North Fitzroy to South Yarra via Moonee Ponds Creek and Docklands

Ride on 15 May 2020

After several weeks of virtual rides on YouTube and Zoom morning teas, we were back on our bikes. Due to current Covid-19 restrictions we are dividing into groups with a maximum of 10 people.

Weather was a still, sunny and cloudless late autumn Melbourne day. Glorious.

A big thank you to everyone for making the split into smaller groups and staggered departure arrangements such a success.

Pam led the first group.

Fantastic ride, fantastic day, fantastic company!
Six of us set off at 10am. We headed off around the Capital City Trail in perfect weather with beautiful autumn colours in the parks. It was a refreshingly brisk ride, because everyone had kept up their riding and fitness during lockdown. Well done OYBers! There were quite a few cyclists on the trail, especially at Canteen, and it seemed that a few groups were happily taking advantage of the relaxed restrictions. After a socially-distanced coffee, we all headed along the Yarra and through Richmond then home. It was a really great ride after so many weeks of lockdown. Thanks to Ross and Penny for getting us on the bikes again!

Group 2, led by Ross

Unfortunately Joy came off her bike on a downhill stretch on the Capital City Trail due to a serious and very hard to see bump on the path. An ambulance was called for and Joy was able to walk assisted to the ambulance. Many thanks to Audrey who expertly attended to Joy and went onto Casualty at the Royal Melbourne to be with Joy, Jack the doctor from the Children's' Hospital who just happened to be walking by and stopped and helped until the ambulance arrived, Carlos who organised the ambulance under difficult circumstances, Robert who took care of Joy's bike and the three ambulance officers who looked after Joy. We are fortunate to live in Australia.

Penny led group 3.

The seven riders had a good time, enjoying catching up in person after such a long break. A couple of riders were back on their bikes for the first time since March. Coffee was in Docklands looking out over the water enjoying they beautiful autumn weather. We decided to try the northern side of the Yarra and ended the ride early at the MCG.

Caulfield to Dandenong via Djerring Trail

Ride on 20 March 2020

The ride all went as planned from Caulfield Station to The Public's Corner at Dandenong. Starting at 10.00am on the footpath next to Caulfield Station on Monash University side our seven riders wheeled and then rode our bikes east along the footpath, crossed Queens Avenue, and rode about 200 metres along a narrow path to East Caulfield Reserve. From there we followed the Djerring Trail to Yarraman Station, then the Eastlink Trail south to its junction with the Dandenong Creek Trail. There is a sharp U-turn at this point. We followed the Dandenong Creek trail to Lonsdale Street Dandenong. We rode along service roads parallel to Lonsdale Street to coffee / lunch at The Public's Corner (corner Lonsdale and Walker Streets), arriving about 12 Noon. There we sat at three outdoor tables while securing our bikes to the bike parking hoops nearby.

Some points about this ride: Di noted the toilets at Caulfield Station were well-maintained, with soap and hot-air hand-drier available. We had a good tail wind. Weather was cool and generally pleasant. The numbers of people on trains were relatively small, so it was not difficult to keep an appropriate distance from other passengers. There are numerous road-crossings along the Djerring Trail, so we re-grouped often.

John