An uplifting day out walking, chatting, laughing, learning and feeling connected with people and with nature.
We look forward to welcoming new walkers on our next day out.
The Blind Sports group travelled from Melbourne to Lysterfield Lake park which is just past Dandenong. I had not been there before and it is a wonderful community asset, a large man-made reservoir that is surrounded by bush! Kids on bikes everywhere and people of all ages were out enjoying the park. It would be great for rowing or canoeing and swimming in warmer weather.
There was a small sandy beach on which young children were playing. Lots of birds. I heard parrots Maggie’s and kookaburras and many smaller birds that I could not identify. The group did the circuit around the reservoir across the old dam wall and then through the bush. The walk was very accessible, wheelchair friendly and suitable for most people. It is about 8 kilometres in length.
After the walk, Rachel took us to lunch at local cafe called Goodwill Cafe in Endeavour Hills. It was great. Service was friendly and efficient even though we were a big party and the choice of foods, snacks, and proper meals was extensive. Some of our party stuck with a choice of cakes, of which there were many. It was a great day out for those from other parts of Melbourne.
Lyn.
Wednesday morning, 7 July, I downed my favourite hot chocolate at Dandenong Station. At 10am I rang Carol to see where she was, only to find I was waiting at the wrong spot, I needed to be on the next level opposite the taxi stand. Carol and I waited for the bus Blind Sports had hired, and it soon came, full of happy yappers, all excited at the prospect of the day’s outing. Rachel introduced herself as the driver and the person in charge for the day. We were introduced to the other passengers.
Our bus took us to Lysterfield Lake, at the foothills of the Dandenongs adjacent to Churchill National Park. We were planning to do the 6km lake circuit on foot.
I was surprised at how different the park looked to the last time I visited. This time it was more park like in the picnic area with mown green grass. Last time it was mainly bush. Also the facilities were improved.
We commenced our walk, seeing kangaroos and Rachel pointed out where owls nested. The conditions were perfect, no wind, and cool. The lake was calm. The only sound was birds. Quite a few cyclists passed us. There is a 24km mountain bike circuit in the area which was used for the Commonwealth Games.
After our walk, we boarded the bus and headed to the Good Will Café at Endeavour Hills. The food was freshly made and reasonably priced. I had a yummy frittata for $10. Very nice. We ate outside. The cafe was quite busy, and the staff helpful.
After lunch our bus meandered gradually towards Dandenong Station where Carol and I departed. The others headed back to Kooyong.
It was a good day and I hope to join other outings in the future.
Margaret.
This ‘Blind Sports and Recreation Victoria’ walk was made possible thanks to the Lynbrook Hotel Grant administered through the city of Casey.
