"BEER makes you feel the way you ought to feel without beer."
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Any idea who said it? It was, of course, the great poet, writer and elbow-bender Henry Lawson and it's a quote you'll find in a prominent position in one of the businesses in the main street of Mudgee, where Parade spent an enjoyable two days last weekend.
Parade wasn't sure what to expect of Bathurst's northern neighbour, but he can report the wine and agriculture centre looked to be in rude good health.
The joint was jumping last Saturday morning, when it felt as if half of Sydney had arrived for the morning markets and a takeaway coffee or 20.
Parade is used to feeling out of place (some people just have the knack), but it's been a long time since he felt as out of place as he did walking among the well-dressed window shoppers and immaculately turned out cafe diners who thronged Church Street.
Looking at the weeds growing over the train line at the railway station, Parade found himself wondering whether a special service will one day run from Sydney's Central to Mudgee to cater for all those weekend winery enthusiasts.
Far-fetched? Well, at one stage the Bathurst Bullet was never going to happen either.
IN OTHER NEWS AROUND BATHURST:
The art of craft in the country
ANOTHER indication that Mudgee is not like your average country town was the way the hotels advertised their wares.
Parade has been in rough outback pubs where you take your life into your hands if you order anything but a sensible schooner of VB, but Mudgee's hotels proudly proclaimed their extensive (and possibly expensive) wine list and selection of cheeky craft beers.
"We're not in Kansas anymore," Parade murmured to himself as he ran his eye over one pub's crafty collection.
Parade was once all but asked to leave when he pulled out a copy of the Sydney Morning Herald and started reading it in a pub in Broken Hill (there were pointed comments made), but he gets the impression the Herald would be quite acceptable reading material in Mudgee.
