Mince Pie Run - 22/12/13

Ron and Pat were hosting this years Christmas run in Kirriemuir so we had a couple of hours to do the 6 miles up the road.  The weather was mixed as we set off for Inverarity, the wind was pretty strong so we turned early and headed for Douglastown past Kinnettles House and got our first soaking

We regrouped and headed up towards Glamis and got caught in another heavy rain shower, the wind was getting stronger and with no sign of the rain easing we headed to the Glamis Hotel for a coffee and the chance to dry out.

As always we were made more than welcome they quickly cleared a couple of tables allowing the 12 of us sit and have a bleather.  The rain stopped and the sun came out an it was a very pleasant run as we were blown up the hill to Kirrie where soup and treats were waiting for us.

Jimmy and Donal ready for the rain!

Many thanks to Ron and Pat for hosting the afternoon,

Meikleour - 15/12/13

Another fine Sunday morning saw a good size group heading for Christmas soup at Meikleour home of the longest and tallest hedge in the world.

We headed out via the Drumgley and the Bogside Road turning right up to Ruthven past the old castle and left onto the A926 towards the 5 Rd roundabout. Gus, Jimmy, Rona and Tom turned off here leaving 5 of us to head for Blair.

We were heading down a wee incline and as I changed to the big ring my chain broke so we had a brief stop to mend it, before heading n to Blair.  Keith turned for home at the lights leaving 4 to press on.  It always seems like much further from Blairgowrie to Meikleour than the 4 miles it is but Donald took the pace followed by myself then Charlie and we flew along the road to the crossroads.  Donald turned for home leaving just three of us to have soup and a pint, the big fire was on in the bar and it was an effort to go back out into the cold!

We headed to Coupar Angus then Ardler for a top up before heading back into Forfar with the wind behind us.  A good day out!

Fettercairn - 08/12/13

We have been lucky with the weather recently and today was no exception after yesterdays -2 deg C it was positively balmy!  Jimmy led us at a strong pace as far as Brechin via Suttieside and Aberlemno where we dropped down to Craigend Wood avoiding the big hill at a strong pace, not bad for 82.

Jimmy was heading for Edzell and the hard hills of Glen Lethnot, Gus turned with him leaving 6 of us heading up the Brae from Brechin to the hills above Northwater Bridge.  We had, what wind there was, behind us and as we dropped down to the old bridge crossing the River North Esk  a light drizzle cooled us down.  We stopped on the old bridge to put the waterproofs on before crossing the A90 and heading for Edzell.

We were stopping at the cafe which has changed hands allot over the years, it has recently been refurbished and is owned by the estate.  The food has always been god and we were soon warmed up and fed.

Heading home we were into the breeze but it was gentle and Keith was setting a good pace till David got a puncture, we found a sheltered spot to change the tube we headed off but only got a few hundred yards and it was time to bring out The Clubby Tire!

Tire changed we set off again heading for Careston and a short route home via Finavon arriving home before dark, with 50 miles completed and only a little light drizzle to cope with.

Next week we head for Meikleour, 10:00am from the leisure Centre.

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!

The Bothy - 17/11/13

The first regular short run to the bothy saw six head out on a cold calm morning, yesterdays gales had disappeared  Pearsie passing Mary at Hornycross who was waiting for Etta.

We were heading for Balintore Castle for the fist time this year, the high winds had scuppered previous attempts.  The climbs are quite steep in places but progress was good and we arrived at the Bothy to be met by 4 others with the ladies joining us a few minutes later.

Big Jim had the fire well lit and the bothy was almost full, it was good to see it being well used on a Sunday.  We headed off in various directions, the ladies heading for Peel Farm, others direct to Kirrie and Forfar.  Five of us went round via Ardler with Jimmy heading straight home leaving 4 of us for a light refreshment.

We headed for home just getting into Forfar as the darkness shrouded Forfar, thankfully we were in before the rain came down.

Next week it's Glen Clova leaving the leisure centre at 10am with the stop at the Glen Clova Hotel

Inchture - 10/11/13

We welcomed a new face on a very cold crsip morning - Norman from Laurencekirk  joined us for his longest outing to date.  Seven of us headed from the leisure centre in the direction of Newtyle with Ron heading for home.  Tom was just out for a short day  round by Ardler as we began the climb up the Dundee Road turning right for Lundie and through to Abernyte and down the hill to the truck stop where we had our refueling stop.  There arn't not many places that you can get tea, bacon & black pudding roll and a cake for under a fiver.

From Inchture we headed to wards the coast before climbing up through Longforgan then up towards Liff  and Muirheadwhere we were afforded fantastic views over Dundee into Fife.  From Muirhead we turned left back to Newtyle where Charlie got a puncture. 

We found a spot in the sun to get the tube changed before heading back to Forfar, we turned left at Easie school and headed for the Bogside Rd,  meeting Norman on the road, and back into Forfar via Paddie and the Zoar Inn.  57 miles back into Forfar was a good day in the sun, quite a lumpy route - HERE

Next week it's the Bothy with a 10:00am start