If you rode a bicycle today, then I wish to Thank You for riding with me.
Whether it was because a bicycle is your only mode of transport, or because you made a conscious decision to ride, or it just worked out that way, or for one of any number of reasons – your decision to cycle matters. Or, more precisely, your choice to not use a motorised vehicle (if that was an option for you) is what really matters.
When you’re ‘known’ to commute by bicycle, it’s not long before someone will feel impelled to tell you that your efforts in ‘saving the planet’ are worthless (whether or not that’s the main reason behind your decision to ride in the first place). “What difference will one person riding a bike make? It’s not going to change anything in our lifetimes anyway,” they’ll say.
Well, they’re wrong.
Consider this: one bee produces only 1/12 of a teaspoon of honey over its lifetime (or to say it a different way, 12 worker bees will make 1 teaspoon of honey before they die). Yet there are jars and jars and jars of honey on the shelves in the supermarket.
Why? Because there are billions of bees across millions of hives working to produce that honey.
Although each individual bees’ contribution is so very small, would anyone suggest that a bee is worthless?!
In the same way that bees achieve more as a hive, so too does your choice of transport really matter. Because it’s not just about you. It’s about us, collectively.
You may only be contributing the equivalent of 1/12 tsp of honey to the global rescue jar, but when our ‘hive’ (i.e. the world) faces a major and increasing threat to life as we know it, everyone needs to chip in.
So… Thank You if you rode your bicycle with me today. And Thank You in advance if you’ll ride with me again tomorrow.
If you’re not a Melburnian, or at least familiar with the place, receiving instructions to “meet up at Docklands – Cow Up A Tree” could lead to some understandable confusion. But it’s pretty straight forward. We were to meet where there’s a cow up a tree.
Ta-da! “Cow Up A Tree”
It was looking a bit touch and go in the lead-up to this ride. Not for the cow – it’s been stuck up there for years. Rather it was the weather forecast that was looking decidedly iffy, and it didn’t improve as the scheduled time drew closer. Given the bay-side location of our destination – Williamstown – concerns about storm surges were quite valid if the weather were to turn ugly.
Satelite photo forecasting bad weather for our ride, via Victorian Storm Chasers
Thankfully the weather dawned clear and not too cold, though it was a bit breezy in places. Nothing to stop the ride going ahead, so it was off to the rendezvous point.
A fine, if cool, morning – perfect for a ride.
Approaching corner of Latrobe St & Harbour Esplanade
Riding our Bromptons along Swanston Street, mid Sunday morning
The glow of a yellow high-vis top waiting up ahead made me think we weren’t the first ones there – and indeed, we were not, but as I pulled up I realised that although the cyclists were waiting for us, they weren’t on Bromptons themselves. What’s more, there turned out to be a whole group of riders waiting for the Melbourne Brompton Club to turn up!
Cyclists gathering at Cow Up A Tree
As it turned, out riders with the Go Cycling Melbourne group had come to ride to Williamstown with us. Escorts or windbreaks? Take your pick! (as someone quipped). Either way, our group of five had just grown to 13! Six Bromptons, a mountain bike, an e-touring bike, and road bikes made up our motley crew for today’s ride. Fluro tops were trending, but on the whole our clothing was as assorted as our bikes. Once introductions had been made we were finally underway!
Getting ready for the ride at Cow Up A Tree
Mixing it up – Melbourne Brompton Club meet Go Cycling group
Once we left Docklands and crossed over Railway Canal, Stephen and I were breaking new ground on this ride. It was probably a familiar route for the others. We’ve certainly seen plenty of riders take this path before, and no wonder it’s popular. The design is very good; no tangling with traffic, no being left to wait for traffic lights without a button to press to ask them to change for you.
We’re underway, and doing well so far
We’re underway, and doing well so far
The path follows Whitehall Street
Passing under the West Gate freeway
The wind was coming directly at us for most of it, but that couldn’t be helped. At least it wasn’t raining! Given the forecast, the weather was certainly cooperating very nicely! There are long stretches of flat straight road, and a few small rises, but on the whole it’s a pretty comfortably ride especially once you reach Stony Creek Reserve – from there you follow the waterfront right around to the main street of Williamstown.
Approaching the mouth of the Yarra River
Passing the easily recognisable stack at the refinery
There were a few people fishing along here too
We’re getting close now!
Williamstown didn’t seem quite as packed today as it has on previous occasions we’ve visited. (Maybe that’s because we weren’t looking for a carpark this time…) After another re-group we headed down to Gem Pier and the shelter of the HMAS Castlemaine. I have to say it made a pretty good wind-break – pity it isn’t particularly portable. I was already feeling the start of windburn on my face.
Approaching Gem Pier, HMAS Castlemaine is docked on the left – Williamstown
Melbourne Brompton Club and Go Cycling Melbourne gather next to HMAS Castlemaine on Gem Pier
We’ve all made it! Time for a photo then off for a hot cup of something
The Williamstown riders – photo by Cory (@baudman)
By now it was definitely time to choose a cafe that could accommodate our group and enjoy a nice warn beverage. I’m not much of a coffee drinker; a hot chocolate is my preferred brew in the cooler months! Despite the heart-sinkingly long queue inside we didn’t end up waiting too long for our orders – just long enough to chat to a passer-by who stopped to ask about our bikes. They are pretty striking, especially in a group.
Bromptons are just so neat! Cafe Cirino was a good place to stop for brunch – Melbourne Brompton Club & Go Cycling Melbourne
With everyone fed and watered, we stood up to leave just in time to surrendered our places to a motorcycle group who had just parked their rides across the street. Another audience to impress with the convenience of the Brompton design, though I’m not sure we have any converts from their mob.
Departing Williamstown the wind was once again in our faces and riding along the foreshore was a slog. Conditions improved as we neared Newport Park and continued into Riverside Park where there are a few more trees beside the track.
Opposite the old Pumping Station behind Science Works is the Spotswood Jetty where the Westgate Punt collects passengers who wish to cross the Yarra River to Port Melbourne. Stanley, Elsie, Stephen and I bid farewell to the other riders here as we’d decided to take the shorter (and easier) route back to Docklands. Cory farewelled us from the jetty, but didn’t cross the river as it would have been the longer way home for him.
We passed the Pumping Station – also a location for one of the Miss Fisher Murder Mysteries TV shows in the first series
There’s plenty on room onboard for bikes and pedestrians
And then there was one – via Cory (@baudman)
In a somewhat surprising move, the punt operator offered me the wheel. I thought it was for maybe a minute or two – time enough to get a photo – but he didn’t move me on so I got to steer the punt the whole way across (it’s not that far). Docking was a different story – quite understandably so, though I was happy to give it a shot!
Dayna piloting The Westgate Punt across the Yarra River (photo by Stanley Tan)
Returning to Docklands once on the other side is as easy as turning left and following Lorimer Street all the way back to Webb Bridge, though we did take the water side path in front of South Wharf Drive. The gardens along here are really quite lovely. (Thanks to a shower of rain that came through then I don’t have any photos of this section though.) As we came off Webb Bridge and turned onto Harbour Esplanade, who should we see approaching but the Go Cycling Melbourne group who we left at Spotswood Jetty! We weren’t quite back at Cow Up A Tree, but this was where the riders truly spilt up, after a really enjoyable day’s ride – to try to beat the rain home!
Back on firm groud, it’s straight up Lorimer St to get back to the city
The Punt departing Port Melbourne jetty to cross the Yarra Rover to return to the Spotswood jetty
There wasn’t much traffic around, and the tree-lined street made a pleasant ride
When you think of Melbourne icons, our trams must surely rank in the top 5.
A Melbourne B-Class Tram (Route 86) turning at top of Bourke Street onto Spring Street in front of Parliament House
The Melbourne Tram Museum at Hawthorn is just off the Main Yarra Trail (a shared path along the Yarra River); a worthy destination for this month’s group ride.
Meeting up at Federation Square we took a few snaps (because you can’t let the chance go by), before walking past the temporary ice skating rink (as instructed) then we were underway!
Meeting up at Federation Square
Brompton folding bikes at Federations Square, with St Paul’s Cathedral in the background
Walking past the temporary iceskating rink (as instructed)
Underway at last, along Princes Walk
It’s a pretty cruisey ride along the river. We followed the Yarra Trail along the north bank of the river the whole way to where Wallan Road crosses the Yarra River. Some of it is a floating walkway, but mostly it’s firm river bank.
Approaching Morell Bridge, a pedestrian and cyclists bridge which connects the Royal Botanical Gardens with the Olympic Park precinct
Some of the path ducks under CityLink (M1)
Church Street Bridge – links Church Street in Richmond on the north bank with Chapel Street in Prahran on the south
Ducking under CityLink again – almost literally along here!
Greg and Stanley zipping along the path
The Tram Museum is in a beautiful red and cream brick building on the corner of Wallan Road and Power Street, Hawthorn. Next year will be the celebration of its 100th birthday! The museum doesn’t occupy the whole of the premises any longer, and isn’t as large as the Hawthorn Depot was in its heyday. Despite now including residential units in the main building, and having a new apartment building at the back where the second shed used to be, the facade has remained as it’s protected by its listing on the Victoria Heritage Register (read more here).
The exterior of the Hawthorn Tram Depot, now containing residential apartments and the Melbourne Tram Museum
Arriving at the Tram Museum – the entrance is off Wallan Road
Totally unfazed by the arrival of a group of ‘folders’, we set our bikes and bags down while one of the volunteers gave us a bit of history about the history of the depot and a couple of the trams they have. Then we were welcome to explore and take as many photos as we wanted.
One of the volunteers giving us some of the history about the Tram Museum and trams on display
Learning about the trams and cable tram at the Melbourne Tram Museum
At the front of the tram lines (photo by Stanley Tan)
Cable Tram Trailer 256 – built in 1887 and ran on the Toorak route
Out in the public the stained glass windows wouldn’t have lasted long. In the museum they can be appreciated properly
The inside Cable Tram Trailer 256 is quite beautiful with all the wood and glass fixtures
Elsie walking between trams
Reminders of harder times
The seat back can flip around so you’re always facing forwards – love it!
Here tram drivers learn how a tram works – not just how to push the buttons that make it move and stop
Old uniforms and euipment used to teach drivers
A recent addition to their collection is the Z1 81 ‘Karachi W11’ (the link provides information on the history of the Z Class trams as well as how tram 81 came to be ‘Karachi W11’ as well. Definitely worth a read!)
In line before the eye-cathing W11 ‘Karatchi’ Tram
The inside of the W11 ‘Karatchi’ Tram was quite amazing
Everything was decorated with stickers or beads on the W11 ‘Karatchi’ Tram
The middle-door steps on the W11 ‘Karatchi’ Tram welcomed local and international visitors during the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006
Folded in formation, our Brompton before the W11 ‘Karatchi’ Tram
This gorgeously extravagant tram is the work of 5 Pakastani artists and was run on Melbourne’s City Circle loop during the 2006 Commonwealth Games. A recent addition to the museum, I hope it becomes a permanent resident!
Although no questions were asked as we carried our bikes in, it’s not to say that they didn’t draw any comment at all…
“What make of bike is that?” was the first question (it’s usually a good starting point). Before long, the museum volunteer who asked had all – and more – of his questions answered by our enthusiastic group!
Discussing Brompton design with one of the tram museum volunteers
At present, the museum also has a Tramway ANZACs exhibition to honour the tramway employees who went off to fight in the Great War and the role of the tramways during that time. If you can’t visit the museum you can read more about the displays and personal stories here.
Special exhibition – Tramway ANZACs
Part of the Tramway ANZACs exhibition at the Melbourne Tram Museum
Unlike other Australian state capitals who ripped up their tram tracks years ago, Melbourne has grown its tram network over time, although we no longer run cable trams anymore. You can compare a map of the lines that were in service in 1916 here compared to today’s network managed by Yarra Trams here. The irony is that “light rail” is now being (very slowly) reintroduced to the Gold Coast and expanded in Sydney. I don’t know of any plans to expand Adelaide’s single line, but at least they kept that as a functional means of transport for commuters – if you happen to live close-by.
The afternoon was getting on; we’d explored the trams, seen the ANZAC exhibition and answered Brompton questions in return, so it was time to say goodbye and head back to the city the same way we’d come. Just before leaving Stephen kindly bought each of us a badge from the gift shop to remember the trip.
Stanley’s badge from Stephen – photo by Stanley Tan
Elsie waiting for the rest of us to catch up!
It’s Siew Mee in the lead, followed closely by Stanley, Stephen’s coming in third, and Greg’s hiding behind the tree
Riding single-file along the Main Yarra Trail
Practice walls for rock climbers underneath CityLink was something I didn’t expect to see on the ride
So nice not to have to contend with traffic on a bike – unlike those people heading out of the city opposite
Cycling along the Yarra River on an overcast winter’s late afternoon
End of another successful ride; time to part ways
It was another enjoyable ride with the group.
Next ride planned for the weekend of 26-27 July. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Strava to keep up to date with rides.
: )
Thanks to Stanley for letting me use a couple of his photos in this post.
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