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*