2024-03-04 -37 145

Location

Out the front of an aged care facility in one of Melbourne's northern suburbs.

Participants

Stevage

Expedition

The geohash

On a day when my legs needed stretching, this hash was perfectly placed. In order to have a bit more time for a ride through nearby Plenty Gorge on the way back, I decided to take the train up to South Morang station, then ride back.

But almost as soon as I hit the road, my plans started to float away in the beautiful sunshine. At the crucial junction of the St Georges Road bike path, the idea of spending an hour on a train seemed a crime. And my criminal record does not need bolstering.

Straight up the trail. A steady southerly breeze kept me cool and gentle propelled me north. I don't love this trail, but it sure is practical. Eventually, I found a street to cut down to get to the Darebin Creek trail, which conveniently tunnels beneath the M80 freeway.

A short stint down the Yan Yean pipe trail, and an annoying battle with one of those bike-proof swing gates, and I found myself out the front of the nursing home in question. There'd been discussion about whether the point was accessible behind a shed visible on the aerial imagery.

I spotted a big shipping container in roughly the right location and immediately tried to work out how to sidle behind it. But, it was needless. The point was much closer to the road, completely unimpeded by structures. Success!

The fun bit

After a strange trip through the South Morang shopping centre and the vacuous emptiness surrounding it, I made my way to Plenty Gorge. I had a vague notion of visiting Blue Lake, which I had been to once many years earlier.

It's surprisingly hard to get into from the west side. There's a large cat-proof fence all around, so it takes a while to find a gate that you can get through. Then, the terrain has some steep cliffs, so I had to scramble down with my bike (something I'm well practised at by now), to then rock-hop across a creek (ditto) and scramble up the other side (ditto once more).

Behold, the green-brown Blue Lake! It was actually really pretty! Somehow it has been cleaned up a lot since last I visited - fewer reeds, and a nice rocky area that makes it much easier to get into. Of course, the faded "We do not recommend swimming" signs remain.

Swimming, you say? Well, I hadn't brought any swimming gear, but there didn't seem to be anyone around, so...

Unfortunately just before I stripped off, I did notice someone swimming at the far end of the lake. Then noticed his clothes right next to where I was standing. I found a different spot to get in, stripped off, and went for it.

It was delightful. What a day! Sunny and warm! And the water was a beautiful temperature. I floated about, eventually swimming up to the other end and back. The guy eventually got out, and after an eternity of slowly drying off and getting dressed, he left. So finally I got out and did too.

The ride out included another steep scramble down to the creek, another rock-hop, and only a gentle scramble up the other side. I slowly made my way through the total rabbit warren of little tracks, crossing through fences with holes in them, along the edge of a reservoir, and through vast mobs of wallabies.

Such a great day out.