Anzac Day Cycling Circuit: Fairfield - Darebin Ck - Ring Road - Merri Ck - Fairfield

A scenic, relaxing ride along the Darebin and Merri Creeks on Anzac Day.
NOTE: the weather forecast is indicating that a westerly wind is likely during the day, so we'll reverse the direction of the ride. It will still start and end beside Fairfield Railway Station (meeting at the Fifteen Pounds Cafe), but lunch will be at the Lady Bower Cafe in Reservoir (10% surcharge still applies). This route will be a little shorter - around 41 km. 

GRADE | LENGTH | TYPE: Medium, approximately 47 km, cycling circuit with many options to shorten the ride if necessary. 
MEETING TIME | LOCATION: 10:30am at the Fifteen Pounds Cafe, 21-23 Railway Place, Fairfield. This is across the road from the city-bound exit of the Fairfield Station.
MAP REFERENCE: Melway map 30 grid K11 | Google map goo.gl/maps/XjChNUD818t.  
DISTANCE | TIME FROM GPO: 8-10 km, allow 30 minutes to drive, 26 minutes by train.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT: a Hurstbridge train leaves Flinders Street platform 1 at 9:58am, arriving at Fairfield Station via the City Loop at 10:24am.
FOOD: Carry water and snacks if you wish. Lunch will be purchased at Zagames Reservoir (a 10% public holiday surcharge will apply).
APPAREL | EQUIPMENT: Helmet, sunglasses and clothing matched to the forecast. A light water-proof layer, as well as a spare tube to fit your bike, are recommended.
ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION: We will start the day with a coffee at the Fifteen Pounds Cafe while waiting for everybody to arrive. Afterwards, we'll head to the nearby Darebin Creek Trail and follow that northwards all the way to the Western Ring Road Trail. We'll take that, heading west, for about 7.5 km to the top of the Merri Creek Path, where we'll head south as far as the Broadhurst Av exit. Broadhurst Av and the Edgars Ck Path will take us directly to our lunch point overlooking Edwardes Lake, Zagames Reservoir, 257 Edwardes St, Reservoir.

After lunch we'll retrace our steps back to the Merri Ck and follow that southwards back to our starting point at Fairfield Station, or to any convenient exit point along the way. This route gives us a lot of options in case of inclement weather, and the final stages of the ride connect with a host of convenient cycling paths and train stations.

LEADER | BOOKING: Alan D. | by Tuesday 22nd April. Email the Leader if you have any questions. Members can access leader contact details under Members->Leader Contacts when logged in to the website.