight is our la Chaine des Rotisseurs dinner, hosted by the NSW Bailliage. This was presented at Fix Wine Bar and restaurant, walking distance from the Hilton. Their approach is different to our Bailliage, as we had three glasses of 80ml pours of wine accompanying t

Friday 16 April Lady P disappeared into town for a coffee with Harriet’s sister, Sally Anne while the rest of us prepared for a trip to the outer parts of Orange. After dropping in to see Don’s 89 year old mother, we drove to the top of Mt Canobulas and at 1395 metres, it’s the highest point between Sydney and Perth. Australia is very flat eh? We continued to Borrodell Winery for some crisp Riesling, soft Chardonnay and a spicy Gwertztramminer. Finishing with a cherry liqueur, we headed out for lunch. The Agrestic Grocer did not disappoint, with a hot tomato and fennel soup and a fresh Waldorf salad. Next, we drove to the scenic village of Millthorpe, where Cath and Lady P hit the shops and Don and Flashy went to Tamburlaine Organic Winery for an extensive tasting of Riesling, Malbec. GSM, Cabernet Sauvignon and their award winning Syrah. The esky is full so purchases were restrained and we returned home to wash the car and prepare for our Philip Shaw Masterclass tonight. The m

Thursday 15 th April We are planning a little more wine tasting today but are in need of a coffee, so we arrange to meet Harriet and Ray in town at ‘The Sonic’, the old Masonic building, re invented as a trendy gift shop and café. After coffee, a short walk away was the Orange Arcade, of historical significance as it was in its genuine attire – tired and well loved. We checked out the little German butcher with all his stunning smoked and dried meats and the local wine shop next door selling only locally made wines and beers. Then we headed up the hill to Ferment, a wine centre dispensing tastings of most of the wines of Orange. The bloke serving the wines was knowledgeable and friendly and after a tasting of seven wines, we depart with two bottles of Cooks Lot Shiraz. We are now carrying 12 bottles, collected from the trip and plan to drink them all before we get home. Some we will share with Sheryn in Sydney and our friends in the Hunter. After a roast beef roll from the deli,