So I headed into the city yesterday to install at Mailbox 141. After a surprisingly trouble-free visit to Officeworks for printing, I was soon standing in front of the mailboxes inserting the printed barcodes and images into the little windows. Also ensconced in some of the mailboxes are pencils, chalk and envelopes, for participants to take on the walks with them.
Prior to placing the envelopes into the mailbox, I had to stamp and address them. This involved a trip to Australia Post to buy stamps, and also a stop at a cafe while I took the time to address, affix a stamp, and place a piece of paper inside each of the fifty envelopes. Being a rainy and generally miserable day however, this was a pleasant interlude from running around and getting soaked.
And now the Walking Project is ready to go!
Or so I thought …
While doing one last walk, to double-check the timing of a walking recording (compared to real-life walking time) along the Yarra, I discovered that a pontoon had been detached from the walkway, and the platform roped off. This appeared quite reasonable, as the little bridge-thingy appeared to be missing a few wooden slats. Unfortunately, Walk #2 invited the participants to turn left onto the platform and walk onto the pontoon. A few calls to City of Melbourne and Parks Victoria later, and still no answers as to when it will be restored (or if it will at all). So now what to do for Walk #2? Deciding that a simple post-it note next to the barcode in the mailbox saying “Beware: pontoon non-existent!” would probably confuse more than inform, I have re-edited the walk. The walk now halts where the pontoon was, and the audience remains on the walkway beside the river.
Should the platform and pontoon be restored during the next month, I will upload the original recording, as the pontoon was one of my favourite spots to record. Until then however, it would be rather unsafe to include directions to walk into the river!
The re-edited recording is now uploaded to SoundCloud, and embedded on the page for Walk #2, and the original has been removed entirely.
If anyone has already downloaded Walk #2, they should delete it, and download or stream the new file for a safer walking experience (or use their common sense and not walk onto a clearly dangerous bridge leading nowhere).
[Edit: A call from Parks Victoria this afternoon has now revealed that the pontoon has been relocated to Flemington for the duration of the Spring Racing Carnival, and will not return to Flinders Walk until the 18th November – after the Walking Project has concluded at Mailbox 141.]
And now the Walking Project is now ready to launch! Officially opening today at 5.30pm, we are having an opening party at Mailbox 141 which will begin with those interested taking a walk, and then meet up afterwards for a drink at Gogo bar from 6pm. Come along to Mailbox, bring your headphones, and take a walk with me (or rather my disembodied voice). For those who can’t make it tonight, the project will continue until 15th November.
For those wondering what will happen to their envelopes and comments from walks number 3 and 5, when I receive the envelopes in the mail I will be posting the contents on this blog. I will also be regularly visiting the location where participants are invited to write in chalk in the wall, to document the contributions, and including them here as well.
If you have taken any photos or videos during the walks, or have a comment to make, send them to me via the email address on the contact page, and I will to upload them to the blog too.
And now the Walking Project is up and running. So if you are free this evening – would you like to go for a walk?
The Walking Project 