Ride on 19/6/2020
The weather was lovely, sunny, bracing and very breezy, a lively winter's day in Melbourne.
The Merri path gets better and better with improved trails and paths and a lot of good landscaping. So the route was just gorgeous – sun sparkling off the creek, not too many people on the track, and very lush greenery after recent rains.
Led by Pam, the first group of 11 headed off from Rushall Station at 10am, and split into two groups at Coburg Lake. Four riders chose to head further up Merri Creek, the rest went to the Boot Factory near the old Pentridge Prison for coffee and returned via the same route.
The second group of 12 followed at 10.15am were led by Ross. After visiting Coburg Lake they had their coffee at Ruby's a 'retro diner-style cafe in coffee-barren Coburg' at 138 Nicholson Street, Coburg just off the trail near Joe’s Market Garden.
Rodney briefed both groups on the indigenous sites near Coburg Lake, and mentioned the current co-operative venture at Joe’s Market Garden involving local indigenous people. Readers of Bruce Pascoe’s ‘Dark Emu’ will know about the daisy yam, which was prolific before European arrival. It’s now being grown again at the market garden, and sold to restaurants. Please see the Indigenous Notes for more information.