Grand Tour to Canberra

snacks and starters though the main meal was a choice of two. The snacks in brief were Pambula oysters, Bass Strait scallops from the fishing vessel (fv) Northern Star and Sourdough Pannna di casa from Sodafish. Starters were Whitefish from fv Illana, Cold Smoked Mussels from Mornington and the Cauliflower (Roasted) from Lindenow Flats. The main meal was a selection of either King George Whiting from the fv Smokin Joe or Arrow Squid risotto, the squid from the fv Northern Star. During dinner Alison officially welcomed everyone and discussed the tour mentioning the different places we would be visiting and staying, also the choices of routes to our destinations, the more “leisurely or the adventurous” trip which allowed for a more flexible starting time. At the conclusion of the briefing we were reminded that we were representing the Porsche Club of Victoria and drive according to conditions and adhere to the road rules.

As these scribes were seated at a table at the end of the room we had a great view of the Lakes in the twilight. Later in the evening and during our shared platters we saw a big bright light coming from a large fishing vessel which appeared to be heading for the wharf near us. The fishing vessel stopped turned on two bright reversing lights (do fishing vessels call them reversing lights?) and with ease began to reverse into its allocated berth, it stopped, tied up and turned off all the lights. This whole procedure took approximately fifteen minutes. I have seen people take longer to park a car in a car park. About twenty minutes later another fishing vessel arrived went through the same procedure with the same amount of ease as the previous vessel. It was amazing to see these large fishing vessels “parked” as easily as a car. After our dinner and some more convivial conversation it was time to leave, pay for our drinks on the way out and begin our hundred metre or so walk back to the Bellevue. Next day we were all meeting again for the boat cruise.