esCarpade 2023 - Day -1 - Drive to Lismore

The time had come for the boys to embark on the 2023 Camp Quality esCarpade... but first, time to pack some shirts!  Left to right there are 2010 to 2019 inclusive, then the 2021/22 30th anniversary shirt, and in the middle, the limited edition "Team Qld" maroon shirt. 

But first, Damian had some work to do, so Retro Rock-It waited patiently outside the office window for him to be ready...

Time to go...

Damian about to head off to pick up Hoges...

Is this esCarpade?  No, this is Damian's driveway!!

Back onto the bitumen...

Heading to pick up Hoges...

Parked outside Hoges' place...

The boys are excited to be heading off!!

The excitement was short lived once they hit the traffic... lots of bumper to bumper stop/start traffic south of Brisbane...

Finally crossing into NSW...

Damian always likes these nature crossing tunnels...

Crossing an old bridge... probably the original highway!

Past an impressive Jacaranda tree in full bloom...

And into Lismore...

The motel the boys were staying at seems like it used to be something else... a convent perhaps?

Lismore Library, still not open after the devastating floods.

Bicycles on a wall...

Some of the other teams were staying at the same hotel... here's Batman and Catwoman (unmasked).

Gratuitous window shot...

Damian and Ange...

Jamie and Damian...

So the boys arrived safe and sound in Lismore, and their fundraising total also passed $16500!!

Tomorrow, scrutineering and the official welcome dinner... but first, sleep!

Read More

Two sleeps till esCarpade 2023 - time to start packing!

Two more sleeps till esCarpade 2023, so it was time for some last minute checks and balances... Up on the ramps and checking the bash plate is in good order...

Cherries for Hoges...

Out with the old Giggle...

In with the new!

Oh lookie... a blank space!

Not any more!!

Damian's lost the plot a bit here...

See the space... fill the space (with a sticker)!

This brake light isn't used - the one on the spoiler is.

Problem solved!

Plenty of room on that door...

A heady mix of old and new!

Boring!

Better!

Struggling to find spots now...

But room for that one!

And the boot is packed... seems like there's way too much room!  Must be the enormous boot of the EF Fairmont!

Fuel cans (2 x 10L) in the rooftop pod...

And an annoying loose wire on the safety lights that Damian spotted yesterday...

Fixed!

Voila!!  Works like a bought one!!

Thanks to the amazing people who have sponsored Retro Rock-It in the past few days, bringing our current fundraising total to... drumroll please...

$16,081

Last but not least, a few people have requested the route be uploaded... here's a PDF of it for your viewing pleasure!

2023 Camp Quality esCarpade Route Map

Read More

Four sleeps till esCarpade 2023!!

With only four sleeps to go until esCarpade 2023, Damian finally had time to get out to the shed to seek out all the bits and bobs that go into the boot/car for esCarpade.

Of course, testing the lights is always fun!

And finding posters done for the boys in a previous year... a timely reminder of why we do this!

There's most of the stuff and things that are required... Now to close the lids and carefully stash everything in the boot!

This is where the night ended though, as Merlin decided to disappear off into the bush... after much searching and getting scratched up, Damian and his sons finally found Merlin and brought him back home... by this point, no further work was even considered...

On a brighter note, the fundraising tally stands at a delightful

$13576

Top effort everyone!  Thanks to all who have donated so far!  

You too  can help the boys reach their goal of $15K by clicking that big, yellow Donate Now button at the top of this page! 

Read More