2023-08-03 -37 144

Location

This Geohash is located in a front garden in Avondale Heights, Melbourne.

Participants

Expedition #1

The group had noticed this hash almost as soon as it had been calculated. Not too far from where we all lived, out west along some nice paths, sunny day. Couldn't be better.

Sadly, it was in a property. Or, actually, on the front lawn. And the fence was low and non-continuous. So it could very well be gettable. We all sat on this information until the afternoon.

I (Felix) was working a half-day, and when I knocked off, and suddenly found myself with no baby duties to attend to, I suddenly realised with a jolt, 'Hang on a sec. I could just do this hash right now!'. I scoffed down some lunch, put on my bike clothes, and got my bike.

I thought I'd better alert the others that I was leaving in case they saw me on Google Maps and think I was being sneaky. And as soon as I posted in the group chat both John and Ed immediately wanted to come along. This is despite it havng been about 2pm on a Thursday.

Within a couple of minutes Steve also expressed interest in the hash, but because I was in a rush to get back by 3:30pm, when my next baby-shift was beginning, we weren't able to make that work. Editor's note: It turns out he did his own expedition later.

So I rode directly to Ed's place up the road. He was already en-biked and ready to go. We basked in the glorious/terrifying warm winter sun and headed west via Buckly St. Soon we met John on the side of the road and he took us on a route taking more side streets. Well-within time we were there.

Since the house's shutters were all closed up and there didn't seem to be any signs of life I decided that no-one was home. Cautious regardless, we divied up the tasks (I was on GPS duty) and dived in to get the hash. I danced around a little to get my typical sub-1m reading, others took their required photos, and we decamped to the nature strip outside - protected by the harsh mid-winter sun by a tree.

I downed a beer (a Balter XPA) while the others watched without beers (including Ed who had generously donated a beer to me at the previous hash). Suckers.

We uploaded photos and chatted on the Geohashing gchat before jumping back on our bikes and heading home.

The homeward route took us along Steele Creek and the Maribyrnong River, affording generous views of the city and its various parks. Ed and I peeled off from John's route and made it home. I arrived back with plenty of time.

Got it
Hash beer
Milling
City from above Steele Ck
Panorama from homeward journey
Sunny day on the way home
The Maribyrnong River

Expedition #2 (Steve)

The first expedition was already underway by the time I heard about, a mere 5 minutes after it was announced. In my famished state, I was in no state to immediately join. Also, I was in the middle of work.

But the sunny day called to me, and I was powerless to resist. On the bike, and westward!

I always forget just how beautiful the Maribyrnong can be. And this day, wow. Glorious. Warm, sunny, spectacular.

In the interests of time, I took a couple of shortcuts on roads, through suburbs utterly unfamiliar to me. Hooray for novelty!

Arriving at the house, I made a halfhearted effort to cover my high vis with a hoody, then strode up to the front fence. Immediately my app told me that I was close enough, but that seemed like cheating. Since it still looked like no one was home, I put on a purposeful expression and did a quick lap of the front garden, pausing just long enough to take a very boring selfie.

Business done, now, pleasure!

I wandered more bike paths, enjoyed more sunshine, and revelled in views.

The one low point was being molested by a huge dog, some kind of staffie on steroids. I do like dogs, but not when they suddenly charge up at you, and are gigantic balls of muscle on four paws. Dog's owner belatedly noticed he had a leash in his hand, and thought about giving it a yank. It didn't do much, the leash being far too long for the space between us. Dog reluctantly decided not to eat my leg. Dog's owner apologised, half-heartedly. I told him off as bravely as I could manage. He did, after all, have a huge and aggressive dog.

But the rest of the ride was great. So scenic. Amazing.

And then I was in Gilpin Park. Once I returned from a geohash this way and there was an ice cream van. But not this time.

This time, there was a dog charging towards me. A Kelpie. A copper-coloured Kelpie with a familiar glint in its eye. Chasing a familiar, bright orange ball. Oh, I know this dog! It's Copper! I wondered if Copper's owner would be nearby. She was! It was Kim! Hi Kim! Together we strolled the park, throwing balls to Copper, who is very good at chasing them, excellent really, but very bad at bringing them back. But the look of focus and concentration in his eyes when there are balls to be chased is a thing to behold, so beheld it I did. See, I do like dogs.