esCarpade 2024 - Day 0 - Canberra Welcome Dinner

Damian and Hoges were kitted up early ready for the Welcome Dinner, because first, they were catching up with Hoges' sister and nephews who live in Canberra.

After catching up, Hoges' nephew drove the boys to the QT Hotel in Canberra for the driver briefing and welcome dinner.

Past the State Circle Cutting, which is a geological formation significant for its unconformity geological feature.

Past consular buildings.

Past the Australian Academy of Science...

And into the driver's briefing!  The Puppets led the group through the esCarpade song!

Someone should have been paying attention instead of taking a selfie!

This year's event is the smallest Damian has been involved in, with only 34 entrant vehicles, 12 Official Vehicles and a total of 112 people.

It has also been made intentionally shorter, with the aim of entrants having time to interact more without some of the time pressures associated with longer distances!

Fancy dinner table is fancy...

John from Princess Bride, Hoges and Damo!

Welcome to esCarpade 2024!!

With the formalities out of the way (Deb Thomas speaking, Rachel speaking, service awards and the like), it was time for some catching up with friends old and new, before heading off for an early night ready to start driving in the morning!