It felt indulgent, three hours on my own to stroll by the water on a blue sky day. Melbourne weather has been kind to the northerners on this long weekend visit, once it finished chucking hail at us Thursday night.
Stuart had to work on his company booth at the ‘Sustain’ environmental show with Tristan, but I was free as a bird. Since I’m only half way through my self-imposed six month embargo on clothes shopping, I’m not a foodie, and unlike most Melburnians, I don’t have a bicycle, the obvious Sunday activity was a walk.
A strong coffee at Julio’s (down by the schoolyard) on Miller Street, Fitzroy North, got me going.
The path is shared by hipster and high waister cyclists, family groups, dogs walking their owners and the ocasional solo walker like me. Many of them make the community environment centre CERES their destination as the large outdoor cafe is the only refreshment stop, except for the two kids selling home made lemonade from a stall by the trail.
A slight detour brought me to the perfect viewing point for the Brunswick Velodrome. Time trials were in progress and I heard several European languages being spoken by parents. Kids replied in Aussie drawl.
Merri Creek is the recipient of storm water drains all around it and also floods regularly. Debris is trapped in riverbank trees and reeds. A tree that seemed to have Spanish Moss hanging from it was actually covered in while plastic.
A few water fowl floated by but though I looked for signs of fish I couldn’t see any.
While the weeds have taken hold in many places there are plenty of wildflowers.
But far too much tagging.
My turn-around point was Coburg Lake where family BBQs, picnics and a Rhumba class were in full swing.
A toilet stop surprised me with a domestic violence message in four languages on the back of the stall door. I guess that’s a good thing?
This rubbish bin had its message in ten languages so no one could be in doubt about what to do with their paper and plastic.
The local Italian community has erected a huge sculpture to commemorate their migration to the region. I’m not sure what it means but it’s striking.
The golden domes of the orthodox church were mesmerising in the sunshine.
A large part of the walk was under or near very high voltage power lines so maybe not one to do regularly. On the return leg I passed several young people collecting rubbish on the creek bank near CERES. A Sisyphean task but commendable.
http://www.moreland.vic.gov.au/parks-pools-sport/discover-our-creek-trails.html
Never Ending Gap Year 