Walk the line: it’s the whole package, says Jeeves!
21 June, 2021
Lots of people are already voting with their feet. On any fine day, you’ll find them walking the raill path. Striding out alone or in small groups and with a spring in their step. Because the path is taking them where they want to go, and it’s more than 40 years since the last passenger train rode the rails!
Sure, many of the venturesome are locals. But some, like Jeeves Jay, are tourists on the hoof. Jeeves recently walked almost 30km along the trail-to-be east out from Maryborough. Jeeves gave CMRT a fresh insight into the hidden beauty of the trail and why tourists will find it a magnet.
Where do you hail from? I split my time between Bendigo and Melbourne.
What do you do? I’m a financial analyst.
What prompted you to walk-the-trail? I hike almost every weekend. I was looking for a rail trail I haven’t explored before and came across this one. (Pity it’s not been opened as a proper trail yet!).
What was your most surprising moment? How diverse the scenery and the landscape was in just 27km!
What did you like most about it? How serene the whole trail was! Beautiful scenery. Quiet countryside. You see a lot of different wildlife and plants. And you meet a friendly farmer or two. It’s really the whole package. And somehow, the old abandoned rail lines add to the experience.
Would you recommend the walk to others? Definitely! It’s very easy to navigate, and you can access it from most places along the trail because there is a bus service along the nearby road route. And (when the trail is completed) it will be suitable for hikers, trail-runners and cyclists.
What’s one thing about you people may not know? I’m in my early 30s but I love music from the 50s and 60s.
Any passing thoughts? I’m planning to walk the other half of this path later on this year. I think it should be developed and made accessible – like other rail trails – to the general public. As soon as possible!
P.S. Readers should understand that the disused rail corridor Castlemaine – Maryborough is not yet a trail. The land is managed by VicTrack, the State’s rail authority. Farmers use the corridor to move stock and people walk it. Technically, they are all trespassing. CMRT doesn’t encourage people using VicTrack’s land without permission. But we can hardly discourage it either. It’s up to you 🙂
