2024-02-02 -37 144

Location

Near Aircraft Station and RAAF Williams

Participants

Expedition 1

John

Expedition 2

Expedition 3

Expedition Reports

Expedition 1

I was aware that Lachie was planning to go, but I had to be home earlier than joining his expedition would allow, so I needed to go separately. I also had to fit in a run for the day (this was mere days before I abandoned my run streak after something in excess of 100 days). I came up with a plan. I would ride to the hash, but stop off on my way at Newport Athletics track for a little run around.

I battled a headwind heading south, but I made it to the track and had a run around as planned. I then continued on my way. I cut across Williamstown but found myself on the coast into a headwind again around Altona. Eventually I headed up the Laverton Creek and at last I had the wind behind me, so I sped along the path with tall reeds to either side. This allowed me to make up some much needed time as my run around at the track had dragged out longer than planned, and I was at risk of being late for my evening plans (going to the pub).

Once I hit the train line I followed it to the hash. I overshot in fact. I retreated back and found the hash. I marched in and no one seemed perturbed by my walking into the car wash. I snapped a pic and went back to the station for a speedy return home. While waiting for the train I looked out across the RAAF base and thought about how my grandfather had worked there many moons ago.

Expedition 2

With the looming possibility of getting the Reverse Regional achievement and others at some point, I saw the opportunity for this easy one and took it.

To get there, I hopped on Bus Route 691 to get to Stud Park. Then, I took Bus Route 901 Frankston to get to Dandenong Station, took the train to Southern Cross station, then finally took the Werribee train and got off at Aircraft Station. The hash was nearby.

This expedition was full of side quests. I helped a lady get an item in her car, called a cab for two people (their phone was dead, they didn't need me to pay for it), and returned a lost smartphone. The joy of adventuring!

My Dad (Wizdude) was waiting for me there. We figured out where the hash was, took some photos, and then went to the kebab place next to the hash. For those outside Australia, our kebab restaurants have halal snack packs (or HSPs) and they are delicious. After that, we drove home. Simple expedition, not too much to say.

Expedition 3

A beautiful day, a bike-accessible geohash: name a more iconic duo. Also, a conveniently-close geohash and a time constraint: name a more cursed duo. Lachie had to fit his hash in between work and family dinner. Patrick had to fit his in between work and extremely important activities that could not possibly be rescheduled and also weren’t vegging out in front of computer games.

Lachie and Patrick met at Lachie's place and got on our bikes, aiming for the hash. The ride went well, until Patrick missed a right-turn arrow and so rode parallel to Lachie for a few kilometres, with a road in between. This was solved by Patrick crossing the road.

We proceeded along the bike path next to Footscray, soon turned into the Koroit Ck Trail, and the on to the Federation Trail. We left the Federation Tl at the Terror Death Road, which was fortunately short before we were at Aircraft Station and the hashpoint.

Purposefully striding into the car wash — as if we might be interested in pressure-washing our bikes — we quickly located the hash and took a photo. We looked longingly at the kebab join but unfortunately time meant we had to depart immediately to make it back to our respective appointments.