.au: cycling the hunter valley

i spent a few days outside sydney cycling the hunter valley region: hills, wineries, and beautiful scenery reminiscient of french wine country. i took wine school and reacquainted myself with some of the details around wine making, cycled, and relaxed. i also found out it was possible to taste wine (very small amounts + lots of water) and continue cycling. my favorite vineyards were audrey wilkinson and margan, and i stayed in a great guesthouse called splinters - how can you not like a place that gives you a cheese plate upon arrival?

i have a new appreciation for american and european roads, which are generally smooth and well-signed, unlike australia roads, which tended to be gravelly and mysterious, with no signs for miles (kilometers, even!) although, australia did have several signs i'd never seen before, for kangaroos, wombats, and surfers (i mistook the surfer for a snowboarder in my ignorance.)