As more and more of us work from home and have more time on our hands as we are not commuting, and so many events being cancelled, we need some ideas to keep us busy. Here are some local ideas to help you with social distancing. If an activity is outside – do it on your own or with your immediate family and stick to the less populated areas and adhere strictly to the social distancing rules.
Go For A Run
Lane Cove has many bush tracks and hills to run where you won’t bump into anyone else and your outside in the fresh air. In the Cove’s running expert Andy Smith (from North Shore Running and Training and Fitrev) has put together a list of local hill runs and trail runs.
Go For a Walk in a Lane Cove Park or Bushland
We have so many wonderful Lane Cove Parks to walk in. Here is a list of parks that we recommend for a picnic. No more picnicing, just for a walk in the park and admire the view. Take your immediate family and self distance. Find a park with heaps of space and stay away from others.
Lane Cove Council has put together a bushwalk book which you can download for free.
Bushwalks Around Lane Cove 7th edition – Free Download
Go For a Bike Ride
Get on Your Bike and Ride. There are six easy-to-follow local bicycle routes featured in the Riding around Lane Cove brochure. These have been selected on the basis of their suitability and then signposted to make riding easier and safer.
If you have not ridden your bike for a while and the brakes are squeaky and tyres flat – local independent business Renegade Cycles will tune it up for you. You can drop it off at the back of the shop at their delivery dock and they will give your bike some loving care.
Ride your bike around Lane Cove and check out the public artworks throughout the Lane Cove area. Lane Cove Council has an interactive Streetside Gallery Map includes destinations and descriptions of the artworks to allow you to explore the local area in your own time. View the Streetside Gallery Map here
Hold a Netflix Party
Yep you can watch Netflix’s at your house while your friends watch it at their house. Nextflix Pary is a Google Chrome extension and it is FREE (you still got to pay for Netflix). Find it here.
You better eat something while you watch your fav show. Here is a list of local businesses who deliver and don’t worry you can get yummy stuff like ice cream and gelato delivered.
Dance Like No- One is Watching or Have a Virtual Dance Party
Spotify has a collaborative playlist feature. It’s a bit like an old fashioned mixtape.
If you want to dance with some mates then set up a link via Skype
Start a Virtual Book Club
Grab a group of friends, decide on a book and a date to hold your book club. Then use a video conferencing app to meet. Many people are using Zoom, the video conferencing app. You can host a book club with up to 100 people at a time. Keep the meeting to under 40 minutes and it is FREE. If you want to extend the meeting then there are plans.
With Zoom, you can change your backgrounds and pretend you are on the beach or at the top of a mountain.
If you are starting a book club, you can order the book you want from the Lane Cove Library with their new Library to Your Door.
A first for Australia, Lane Cove Council has launched a ground-breaking new service enabling all residents to have library items delivered directly to their door.
The service, operated by Lane Cove Library and launched in October, is Australia’s first seamless online-shopping style public library experience, called Library to Your Door.
For a small fee of $2.50, time-poor residents can reserve items and have them delivered within three working days of the item becomes available.
A pickup service for any items borrowed from the Library is also available. The pickup service costs $1 per item.
Library to Your Door is available to residents aged 18 years and older who live within the Lane Cove Local Government Area. More details here.
Go on a Tree Trail Walk
This local project aims to encourage the Lane Cove community to enjoy, value and conserve local trees with maps to guide you on your walk or cycle. Each trail starts in the Plaza. Choose from Plaza Tree Trail (1km walk), Stringybark Tree Trail (2km walk or cycle) and Riverview Tree Trail (3km walk or cycle). Find out more or even nominate your favourite tree.
Go Fishing
Fish at the number one Fishing Spot in Lane Cove – Cunnighams Reach. Cunninghams Reach is accessed from Burns Bay Road via a loop road below Figtree Bridge. This is a small grassed area with sandstone rocks to Lane Cove River.
Spring Clean
Engage in spring cleaning, clear clutter and donate household items. A clean space always makes you feel better. The Community Recycling Centre is now closed.
Share Your Cooking Stories
Some ITC followers have set up a free FB group to connect people around cooking during this time.
People have historically connected over food. And in this uncertain time, food is becoming a source of stress, anxiety and panic for so many.
They have created a place where we can all get inspired and share the recipes.
So whether it’s a recipe that freezes well, can be made of basic ingredients or is a new creation that you hacked together, they are inviting people from around the world to come and share it with this group.
http://facebook.com/groups/lockdowncookingcollective
Tips on How to Survive Self Isolation
If you are self-isolated (for example you have returned from OS). We have put together a list of businesses who can deliver to your door. Read more here.
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