Merri and Darebin creeks ride , Saturday 22nd July, 2006
The ride was on Saturday 22 July, making a loop along the Merri and Darebin creeks, starting and ending at George and Chris' home in North Fitzroy near the Merri Creek, using parts of three previous rides, joining them up using Wesley's local knowledge of the area around Bundoora Park.
Robert W, Steve Nurse, Alan and Eric Ball, Wesley Kozlowski, George and Chris Durbridge were all on their usual machines. Ludo and Renild Schoenborn rode a compact semi-recumbent tandem built by Ludo, with some help from Robert, which has been on a couple of rides previously, but not described. Unfortunately none of the photos show it clearly. It is based on a mountain bike frame, with a second saddle and appropriate supports added above the rear wheel and a second bottom bracket added on a boom forward of the headset, connected to the original bottom bracket by a secondary chain. The stoker sits on the outrigged seat and pedals the original bottom bracket, while the skipper sits at the original seat location and pedals the outrigged bottom bracket.
We left soon after 10 on a sunny Saturday morning, following the Merri Creek path north to Pipeworks Fun Market at the Ring Road, where we stopped for lunch and some shopping. Since we were last on this path, more of it has been sealed and the missing bridge has been replaced, but a mile or two near Bell St are still gravel, some of it rough. From there, we followed the sealed Ring Road path to Bundoora, turning off at the Darebin Creek (Melway 9H9) and following a good gravel path south along the creek to and along McLean's Rd, crossing Settlement Rd at Latrobe St (Melway 9G11). From there, we followed a bike path and streets to the bend in Arthur St (Melway 9F12), where we pushed our cycles across 150 metres of grass to Mt Cooper Scenic Drive, on the slopes of Mt Cooper (Melway 19G1). Eric pushed his bike to the top of Mt Cooper, but the staider members of the party rode down through Bundoora Park, where we met Diane.
We returned by the Darebin Creek path as far as Alphington Station. Some of the party left the path by Grange and Fulham Rds (Melway 19B9), instead of continuing down Ford Crescent and the Darebin Parklands, but we all met up on Wingrove Street and returned along the railway and Westgarth Street to the starting point, where we found Chris (who had turned back from Pipeworks), with tea, coffee and a large batch of scones.
The paths we used were in good condition and for the most part kept us off the roads, except on the last leg of the return. Combining them made for a pleasant ride, without needing to retrace our tracks on the return. The branches of the Darebin Creek path were confusing, as usual. It would be sensible to carry maps for the whole of the Darebin Creek leg of the ride. A recent Melways covers it well.
It is disappointing that the two paths along the Darebin Creek have not been joined, although very little work would be needed to complete a major bike route connecting the southern part of the Darebin Creek path to the northern part of that path and to the Ring Road path. There is no crossing at Settlement Rd, not even a signpost or gap in the kerb. Nor is there a sign at the gap between Arthur St and Mt Cooper Scenic Drive, although the same council seems to be responsible for both legs of the path. Council may be concerned about advising cyclists to cross Settlement Rd, but they could be advised to cross at the lights at Greenhills Rd, and there are no traffic problems south of Settlement Rd.
An alternative lunch stop is Edwardes Lake Park at 18D3-5, accessed from the Merri along Broadhurst Avenue. An alternative route would have been to leave the Ring Rd at Dalton Road and take the paths along Dalton Rd, Cheddar Rd and St George's Rd to the Merri Merri bridge at 30C10. Apart from an on-road stretch through Reservoir along High St, this is a good route.
Total distance 30 miles. No mishaps, other than navigational and Ludo's seat coming loose. Thanks to Wesley for directions and Chris for scones.