Montrose - 1/12/13

Thankfully it was not as cold as last week as eight of us set off on a nice gentle run to Montrose heading along the Arbroath Rd to Friockheim hoping to meet Colin en-route.  We were just past the crem when we did meet up just as Ron turned and headed for home.

Another great day for cycling, not to cold and hardly a breath of wind, it wasn't long before we got to the coast, the sea was very calm and there were a couple of large boats just outside the harbour entrance.  Keith turned for home at the roundabout whilst we stopped at the sandwich shop as we were heading for Duncan's house.

Raymond and Iain were waiting for us there and the kettle was hot so we were filled up with coffee, tea, sausage rolls and penguin biscuits.  We had been there for about an hour before Gus wanted to know which pub we were heading for so we said our good byes.  Charlie had to drop of an envelope at Kip's so we had a wee tour of Montrose before heading towards Brechin with Colin and Brian turning of at the Bridge of Dun.

We climbed up through Brechin past Mackie Motors and the High School turning left up the hill past Craigend Wood and onwards to Finavon then home to Forfar after a brief stop to warm up.

Next week it's Fettercairn

Glen Clova - 24/11/13

Nine set of at a gentle pace for a winter run to the Glen Clova Hotel for lunch, summer time runs usually involve a trip round Prosen first but with the frost and short daylight hours we usually go straight up.

We stopped at Dykehead for a breather and to have a look at the works taking place at the hotel.  Pat caught us up after coming direct from Kirrie, it was quite warm in the sun but we were soon heading in the direction of Clova.

The ride up was lovely but the devastation from the previous Wednesdays 80 mile an hour wind was plain to see with hundreds of trees blown over, thankfully today there was only a gentle breeze so we made good time arriving bang on opening time.  We always get a fine plate of soup at Clova and today was no exception.

When we ventured out the temperature had dropped and we ignored the Road Closed sign heading down the North side of the glen.  It wasnt long before we found out why the road was shut, half the forrest was blown down so it was a wee bit of cross country biking through the fields.

We regrouped at Dykehead for the run down the hill with the usual suspects heading for some rehydration in the Drovers getting home just as the light failed.

Next week it's Montrose and lets hope for another nice day!