Captains Flat Brunch Interlude

16 June 2013 / Report by Ian Bottcher, Photos by Peter Le

On this crisp sunny morning 13 MX-5s (mostly topless) convened at Blamey Square, Russell Offices before firing up engines and cruising to Captains Flat, a former mining town 55 kilometres south/east from Canberra. Rob and Jill made a welcome trek from Bateman’s Bay and met us at Captains Flat. It was also great to see more new members participating, this run welcoming Kerry and Rhonda and of course their (or is it Kerry’s only?) pristine NB.

Travelling out of Queanbeyan in convoy, dual lanes but still an 80 kilometre zone, a lime green SS Commodore ute with ‘P’ plates may have saved our day. The ‘P’ plater no doubt felt pretty happy with him/herself overtaking the MX5 convoy until, manoeuvre almost complete, being asked to pull over by the ‘men in blue’.

Turning off Kings Highway and onto Captains Flat Road, the convoy meandered through grazing land (cattle looking puzzled at times but thankfully not wanting to join in) before arriving at Captains Flat 11:00am. Only one other small incident along the way when a largish rock, hiding in the shadows, ‘sprang up from the road’ thumping under the lead MX5, thankfully hitting a cross member and causing no serious damage.    

The Outsider Café, Lounge and Gallery is quite quirky with lots (and some more) of art works throughout the building and numerous garden sculptures throughout the landscape and continuing along a path to the Molonglo River at the rear. A local informant advised that the temperature during winter at Captains Flat is on average 4 degrees Celsius below Canberra, good reason for the 2 wood burners being of central focus. The Mediterranean inspired cuisine saw most participants ‘loosen the belt’ and comprised variety from char grilled vege stack, ham with melted brie and cranberry sauce, the Outsider big breakfast through to an ‘or some’ pancake stack served with fresh fruit, maple syrup and cream.

Following much good food, good coffee and cheerful banter, some departed for home, some wandered into the nearby gallery, and museum and others just stood outside in the cold, kicking each others tyres and talking MX5 ‘stuff’ before finding their own way home.

For more images, see our Flickr gallery.