Mountain to Mouth 2016: walk this land

This Friday 6th and Saturday 7th May, as I did just on two years ago, I took part in the Mountain to Mouth Extreme Arts Walk - M~M for short. For those who don't know, M~M is a multi-award winning, biennial community event which takes place across two days and 80km from the You Yangs to Barwon Heads.

Participants could choose to walk part or all of the 80km, accompanying "Canoe" the ephemeral centrepiece in which water from "Big Rock" in the You Yangs was carried to Barwon Heads where it was returned to the ocean; fresh water returning to the sea. To quote the event website:

The route is punctuated with edgy artworks commissioned for M~M, bringing people together through shared experiences of extreme arts that celebrate our land. In the tradition of Wadawurrung, M~M creates a contemporary songline across the Geelong and Queenscliffe regions.

"Canoe" and the walkers were accompanied on their journey by flags representing each of the City of Greater Geelong council wards and the Borough of Queenscliffe. The flags were carried by invited volunteers who have contributed to the local community. Likewise, "Canoe" was carried by those who contribute to the community in many ways - the CFA, Ford, Deakin University, The Celtic Festival, Crossing Supervisors, Surf Lifesavers to name a few.

At each of 12 stations along the route, walkers and the community were able to experience a different art installation, each of which was based around a walking circle created by a local artist or group of artists to reflect the local community and environment.

The show was kicked off by the first of three ceremonies, integral to the whole experience. The ceremonies were each designed to "celebrate the land, the heritage and the people of the Geelong region."

"Gathering of the Elders" ceremony, Big Rock

The first, was the "Gathering of the Elders" at Big Rock, a predominantly indigenous ceremony highlighting the ancient history of the region and culminating in the collection of water from the equally ancient rock well at the site, to be carried by "Canoe" to the ocean.

Wathaurong rock well, Big Rock

The ceremony concluded with the unveiling of the artwork "Canoe"

"Canoe" carried to the ceremony by the creating artists Leonard Tebegetu and
Mahony Maia Keily  and representatives from Parks Victoria

and an indigenous smoking ceremony before walkers, flag bearers and those carrying "Canoe" departed on the first leg of the journey.

Uncle Bryon Powell performing the smoking ceremony at Big Rock

 As was the case in 2014, our journey began by walking out of the You Yangs Regional Park, along Flinder's Ave to Serendip Sanctuary before entering Lara and arriving at the second station on the route. Under clear skies, this was a long stretch on a surprisingly warm autumn day.

Leaving the You Yangs behind

From Lara, our route took us along Cowies Creek - named of course for one of the region's earliest European settlers John Anthony Cowie who initially squatted at Bell Post Hill.

Cowies Creek, Lara

Our next stop was on the shores of Limeburners' Lagoon near Geelong Grammar where staff and students joined the walkers at the third station.

The shores of Limeburners' Lagoon nearing sunset

 After another all-too-brief stop, we were walking again, this time around the shoreline to Geelong's industrial heartland as the sun disappeared from view.

The shores of Corio Bay

The lights of Viva (previously Shell)

At Moorpanyal Park, still in the industrial precinct, we stopped at the fourth station as Ford employees handed the job of carrying "Canoe" over to representatives of Deakin University.

Past meets present. Ford employees carry "Canoe" to Moorpanyal park...

where Deakin's academics take up the responsibility 

From Moorpanyal Park, we began our final leg for the evening, walking around the shoreline of Western Beach to the fifth station at the Waterfront where the Mountain to Mouth collided with Geelong After Dark in a spectacular display involving sound, light, colour and dance in the form of the second ceremony "Gathering of the City: Geelong Connected Communities"

"Jellyfish" at the Gathering of the City Ceremony

Dancers performing during the Gathering of the City Ceremony

And there we left it for the night. I have deliberately not included photos of the individual walking circles and installations in this post. Instead, I have added a separate post showing each of the walking circles along the path we took: Mountain to Mouth 2016: walking circles

And the rest of the journey follows here: Mountain to Mouth 2016: walk this land

M~M 2014: fire on water

We'd made it! Over 24 hours, 80km, 12 walking circles and uncountable blisters, but we'd walked from Big Rock in the You Yangs to the mouth of the Barwon River at Barwon Heads.
The walk itself is described in these three previous posts:
M~M 2014: the journey begins
M~M 2014: across The Bellarine
M~M 2014: the end is nigh
Some had walked the entire distance (about 30 of us I heard), others had walked sections, but now, about 1,000 people had assembled for the closing ceremony. As we had walked the final circle and taken our positions for the closing ceremony, darkness had fallen. The canoe which had travelled the entire distance with us, was now loaded with straw and there was a strong smell of diesel in the air.
Then, with a rising tide lapping at our toes we lined the beach, the walls and any available vantage point to watch the show.
Amidst an array of lights, the bird-like creatures from the opening ceremony reappeared and were joined by an array of dancers:


"Birds" from the opening ceremony at Big Rock

Dancers on the pier

 The Mayor was presented by each of the ward councillors with an item which was indiscernible at our distance but may well have been the bottles of water carried from Big Rock. Finally, the canoe was placed a specially designed vessel and lowered into the water.


The canoe in position

A flame was introduced and within moments, the whole vessel was alight.

Introducing the flame

The weather conditions were perfect. The river surface had barely a ripple and there was hardly a breath of wind as the flames took hold.

Ignition

And then, before the pier also went up in flames, the now flaming canoe was towed slowly out into the mouth of the Barwon.


Towed into the night

Receding into darkness

And with that, our journey was complete and another chapter had been added to storyline of the region.





M~M 2014: the end is nigh

On Friday and Saturday the 9th and 10th of May, I participated in the 2014 Mountain to Mouth extreme arts walk from the You Yangs to Barwon Heads. Parts 1 and 2 of the journey are described here:
M~M 2014: the journey begins
M~M 2014: across The Bellarine
Having endured the rain and the blisters, enjoyed the sunshine, listened to the music, seen the displays and walked the first 10 circles, we were nearly at our journey's end. A mere 11.5km or thereabouts remained. Nothing really, considering the distance we had already travelled. Right? Well, except that 8 of those kilometres were across sand.
After a brief stop at Point Lonsdale, we formed up once again and trooped out in the direction of the Point Lonsdale Surf Lifesaving Club. After a short walk along the road behind the dunes, it was up and over for our assault on the beach.

The flag-bearers departing Point Lonsdale

Throughout the journey I had heard murmurings from the walkers about tide levels, concern that it would be too high to walk and mutterings from the organisers that those who fell behind would be bussed to the next station (something I was determined to avoid by this stage). Fortunately, everything went to plan, we stayed on schedule and hit the beach with enough sand to walk on albeit with a clearly rising tide.

Heading to Ocean Grove

By this time, an 8km slog over a semi-solid surface was challenging to say the least, but we soldiered on. The weather remained picture perfect as sunset began to approach but whilst some of the travellers may have struggled with the sand, one did not:


The canoe getting a lift

On a custom-designed trailer, the canoe made its way across the sand towed behind a surf rescue vehicle, with its bottles of water from the wells at Big Rock still safely intact. And then finally, we had reached Ocean Grove.
The flag-bearers passed through the circle and I was greeted by my family who had arrived in time to walk the final section with the group.

Centre piece of the Ocean Grove walking circle

 We also walked the circle and had our "passports" stamped to mark our presence, after which I glanced around only to discover that the flags and the canoe were nowhere to be seen!


The canoe passes through the walking circle

A quick scramble - it could hardly be called a jog at that stage - ensued before I once again had the canoe and flags firmly back in my sights. I hadn't walked 77km only to miss the big arrival!

The final approach across the William Buckley Bridge at Barwon Heads

The final stage was a short one over firm ground and with a definite air of elation we crossed the William Buckley Bridge at Barwon Heads to be greeted by around 1,000 spectators who had come to join the festivities and watch the closing ceremony which was tipped to be a belter!


Flag-bearers walk the final circle at Barwon Heads as darkness descends

So, with darkness now upon us, we also walked the final circle and then took up position for the grand finale.

M~M 2014: across The Bellarine

Part 1 of the adventure: M~M 2014: the journey begins
On Friday evening we had arrived at our overnight destination in mild, clear conditions. Not so the following morning when the walkers reconvened to begin the final day of our adventure - a 50km walk through Geelong, down the Bellarine Rail Trail and along the beach to Barwon Heads.
In the pre-dawn darkness and with rain falling steadily, we gathered at the Waterfront before setting off at 6am on the shortest leg of our journey; a 2.7km trek up Moorabool Street to the banks of the Barwon where breakfast was available for those who needed it.


Walking circle at the Barwon River, Geelong

As we formed up again and headed out along the river, dawn was just beginning to sneak in. The rain continued to fall and coats and pack covers were a must.


The Barwon a dawn

This was one of the longest stages of the walk, covering over 10km up the hill from Geelong to Christies Road in Leopold along the Bellarine Rail Trail. By the time we arrived, the weather had finally cleared and the Leopold Football Club had the snags on the barbie so I had a sausage in bread and sat down to attend to the crop of blisters I was already cultivating on my feet.

The living walking circle at Leopold

The next step was to make my way through the walking circle - which I did at each of the twelve stations on the journey. The circle at Leopold is a permanent one, built in to the garden which can be walked at any time. The canoe arrived a little after I did and was handed over to a group of scouts who were to carry it to the next station.

Scouts who carried the canoe from Leopold to Drysdale

From Leopold, we covered the 7 or so kilometres to Drysdale where another walking circle awaited us in the form of an amazing display of local produce.

Drysdale walking circle

Centre piece of the Drysdale walking circle

 This was a brief stop and we were soon on our way to Queenscliff - the longest stage of our journey. Whilst the rail trail is a great path to follow and I have run and ridden this section on many occasions and love its views and scenery, as a walker, I found it dragged. My blisters were gaining some serious momentum and we just seemed to take forever to get to the ninth station at the Marine Discovery Centre in Queenscliff.

Walking circle at the Marine Discovery Centre, Queenscliff

Once there however, there was time to dress my blisters once again - a process which it seemed was of interest to at least two photographers!
And then we were off again. This time the canoe was being carried by a group of crossing supervisors - the only group I am aware of who came with a name.


Lollipop Lollipop carrying the canoe to Point Lonsdale

This section from Queenscliff to Point Lonsdale I have to say, was a treat. Possibly my favourite part of the whole walk. Maybe that was because it was short, or because the weather by this stage was sparkling and the views are expansive.

The mayor of the Borough of Queenscliffe and flag-bearers heading to Point Lonsdale

However, it seemed like no time before we were at Point Lonsdale where the crossing supervisors handed over to lifesavers and we stopped to regroup and I was able to see perhaps the most unique of all the walking circles.


Surf lifesavers prepare to escort the canoe to Ocean Grove

This one was on a different scale altogether and with around 11km to go, it was just what I needed - a circle which you walked with your finger!

Point Lonsdale walking circle

This miniature walking circle we were informed, was carved from limestone quarried at Fyansford and a close examination would reveal fossils still embedded in the stone. But once again, having stamped our "passport" to prove we had been there and done that, it was off to Ocean Grove...

M~M 2014: the journey begins

Over the two days of the 9th and 10th of May I participated in an amazing community event which took place across the region from the You Yangs to the mouth of the Barwon River: the Mountain to Mouth extreme arts walk. To do it justice requires a couple of posts at least. This is the first.
Following on from the original M~M in 2009, this event traced a path from Big Rock at the You Yangs to the river mouth at Barwon Heads. This time the M~M got underway with a "Gathering of the Elders" ceremony at Big Rock, conducted by Elder Bryon Powell.

Elder Bryon Powell

Elder Bryon Powell carries smoke to performers and the ceremonial canoe
during the opening ceremony

At the conclusion of the ceremony, the mayors of Geelong and the Borough of Queenscliff along with ward councillors wound their way through the first of twelve walking circles followed by walkers and other community members.

The mayors and councillors walk the circle beneath the You Yangs

The formalities concluded and Mayor Darren Lyons led the flags representing each of the council wards and their bearers as they started their journey to Barwon Heads. They were followed by the canoe which accompanied the walkers throughout our journey, carried by various community groups, beginning with the CFA.

The ceremonial canoe leaving for the walk, carried by CFA members and
bearing twelve bottles of water (one for each ward) from the well on
Big Rock - to be carried to the river mouth at Barwon Heads

Mayor Lyons leading the canoe through the flags of the 12 wards of the municipality

From the You Yangs, we wound our way via Serendip Sanctuary to Lara, the second station on the journey, arriving just on sunset.

The walking circle at Lara

Then, following a short dinner break, it was time to walk beside Hovell's Creek to the shores of Limeburner's Lagoon on Corio Bay where the third station awaited. With darkness now completely descended we took time to walk the circle before following the shoreline to the industrial heart of Geelong, passing Shell, Pivot, Ford and other significant industrial sites.
Our fourth station was at Moorpanyal Park where the walking circle was a glowing arrangement of crocheted coral and ceramic shells.

Crocheted coral in the walking circle at Moorpanyal Park

At this point, after several changes, academics from Deakin University took on the task of carrying the canoe to the Waterfront. Of course, as those carrying the canoe changed, likewise the flags were passed from group to group. Walkers came and went too doing stages here and there but some (myself included) aimed to make it all the way to Barwon Heads.

Representatives from Deakin University prepare to carry the canoe

From this station to the Waterfront was our final leg for the evening and the arrival of the canoe and the walkers at Steampacket Gardens (the fifth station) was timed to coincide with the end of the Geelong After Dark event.

The walking circle at the Geelong Waterfront

The centre piece of the Waterfront walking circle

By this stage we had walked 30km to reach the Waterfront where a resting ceremony was performed before we all adjourned for the evening, in preparation for a 6am start the following morning.

The canoe in position for a light display at the Waterfront

To be continued: M~M 2014: across The Bellarine.