Had every intention of spending my spare half hour doing some rigorous walking along the Yarra Trail. Then, as I was walking past the well known Collingwood Children's Farm, I was waylaid and kidnapped.
The Farm Cafe has been there for years but during extensive renovations they snuck it right up to the walking and cycling track so they could lure would-be exercisers with the promise of a fat muffin and good coffee.
Waylaid by a fat muffin
I am afraid in my case I was easily lured by this gigantic apple muffin.
The ambience is gorgeous with an outside/in feel to it. There are window frames but no walls and rustic tables adorned with large vases of native flowers.
Your back is to the city and you look out over foliage. It so tree-ed and rural you could be smack in the middle of the countryside. Which is pretty amazing when in reality you are only four kilometres out of the Big Smoke, and if you kept walking through that foliage it would soon part to reveal the sprawling suburbs. Talk about a green belt.
Cyclists can prop their bikes up against the fence.
Easy place to watch your bike. So close to the track.
For many walkers and cyclists it is a pit stop on the trail that stretches from the city to Templestowe and on to Eltham.
I was waylaid only long enough for that muffin but the food looked good.
Items include a farmers breakfast that included bubble and squeak, green eggs (caramelised feta with silver beet herbs and garlic aeloi), and poached pears with nut granola and ploughman's lunches. Heck, they even served organic sausage rolls and cornflakes.
So by all means, take a stroll past Collingwood Children's Farm, but be careful because that muffin has legs. I swear. And it grabs you when you are trying your best to exercise.
