St Andrews 26/05/2013

At last a warn sunny say, maybe summer is here!  A good day for heading to the seaside so we set off over Carrot Hill for Dundee with Ron suggesting we stop to look for the Mor Brewery in Kellas, we didn't find it but it gave us a wee rest!

In Dundee Keith and Norman headed towards Arbroath and home, the rest of us headed for the bridge where we paused to look at the the old council office being demolished.

We had a stop for coffee and a roll ate the Tay Bridge Cafe then split up as Ron and Gus were heading for home leaving Charlie and I to head for St. Andrews. We took the usual route but turned up the hill towards Strathkinnes and down past the long descent towards the uni sports ground

We found our way to the harbour and had a bland plate of soup  before heading for home for a second shot at Carrot Hill then we went to Whigstreet an into Forfar - a good day out and 70 miles - the route is here

Clatterin' Brig 19/05/13

It's been about three months since we last visited the Clatterin' Brig at the foot of the Cairn O' Mount and as we set of from Forfar it looked like it might rain and there was a northerly wind to impede our progress.

Seven of set out towards Horney Cross Shielhill then Windsor Terrace to Brechin, we have come back that way a few times but had not headed out that way for a while so it made a fine change with only a couple of small climbs.  W joined the usuall rout at the Co-op and climbed up through Trinity, Temple Wood, Ron turned off heading down towards Stracthro, whilst the rest of us enjoyed the long descent down to Gallery through Marykirk, from Marykirk we followed the main road to Laurencekirk.

Laurencekirk was quite busy for a Sunday morning as we weaved along the High Street before turning left down Station Road heading for Auchenblae and climed through Drumtochty Glen past St Palladuis Church, described as a fairy tale church with part of the original structure dating back as far as 1244 and Drumtochty Castle

On the final steep descent Charlie's rear brake cable snapped, we had covered just under 40 miles climbed 1800' and were ready for lunch, you get a grand feed in the restaurant and it was busy with cyclists.  We had a good break and thankfully David had a full set of cables in his bag so Charlie managed to change the cable and we were soon heading for home.

The sun was out and we had the wind behind us and were making good progress, but it wasn't Charlie's day as he hit a pothole we had a brief stop to get things back together before heading through Fettercarin and Edzell and turning for Memus and the Drovers.  It clouded over a wee bit on the way but when we arrived Gus, David and Charlie headed straight home  and Norman and I stopped for a couple of liquid refreshments.

On the way home we met up with Grahame Steel and his family out for a couple of hours in the sun.  We arrived back in Forfar  we had covered 68 miles the route is here if you want to try it