North Fitzroy to Coburg Lake via Merri Creek return

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.

City to Brighton Return

Ride on 18/6/2020

We had a very good turn out today with 21 riders. The weather was luverly, sunny, very crisp, no wind at first and a mild breeze later. The Bay bordered on the glassy. Rodney provided his usual excellent Indigenous Notes

Ross’s Group
Coffee & c. was had at the Brighton Baths where Joy joined us. It was very good to see Joy and great to hear she'll be back OHB in a cupola weeks or so. From the Baths some rode on further down the Bay Path to catch the train &/or have a longer ride while the rest of us rode back to the City via the Bay Path and Light Rail Path. 

Penny's Group
What a beautiful day. Ross must have lined up the weather gods again! We stopped at two places. First, the statue of Peter Norman (photo attached). Thanks to Rodney, we have information about this athlete. See his notes, Peter Norman Memorial.

The second stop was on top of the hill at Point Ormond where we attempted to match the features in Rodney's poster with what we could see from the lookout. We had morning tea at North Point before heading home via Port Melbourne and the rail trail to Jeff's Shed.