Ride on 4/10/2019
The conflux of the Yarra R. and Mullum Mullum Ck.
Eighteen OYBers set off on the Belgrave train with the intention of experiencing one of the most beautiful rides in Melbourne. But soon things went awry.
First, one (nameless) member missed the train.
And then there were seventeen. Our train stopped at Box Hill due to a broken down train just in front of us. After waiting for a while it became clear that the train was not going anywhere. Two riders, who had time constraints, went back to Melbourne by train.
And then there were fifteen. We set off towards Heatherdale on the new rail trail that follows the train line. At Laburnum, six riders took the choice to ride back home on the Gardiners Creek Trail. I understand that rain set in when they arrived at East Malvern and only one rode the whole way home.
And then there were nine. We continued on the 8.5km ride from Box Hill to Heatherdale where we met Lynda who had been on an earlier train. She had taken this opportunity to discover an excellent Greek shop where she enjoyed coffee, souvlaki and Turkish delight.
And then there were ten.
So only 1.5 hours late we headed off on the planned ride. Was it worth riding that extra 8.5km? Yes. First the rail trail itself is quite a nice route. And the ride from Heatherdale to Eltham is truly lovely. One rides through natural bushland following the Mullum Mullum Creek to where it meets the Main Yarra Trail in Park Orchards. Here we were not that far from Warrandyte without a house in sight. A short ride along the Yarra and then along the Diamond Creek Trail took us to Eltham Station.
En route we stopped at a picnic shelter for morning tea (by then it was lunch time) and enjoyed delicious muffins baked by Lynda. Just as we pulled up it started to rain, but we were dry and it cleared up by the time we took off again.
Special thanks to Carlos for being at the tail end, to Lyn M. for the picture and to everybody for being cheerful and supportive during this trip.
Penny.