Ballarat Trip

Rides 29 April to 1 May 2019

Meeting at Victoria Park

We had 15 riders on the Ballarat OYB-GVB Autumn Tour. Monday arvo found us meeting on the corner of Sturt and Russell Sts as planned and we headed off to do the short Victoria Park circuit ride. The weather was not bad, a bit breezy but sunny and lovely clouds. We then crossed Sturt St and rode around Lake Wendouree. Half way we stopped for good coffee & c. at The Boathouse. We sat outside on the lakeside deck and basked in the glorious mid-afternoon sunshine. Finishing at the corner of Sturt and Russell Sts most of us headed back through town to the Big 4 Goldfields Holiday Park. A pleasant and easy ride.

Dinner on Monday night was at Billy's Bistro at the Mercure Hotel. The food, service and setting were all very good. 

Tuesday we headed off from the Big 4 around 10 to explore the Ballarat Skipton Rail Trail. An early stop was made at the Beechworth Bakery for coffee & c. and to buy lunches for the day ahead. Weather was ok with periods of sunshine and a stiff northerly that stayed with us all day. It was a hike to the Rail Trail/Remembrance Drive intersection, ~12km, but mostly along bike paths and service roads. When we hit the Skipton Trail we headed south. It was mostly gentle downhill and with a good tailwind. We covered around 8km rapidly and decided to lunch at Haddon and take advantage of the conveniences there. 

Skipton Rail Trail

From Haddon we returned up the Trail into a stiff breeze and the slight uphill. The going was a lot slower but after around 50 minutes of plugging away we were all back at the Remembrance Drive turnoff. Our OYB leader then demonstrated the (understandably) rarely attempted  'fall off the bike during dismount, trip and then tumble into a culvert manoeuvre'. Fortunately the only hurts incurred were a few bruises to the body and ego. We returned to the Big 4 the way we came and the wind provided a nice push back most of the way. The consensus was this was a good day's outing but we would do it a bit differently next time. 

Tuesday night about half of the group went to see 'Aura', a son et lumiere show at Sovereign Hill. Everyone who went said it was a good outing. Most people rendezvoused later in the evening at the Function Room at the Big 4 for a most pleasant session of nibbling, tippling and conversazione.

We planned to do the Canadian Creek- Whitehorse Rd - Yarrowee River circuit ride on Wednesday but woke to a wet, windy, cold and overcast morning so the ride was cancelled on the voices. Almost everyone then headed home.  I had a good explore down the Yarrowee River  and Canadian Creek Trails and this circuit is definitely worth doing.

Mt Waverley to East Malvern via Oakleigh

Ride on 26 April 2019

Shrugging off BOM’s predictions, 15 hardy (foolhardy?) riders assembled at Mt Waverley station. Patches of blue among the storm clouds gave encouragement, and we swept down through the bushland of Valley Reserve, a hidden suburban gem, to the Scotchmans Creek path. Our smooth progress was briefly interrupted by an icy shower which had everyone scrambling into wet weather gear, but a quick phone call to BOM brought out the sun, and before long waves of scents sweet and savoury announced that we had arrived in an Oakleigh in the midst of frantic preparations for Greek Easter celebrations.

Refreshed by coffee and dishes sweet and savoury at Nikos, and increased in number to sixteen by the addition of one rider, who had ridden from the city to meet us, we headed off again along the new Djerring trail, built as part of the Pakenham-Cranbourne line’s Skyrail project. This trail has eliminated the frustrating kerfuffle of crossing the railway line at Hughesdale, and, after a glimpse of the sparkling new 21st century station there, we were coasting down through the Urban Forest Reserve to East Malvern station. At that point half a dozen enthusiastic souls continued citywards along the Gardiners Creek trail, while the rest of us opted for a warm and comfortable train ride. Thanks to everyone for making this outing yet another OYB success, despite the weather, and special thanks to Terry for sweeping.

Bob.