BLANKET OF BLUE (NEW MUSIC)

Here's a new song! As usual, I'm interested to hear what you think of it (you can comment on the post I'm linking to below).

Blanket of Blue
© Williams 2009

Blanket of blue
So far away, and yet closer to you
Closer to you
On the ocean than in the next room
In the next room
The anger of thunderstorms, the silence of tombs
The silence of tombs
I wrap myself in a blanket of blue

MOONEE PONDS CREEK WALK, SUNDAY 29TH MARCH

I am really excited about this walk, because it will link up shorter/return walks we've done on the Moonee Ponds creek and the wander we had around Woodlands Historic Park near Gellibrand Hill the other week. There is also a cool railway bridge on the way. Not that I'm obsessed with bridges or anything: as SJ and DB will tell you, I HATE BRIDGES. It would be awesome to see some people for some/all of the walk - leave me a comment with contact info, or email me, if you have any questions.

Date: Sunday 29th March

Start: 9am (TBC), Brunswick West (near where Victoria St crosses the creek)

~~UPDATE: GOOD FRIDAY, 10TH APRIL, WHERE MORELAND RD CROSSES THE CREEK!!!~~

Where: Moonee Ponds Creek (Brunswick West - Gellibrand Hill)

Type: One way. You will need to arrange a pick up at the end, or call a taxi. Alternatively, there are public transport options easily accessible in the first half of the walk.

Length: 22km. It is possible that we will only walk about 18km (we did this last weekend). Mickleham Rd is a good pick-up point at 17km. Mascoma St (John Pascoe Fawkner Reserve) is a good pick-up point at 9km. Pascoe Vale station is about 6km from the start.

~~UPDATE: MORELAND RD TO THE END IS ABOUT 20KM, NOT INCLUDING DIVERSIONS~~

Terrain: Sealed and unsealed bike paths, flat most of the way. The last 5km is on unsealed paths, and includes one moderate ascent.

Facilities: Buses and trains (you will need to check Sunday timetables yourself); water and toilets at a few points; BBQs (if you need one for lunch, please mention it when we start!)

~~UPDATE: REMEMBER IT IS A PUBLIC HOLIDAY, SO DOUBLE CHECK TIMETABLES~~

Map: Click for map.




Bring: Water, tea, lunch, scroggin, phone for pick-up. And the following:

• Water. It’s really important to have enough to last you either the whole walk or until the next water-point. For a full day walk without any water points, you will need AT LEAST one litre, with more waiting at the end. Carrying two 600+mL bottles is advisable.

• Good, broken in walking shoes (cross trainers or sneakers are fine, sandals only on city walks, hiking shoes or boots are excellent so long as they’re broken in)

• Appropriate clothing (jeans aren’t great, and be aware of thigh chafing if you wear a skirt or dress)

• Appropriate weather-specific gear, especially on long, remote bushwalks – what you carry is all you have (minimum in all autumn walks: raincoat, scarf, beanie; sunhat, sunglasses, sunscreen)

• Comfortable bag, preferably a backpack (shoulderbags aren't good, and I don't recommend those diagonally strapped Crumpler bags, either)

• Bandaids for possible blisters, Ventolin if you need it, and consider bringing a small first-aid kit on remote walks (painkillers, any specific medication you might need)

• High energy snacks (scroggin, nuts, dried fruit and chocolate are the usual recommendations)

• Lunch! This is clearly the most important bit! Usually we bring a thermos of tea (please BYO tea or coffee!) and a variety of tasty vegetarian morsels to share. Leftovers, legume-based salads, potatoes, rice dishes, quiche: all these are delicious. Let us know your dietary requirements, bring something to nom, and remember your cutlery!

• Enthusiasm and willingness to talk about random shit, a camera, your phone so you can text people and say you're eating lunch on a mountain or something.

• A sense of your limits, and confidence in voicing them. There is no shame in having to stop to rest – in fact it is very important. We always pause at least once or twice to “look at the view” when we’re going up a hill! If things are getting absolutely too difficult, there is almost always the option of a shorter route, catching public transport, getting your chauffeur to pick you up early, calling a taxi, or turning back.

• Water. Don’t forget it, or I won’t let you walk with us. *Bossy/serious man is bossy/serious*

WALKS IN MELBOURNE: MARCH 15TH 2009

So, as stalkers those with verrah good memories might have noted, a bunch of the places we were planning on walking are kind of close to where the bushfires have been. While that will make interesting walking in a month or two, we've decided it's best not to head too close to those areas until there's been a bit more rain. So! Our next walk will be:

Date: Sunday 15th March
Start: 9am (Message or email me for starting point)
Where: Merri Creek (Thornbury - Western Ring Road)
Type: Return
Length: 22km (There are many options for a shorter walk, either by turning back sooner or by catching public transport home)
Terrain: Sealed and unsealed bike paths, only slight inclines
Bring: Water, tea, lunch, scroggin (also see following list)
Map: Click here

We would really love to see some of you! Here is the list of things to bring if you want to walk:

• Water. It’s really important to have enough to last you either the whole walk or until the next water-point. For a full day walk without any water points, you will need AT LEAST one litre, with more waiting at the end. Carrying two 600+mL bottles is advisable.

• Good, broken in walking shoes (cross trainers or sneakers are fine, sandals only on city walks, hiking shoes or boots are excellent so long as they’re broken in)

• Appropriate clothing (jeans aren’t great, and be aware of thigh chafing if you wear a skirt or dress)

• Appropriate weather-specific gear, especially on long, remote bushwalks – what you carry is all you have (minimum in all autumn walks: raincoat, scarf, beanie; sunhat, sunglasses, sunscreen)

• Comfortable bag, preferably a backpack (shoulderbags aren't good, and I don't recommend those diagonally strapped Crumpler bags, either)

• Bandaids for possible blisters, Ventolin if you need it, and consider bringing a small first-aid kit on remote walks (painkillers, any specific medication you might need)

• High energy snacks (scroggin, nuts, dried fruit and chocolate are the usual recommendations)

• Lunch! This is clearly the most important bit! Usually we bring a thermos of tea (please BYO tea or coffee!) and a variety of tasty vegetarian morsels to share. Leftovers, legume-based salads, potatoes, rice dishes, quiche: all these are delicious. Let us know your dietary requirements, and remember your cutlery!

• Enthusiasm and willingness to talk about random shit, a camera, your phone so you can text people and say you're eating lunch on a mountain or something.

• A sense of your limits, and confidence in voicing them. There is no shame in having to stop to rest – in fact it is very important. We always pause at least once or twice to “look at the view” when we’re going up a hill! If things are getting absolutely too difficult, there is almost always the option of a shorter route, catching public transport, getting your chauffeur to pick you up early, calling a taxi, or turning back.

• Water. Don’t forget it, or I won’t let you walk with us. *Bossy/serious man is bossy/serious*

[Test. You can skip it.]