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    In a strange use of free will on this beautiful Valentine’s Day I decided to walk the CBD grid.
    Australia

    In a strange use of free will on this beautiful Valentine’s Day I decided to walk the CBD grid.

    I’m sure this isn’t all that unique and many people before me have done this, but I was just curious to see how long it would take and the weather is nice 🤷

    Start to end:

    I started from the corner of Flinders/Spencer, walked up to Spring, down Collins, up Bourke, down Lonsdale, up LaTrobe to Spring.

    Then I did the cross section, down Spring, back up Exhibition etc etc till I ended up back where I started.

    Learnings:

    1. I seem to always forget just how hilly the CBD actually is, why do I never remember this?

    2. Melbourne in the CBD at least starts their day pretty late. I kicked this off bang on 7am, and between 7-9, the only people around were people arriving or leaving their hotel, construction, road workers, and other people doing a bit of exercise.

    3. The new Lune on Spencer St had a line of roughly 30-40 people out the front waiting to get in. I’ll never understand this fascination.

    4. It makes me really sad that interstate and international travellers getting the sky bus have their first introduction of Melbourne exiting an area between Southern Cross station and the TAB near Coles on Spencer. While the station itself I don’t think is too bad, it’s just not a very nice area (in my opinion).

    5. The Melbourne cleaning crew are the MVP’s, there was a decent amount of trash from late Friday and they were all working hard.

    6. So much smashed glass out the front of pubs.

    7. I only saw two spew patches, thought I’d see more.

    8. It was really nice seeing the State library and Parliament not covered in posters for varying things. They really are beautiful buildings.

    9. The off track parts you see on the grid are having to walk around blocks roads for road works on construction, there seems to be heaps!

    10. The Lune on Russell had the same amount of people waiting to get in.

    I think there was more but I kinda stopped thinking about anything two hours into the walk.

    The screenshots are from the Garmin app where I was tracking this with my watch and the other is Strava, was curious to see the difference between the two, but I accidentally tagged the Strava walk as a bike ride. Not sure if that messed it up, first time using it 🤷

    Anyway hope you’re all enjoying your day! 🙂

    Posted by BigYucko

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    28 Comments

    1. Tee_Tee_27 on

      CBD Lune is always busy, I assume lots of tourists who’ve been told they *have* to try it. Lune is good, but if I’m ever in the mood I’m going to Armadale, I’ve literally never seen a line.

    2. Waterfront32YT on

      Looks like a good exersize! Our CBD is surprisingly hilly but you’re exercising more than I do! I usually take a tram most of the time…

    6. MakePandasMateAgain on

      I’d love to do this one day too. What were your favorite and least favorite spots? And were there any areas that surprised you?

    7. JackWackington on

      Hoddle Grid sounds a lot nicer than CBD grid. Kinda name that could catch on, The Hoddle Grid Walk.

    8. PunsGermsAndSteel on

      “7. ⁠I only saw two spew patches, thought I’d see more.”

      Be the change you want to see in the world

    11. ValeoAnt on

      Someone describing Melbourne cbd as hilly is hilarious to me

      It’s maybe the flattest city ever

    12. areyoureadyable on

      This post made my day! And as someone who lives and works in the suburbs, reminds me that I should head into the city more often. Early weekend mornings can be stunning in the city (except for winter)

    14. maimeddivinity on

      Happy Valentine’s Day! This is great, well done! Made me realise there are many ways we can experience our city. Defs keen to try this too.

      PS. Hard agree on #4. Based solely on vibe/pleasantness, what would be your pick if SkyBus were to change it’s CBD drop off point?

    16. robynxcakes on

      I often am going running early on a weekend morning it’s always a bit hilarious to be heading on a run when people are still leaving the strip clubs, I always think I live a very different life from those people

    18. troubleshot on

      How much time waiting for lights to cross or traffic not that bad so no problem? Also, would you recommend the walk as an interesting one, see parts of the CBD people don’t know about? I’m keen to try it.

    20. bazzalinko on

      Did you find anything new or interesting that you didn’t know about or didn’t think would be in the city?

    21. Denvergency on

      Definitely how to tell Strava your single on Valentine’s Day without saying it outright 😂😂 Great use of free will hehehe!!!

    25. cobofocorn on

      Do you think starting at the other end or walking up/down an opposite direction would’ve made it any easier. I’m intrigued now. Well done on the challenge.