1996 WIMA Hawkes Bay Wicked Wine Trail bus load of merry drinkers en-route. This was the second Wicked Wine Trail to be held in Hawkes Bay, and as you can see the tasting not only happens at the wineries!

There's no better way to pass a Saturday afternoon than by sipping fine wine with friends. And there's no better place than in sunny Hawkes Bay - one of NZ's best wine growing regions. And when someone else is doing the driving you can really let your hair down.

And we did. We had wine, friends, a bus with driver, we had a good time... oh and rain. Well you can't have everything.

The bus was due to leave shortly after 1pm to allow those who were working to make it in time. So after all had arrived, and I'd dragged Tracey out of the shower, we left.

First Stop - Liquorland. It wouldn't be cricket if we did a wine trail on a dry bus... I mean to say. Then onto the fine establishment of Lombardii's.

Having 22 or so loud and raucous people deposit themselves for a spot of wine sampling must be enough to install fear and dread into the heart of the most hardened individual. But they stood their ground, served us well, and we left contented with bottles tucked under our arms.

Back on the bus, the music was loud. This party was well underway.

Next stop was for a drop of something different. Cider. Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control, we had to miss St Andrew's off the list last year. This time however...

Into the tasting room we descended to be greeted by 2 rather yummy looking guys - who were very lucky to be left behind. After the tasting and purchasing, a group photo was necessary. Allyssa was sent to sent to obtain afore mentioned yummy looking guys to add extra colour to the assembled entourage.

Back on the bus and off to the next port of call - Brewsters. A brief stop at the Camberley Diary to see John and buy much needed coke. Nature called "the boys" to the alley next door.

The queue to the ladies at Brewsters was long! How that place managers on only ONE ladies lavatory is beyond me. I'm sure that under our current Building Code they should have more. Must have found a loop hole.

While other's tried the local brew I indulged myself in a slice of moist chocolate cake... There's nothing better than a piece of groggy cake and cream for lunch!

By this stage it was getting rather difficult to persuade people back on the bus. What was once a dignified orderly disorganised procession, was now a continuous stream of "drips 'n' drabs" as they finished their drinks.

Next on the agenda was Ngatarawa Winery in Bridge Pa. Another venue we visited in our previous trip.

By now many "trailests" were feeling rather worse for wear, so only half of the group indulged in the tasting. Several were disappointed that the sweet late harvest desert wine was out of stock. Never mind. I left with a bottle of the finest red tucked under my arm.

We were next due at Parklands Estate (formerly Bay Classic) for some particularly beaut fruit wines, but as we had a fair way to travel and it was ONLY a minor detour to the Puketapu Tavern...

And what a relaxing detour it was. After some food, some pool and more than a few drinks later - we slowly trickled back onto the bus.

By this stage those who had been pleasantly merry were now rolling drunk; those who had been drunk were now pissed as newts: and those who hadn't been either were now well on the way! The scene on the bus was getting hideously debauched.

We arrived at Parklands Estate at 5 to 6pm. They had a 21st party starting at 6pm. Did they want to avail themselves to provide tasting for this extremely loud, drunk and exceedingly liquid group of (by now) unsavoury characters? Not in your life! Not that I blame them. I'd already made a beeline to the whisky cream fudge.

So now it was off to the Bay M/C clubrooms for the barbecue and salad tea, more socialising, and even more drinking.

What a day.

Jellybean