Werribee to Altona

Ride on 15/1/2021

Twenty-one of us lined up for Marie's requested ride through Werribee and Pt Cook. The group asked for adventures and were open to the idea of having a few u-turns. Just as well, as the first hitch was my attempt to find the entrance, next to the freeway, to the pedestrian bridge crossing the Werribee river. Three tries did it! I won't bore you all with the other three u-turns.

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Anyway, onto the ride. I think Rodney summed it up well when he said that the scenery was varied. First the Werribee River section was very bushy. Then came the formality of the Werribee Mansion gardens, followed by a view of a Werribee River gorge with red cliffs.

The next stage saw acres of flat market gardens full of vegetables before we reached the mouth of the Werribee River at South Werribee. The simplicity of South Werribee contrasted with our next coastal area, the very upmarket Wyndham Marina with its fancy houses and boats.

Back heading north through the market gardens, the wind was picking up and some of us found our bikes being pushed across the road. Note to self: It is worth remembering that if it is windy in Melbourne, then it is very windy out towards Geelong. Given the wind, we decided to give the visit to Point Cook Homestead the flick. But we did take the scenic road through the park looking out across the wetlands there.

Then it was into Sanctuary Lakes. This suburb is basically circular with enclaves of houses attached to a very few main roads. [Aside, for anyone planning a journey through this suburb by bike: Google car and bike directions take you on roads, but there are footpaths that connect sections and can shorten your journey. You have to check out the satellite view of Google Maps to find these.] On the other side of Sanctuary Lakes from our entrance point, we found the bike trail and bridge across to Altona Meadows. Here we split into two groups: the masochists off to Williamstown and the rest of us going to Altona through the wetlands.

Penny

Croydon to Dandenong

Ride on 8/1/2021

We had a great ride with great vistas and that country feeling that comes from seeing cows and horses! Most of the route could best be described as picturesque with views across to the Dandenongs as we rode. We navigated the Tarralla Creek trail successfully in spite of a minor detour due to bridge works.

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Di was just saying that it was pretty flat when it was time to ride up the major steep hill of the day, to what OYB fondly calls "the tip lookout" because of its proximity to a waste and recycling depot. (Sounds a bit more upmarket than "tip"). Soon after we found a couple of picnic tables in Jells Park where most of us ate and drank our own goodies. The two people who went to the cafe for food encountered a massive queue and terrible food. As this makes the third visit in row with poor food, from now on we agreed that rides going through this park should be BYO.

The ride continued through the great parklands and bush around the Dandenong Creek until we met the canal and entered busy Dandenong.

Penny.