EASY, by Date: Semester 2 – 2021 COVID Guidelines: Advice in Relation to The
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Eltham & Environs Walking Group Walks – EASY, by date: Semester 2 – 2021 COVID Guidelines: Advice in relation to the car-pooling from the State Government and shared by BWV on their website remains as follows: ''Travelling with others: Where possible, avoid carrying passengers who do not live in your household in your vehicle. The enclosed space can increase the risk of spreading coronavirus (COVID-19). If travelling in a vehicle with people who are not part of your household: • Physically distance, passengers should sit in the back seat wherever possible. • Everyone should wear a fitted face mask unless they have a lawful exemption. • Increase ventilation. • Open windows wherever possible and avoid using the air conditioner’s recirculation mode. • Regularly clean and sanitise often-touched objects and surfaces in the vehicle, such as door handles.'' People are free to make their own arrangements, taking individual responsibility in relation to sharing vehicles, as we have been doing regularly. However, until the State Government guidelines change, we are unable reintroduce car-pooling as an official process for EEWG. The walks Note: Underlined words will open a page on Google Maps, except for those about missing information. ▪ We have five principal documents: ▪ Walking Protocols, which apply to all EEWG walks. ▪ Semester Walking Schedule. You will be notified by email if adjustments are made to this document. The Walking Schedule needs to be used in conjunction with the latest version of the document you are now reading. ▪ Walks – Complete list with directions ▪ Walks – Moderate, by date ▪ Walks – Easy, by date All these documents are available on our website (under “Walks”). You could also save them on your desktop or home screen or other devices. 1. There will be no carpooling while Covid restrictions are in force. Note that where we formerly said that parking was at the Eltham Library, we now meet further on at the Eltham Central Park, under the trestle bridge, on the left. 2. On days of TOTAL FIRE BAN, for all walks marked on the Schedule with a red asterisk,* or on days when the forecast temperature is 35 degrees C or higher, while Covid restrictions are in place we will meet at the Eltham Central Park, near the Eltham Library, to decide whether to do a different EEWG walk. 3. On very wet, windy and/or very cold days, a decision to walk or not will be made at the start location whilst Covid restrictions are in force. 4. Each walk has a unique number regardless of its difficulty. A walk is designated as EA = easy alternative, E = easy, M = moderate, L = long, or EXT = extended (usually further away). 5. In addition to other descriptions, we have two indicators of the difficulty of a walk. Both have a value from 1 to 5. ▪ Surface 1 = concrete or bitumen, 5 = rough (muddy animal tracks, or very rocky, for example). ▪ Steepness 1 = essentially flat, 5 = very steep hills. 6. Walks normally begin at 0930. In the hotter months, the Moderate walking group begins half an hour earlier – members will be emailed prior to the change and dates are also shown in the Schedule and the Walks by date documents. Combined Walks start at the same time as the Moderate group. 7. A number of walks are labelled EXPL (Exploratory). These are new walks that haven’t yet been officially accepted. The members who participate in this walk discuss and agree if it is suitable or not, and advise Tony Stutterd (M) or Ian Burns (E). If it has been recommended as suitable it will then be given a number. Members can review any walk’s classification at Special General Meetings (for example to suggest that an M walk should really be an E, or vice versa). 8. EXT (Extended) walks are normally longer or further afield than regular walks. Those doing one of these should meet at the Eltham Central Park at the time specified in the Walking Schedule, unless otherwise notified. 9. We normally have twelve “Combined walks” each semester, spread over two walking days (W, F). This gives us a chance to catch up with those who may normally only walk an M or E. 10. A % symbol in the walk details indicates that all or some of the walk is on private property. 11. Dogs cannot accompany us on any walks. 12. Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) are carried by two designated members; one for each group. These members change from time to time, so ask the Secretary for the names of the current bearers. This beacon will only be used in an emergency when the mobile phone is out of range. iPhones have an automatic emergency calling facility, which you can turn on: Settings-Emergency SOS-Auto Call. You can also download the what3words app. When opening, this app will show three words that define your current location: give these to the Emergency Services operator. 13. Comprehensive first aid kits have also been provided to these two members and are kept in their cars. 14. Please advise the Secretary ([email protected]) if the ▪ walk’s length is not listed (or is substantially wrong) and you can provide this using your GPS app ▪ walk’s duration is not listed, or it is substantially wrong ▪ surface/steepness ratings are missing, or if you disagree significantly with them ▪ coffee venue is missing and you can provide its name ▪ Melway map reference or Google Maps link is missing or wrong 15. Note that the Google Maps links sometimes have a red or other marker – this is not necessarily the exact location. 16. Click here for a quick refresher video on CPR. Click here for strokes. Click here for snake bite. TIP: To find a walk quickly on your computer, press Control and F and then type in the number. 1 Friday July 2 235 E Croydon Hills Lakes 5.5kms 1½ hrs Mel 36 H9 Vera Snelders. Extended September 2019 Ian Burns Surface = 2, steepness = 2, scenery*** Meet at ELT Drive to the Yarrunga Community Centre in Barwon St., Croydon Hills Find the path just behind the Centre, turn left and begin a circuit of Yarrunga Reserve. Towards the end of this circuit take the track north to Croydon Hills Drive. Cross this street and go slightly uphill to a playground where you turn left and begin the circuit of Candlebark Walk. When you get to the end of the lake, cross the bridge and continue along the track until it brings you back to Croydon Hills Drive. Repeat in a clockwise direction. Turn right and head back to where you crossed the road to enter this Reserve (the playground will be on your right). Cross the road and do another circuit of Yarrunga Reserve, going anti-clockwise this time until you get back to the Community Centre and the cars. Wednesday July 7 202 E CERES to Fairfield, Merri Creek, Brunswick East Distance? 2hrs Mel 30 B7 Tony Stutterd. Updated January 2019 Surface = 1, steepness = 1 This walk is probably best undertaken in school holiday periods, if heavy morning peak traffic is to be avoided. During school time, allow about 50 minutes to drive from Eltham. Commences at CERES near the corner of Roberts St and Stewart Street, East Brunswick. Roberts St is off Blyth St, which is an extension of Separation St and Arthurton St. Although parking is limited, space can usually be found in Lee St (off Roberts Rd) or in Stewart St. Walk to Merri Creek via the winding path through the CERES property. Turn right onto the Merri Creek Trail, and walk 1.4km, keeping Merri Creek on your left. You are now at the sizeable St George’s Rd bridge. Continue under this, ignoring the path leading up on your right to the road. After going under the bridge, turn right onto a path that rises steeply to St George’s Rd. At the top, turn right and cross the bridge, then right again, such that you will now be walking with Merri Creek on your right on what is the continuation of Merri Creek Trail. Walk about 450m, and turn right onto a footbridge to cross Merri Creek again. Continue for about 150m on the path that extends beyond the bridge, ignoring a path on the right which traverses Thomas Kidney Reserve. A further 350m brings you to Rushall Station. Continue on Merri Creek Trail for about 600m, passing under the High Street bridge. When the trail climbs quite steeply, you have reached Heidelberg Road. At this point, about turn. Most of the return journey is a 2 retracing of the route. However, a variation is possible at Rushall Station. To do this, cross the bridge at Rushall Station, and walk 150m along McLachlan St. Turn left at Cunningham St to join the Trail after 100m. Walk 800m to the St George’s Rd bridge. Cross the bridge, and immediately take the steeply sloping path down on the left. This takes you back onto the Merri Creek Trail. Return to CERES for a drink or lunch. Friday July 9 267 E Greensborough-Plenty River Circuit 6.8kms 1¾ hrs Mel 21 A4 Ian Burns, 2017 Surface = 1, steepness = 2, scenery*** Begins at Willinda Park. Follow the Plenty River Trail upstream (north), under Para Road rail and road bridges. Walk up a slight hill to Bicton St, turn right and walk to its end. Re-join the trail on the left. Follow the trail for a fair distance, past Greensborough station, until you reach the Diamond Creek Rd bridge. Continue under this, cross the Plenty, keeping to the left-hand path.