01/05/2005
Twenty three riders from the Ride-It group journeyed down to Melbourne last Sunday to negotiate the Capital City Trail Ride. Following the nasty weather in the early morning the possible ride conditions were a real cause for concern however the weather forecast proved spot–on with the elements moderating and a fine and sunny day being the result. Eighteen of the group went down by mini bus accompanied by a trailer load of bicycles and met up with another five at a reserve in Glen Iris.
Departing at 10.20am the group road down the Gardiner’s Creek trail and then linked up with the Capital City trail which proceeded up the Yarra Valley, past Dights Falls, the Collingwood animal farm, Princes Park, the zoo and finally arriving at South Bank via Docklands at 12.45pm for lunch. After threading their way through the milling crowds along south bank the return trip to Glen Iris was via the north bank of the Yarra river alongside and underneath the South Eastern Freeway (no E-tag necessary). For those riders who had not riden this trail before it was a real education to see our great city of Melbourne from such a completely different perspective.
The day was a great success part of which was attributed to the volunteer driving of Wilf Tampaline and the donation of the bus hire by Drouin Cycles. The organisation of the ride proved effective and so a further Melbourne trail ride will most certainly be included in the next quarter’s program. However our next ride is on May 15tt, the Darnum cuircut, departing the velodrome at 9.00am.
