Canberra Capers Weekend 11 & 12 July 2020
20 July 2020 / Words: William (Bill) Short; Photos Bryan Shedden
Well, the web page advertising this run basically contains the story of the weekend and that is basically what we did.
The web page advertising also has a photograph of a shrine with King Arthur’s sword stuck into a pork knuckle with sacrificial offerings beside it and a wishing well size container of beer beside it. Based upon the story and photograph, I assumed that we were on a pilgrimage to the shrine.
Jan & I were late signing on for the run and this was our first overnight run with the Club.
The trip was based upon Bryan Shedden’s previous trips to Canberra and had been in the planning stage for over 12 months. After overcoming COVID-19 restrictions and finding establishments that would cater for our number we were all set to go.
After some of us had something to eat at Hungry Jack’s, thirteen members in three NC’s and four ND’s set off with tops up (it was raining) to our first stop taking back roads that included Jamberoo Mountain Road, through Robertson (there were no MX-5’s at Moonacres) and onto the back roads again through Bundanoon to the Wingello Village Store. More food and coffee!
It was cool but not raining when we set off after morning tea so some went topless. The cars were well socially distanced. A very scenic drive through Marulan and Tarago (we missed another food opportunity at the Tarago pub) and – well it rained to the amusement of the still covered cars. Topless Pam got a wet shoulder and was not amused. On to Bungendore for lunch at The George Bar & Grill. There was a short period of time to kill before lunch so some of us went for a walk. Started to rain after they left. The non-walkers went into the warm pub. Our table in the corner was socially distanced from other tables and it was a table and not individual order. Good food and service almost got all orders correct. Thanks to Bryan for shouting lunch for the table because they would not split the bill.
We set off after lunch for what some of us thought would be a leisurely drive through the suburbs to the motel via some sort of lookout. Wrong!!! We had a spirited drive around the bushy outskirts of Canberra via Tidbinbilla (think, 'not quite as bushy assouthern Royal National Park roads,') that socially distanced the cars and ended up at Black Mountain Lookout, just below the tall tower above Canberra. Some of the locals (kangaroos and emus) seemed to be unimpressed with our driving and did not stop grazing to watch us pass. After a short break it was off to the Best Western Garden City Hotel at Narrabundah where we settled in for a rest before dinner.
That didn’t last long!!! Poolside party! We couldn't come inside because of COVID-19 restrictions. More food – how did you manage to fit so much into the boot of an MX-5? I was a bit cool so I went down to the underground car park to change my jacket. Only MX-5s used the underground car park and they were socially distanced - hmmm. All well there as the car park was patrolled by an off white and ginger cat.
Round three of food for the day finished after we made a contribution to Bryan for shouting lunch and then it was a short walk to the Harmonie Club for food round four. Table A7 (Audi anyone – it is a German restaurant) not in the corner this time but socially distanced from other tables, and table orders with no split bill. Good food and again service almost got all orders correct. Thanks again to Bryan for paying for the table because of payment policy. There is a pattern here! Six of our thirteen ordered pork knuckles and as a reward for paying the bill, Bryan’s pork knuckle was late. Bryan thought that him paying for desert may not be best so I covered that. Money changed hands during the tonight so that the bill payers were not out of pocket for others meals.
Sunday morning and it was time to leave for our next adventure. Jeff must have arranged for security to give special attention to his car as the cat slept on the car roof during the night. Jeff and Pam had breakfast at the motel with a view of joining us later for lunch. The rest of us drove to Manuka for an outdoor breakfast (under overhead heaters). Our tables were socially distanced from other tables and orders for everyone from the table. Good food and service almost got all orders correct. Thanks to Wes for paying for the table because again there was no split bill. Groundhog Day!!! By now it is getting interesting because not everyone was carrying large amounts of cash and there surely must have been some betting happening judging by the amount of money changing hands.
After breakfast we had a short walk around the shopping precinct. Time to leave. Senia & Bob left us to visit relatives. The rest of us were hurried to our assembly point by the peeling bells from a local church. Not sure if Bryan arranged for this but the bells did hurry us along.
Our run to the Four Winds Winery at Murrumbateman took us along beside the new light rail system (no activity) and past the Chinese Embassy (no activity), the British Consulate (no activity) and along the Barton Highway (towards Yass). The cars socially distanced thanks to traffic lights and we were kept focused on our drive by intermittently spaced speed cameras. This time, the weather was good and some of us went topless again. We arrived at the allocated time for a pizza lunch with wine tasting, Woohoo – we got to order and pay individually. After lunch, we made our own ways home.
The experience, friendship and everyone’s involvement was great. Thanks folks.
What I did find that has not been included here was that everyone had a good back story/hobby/interest. But they are not my stories to tell. Some great ones – just take time to get to know the people.
Bill Short
