2023-11-04 -37 143
| Sat 4 Nov 2023 in -37,143: -37.3651623, 143.2778357 geohashing.info google osm bing/os kml crox |
Location
In a paddock between Raglan and Warrack, a couple hours west of Melbourne.
Participants
Expedition
EB and I were planning a weekend away, involving bikes and Langi Ghiran State Park. It was Friday night. In the normal way of things, our "plan" wasn't really any more detailed than that first sentence.
Suddenly, EB has a route suggestion. She shares an image of the route. Train to Beaufort, ride through Mt Buangor State Park, then on to Langi Ghiran, then to Ararat, train home. "So we can do the geohash!"
I'm thrilled. It's a good plan. I had written this geohash off (a bit too far into a paddock), but she is excited, so I am excited.
Uncharacteristically, we actually decide what train to catch, and get packed and on the train without undue stress or cutting it fine.
Beaufort is an old friend. We did a hike near here once that was delayed by a sudden need to visit 3 bakeries/cafes and 3 op shops, where EB bought a pair of jeans. They are the most beautiful royal blue colour. Everyone loves them. So we love Beaufort.
We weren't in need of any jeans this time, nor even for any baked goods. So we limit ourselves to a quiche, a chocolate brownie and a chocolate muffin.
The weather is utterly perfect as we head off down a very quiet road. Could this day get any better? Well, I suppose a tailwind...
...immediately picks up, pushing us onward. There is a very gentle climb then an awfully long cruise downhill.
As we hop from Back Raglan Road to Raglan Road then Lucardies Road, then tailwind playfully switches sides, back and forth again, but never quite leaves us.
We arrive at the Promised Paddock where they are growing geohashes. It is right next to a different paddock where they grow sheep. I wasn't keen about entering that one.
It's 470 metres to the hash from here. I'm trying to estimate how far that is, something I'm notoriously bad at. I notice an old telegraph pole deep in the paddock, miles back. The geohash probably isn't that far, but in the interests of aiming high, I say "it's probably roughly that sort of distance".
EB, in her way of doing geohashes, has already claimed success by merely being on this adventure. She finds a shady patch and gives me a stern lecture about snakes.
I'm somewhat concerned about running into a farmer, but there are no buildings in sight, and we haven't seen a car on this road. Nonetheless, I don a slightly less high-vis outer garment before wandering back up the road to the gate, and hopping the fence.
There's a creek doing a wiggly path, and there's a straight fenceline, and there's the prospect of being bitten by a snake, and it's very sunny, and all these combine to make me do a very indirect meander into the paddock. I don't really have a strategy and over time veer closer to the creek.
Eventually I realise that actually the point is not near the creek. I'm a bit lost in this sea of grass until I spy the familiar telegraph pole, and decide to use that as a beacon to aim for.
I'm 100 metres, 50 metres, 30 metres. Um, now I'm standing right next to the pole and the hash is less than 3 metres away. Well, that's just weird. How impressive would I have looked if I'd just claimed up front it was going to be right next to this pole?
Anyway, I do the dance, and start skedaddling. I'm still watching for snakes and getting lost in the featureless expanse again. Eventually I spot EB's garish outfit on the horizon and set a bearing for it.
I'm getting closer and closer. The sharp eyed reader may have noticed that EB is not where I should be aiming for - she's on the wrong side of the creek, and not at the gate I need. I notice this too, but somewhat late in the piece. There is nothing efficient about any part of this.
I find the gate, I skedaddle hop, there is a celebratory hug, and we are off on the rest of our adventure, which is delightful and full of birds and lovely scenery, thank you for asking.
Photos
Achievements
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Stevage earned the Bicycle geohash achievement
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