Another bout of big girls blouse syndrome has kept me away but a few injections of some fancy chemicals and a few good drams of Naked Grouse got me back, unfortunately though to much to soon!
The Meikleour Arms Hotel is a club favorite and knowing it was too far for a first time out I should should have turned for home with the group at Blairgowrie! Norman, Charlie and I pressed on towards Dunkeld being passed by and re passing a couple of young ladies from Kirriemuuir when they stopped for a rest!
We turned left the bottom of Loch of Clunie and up the south side, Charlie decided on a longer run whilst Norman and I took a left heading through the bottom of the picturesque Glendelvine coming out at the Old Military Rd at the primary school. We took another left through Spittalfield to Meikleour. Arriving at 11:55 we debated would they be open or not and should we head on but the door was open and they were already serving. It was warm enough to sit out side when sheltered from the breeze.
We decided on the direct route back to Coupar Angus then through to Ardler for a refreshment in the beer garden thinking we might meet Gus and Dave who had turned off earlier at Blairgowrie, they weren't there and Stewart confirmed that they hadn't been in earlier either, after a couple of pints of Orkney Dark Island we headed back to Forfar via Eassie, and into the wind up Inglistonhill after the downhill past Glamis we took a right at Douglastown and past Kinnettles House, or Castle as it now prefers to be known as, and along to the path up the side of the dual carriage-way and down into Forfar. 60 miles in the sun - a pleasant Sunday out!
Tuesday, 6 May 2014
Monday, 5 May 2014
Jessie's Kitchen 23/03/14
With lunch booked for 12 five of us headed up the Dundee road on my first trip out for quite a while, blouse syndrome aka sore knee! A few at the front were pushing on and Wee Jimmy needed a break at the top of the hill, feeling a bit faint so we had a blether before taking a more reasonable pace to Carrot Hill and nice and easy on the way up.
On the way down Keith took a left and headed for home and at the back road from Dundee to Forfar Jimmy was heading home as well, we were a wee bit early for our trip to Jessies so we turned left as well and got Jimmy up the long brae before we turned right towards Carnoustie and back into the Ferry.
Jessie's Kitchen is in a garden centre on Albert Rd, tucked out of the way but always very busy, to be honest it's yummy mummy hot spot and three sweaty cyclist were a bit out of place. The soup and sandwich combo was also pretty tasty and by the time we had finished the sun was out and we had a wee seat outside enjoying the views over the Tay.
We could have sat for a while but needs must and we decided on a route through Dundee, Liff and a long climb towards Newtyle then back home to Forfar, in the distance we could make out the hills round Loch Brandy covered in snow, a touch under 60 miles but a lovely spring day out!
On the way down Keith took a left and headed for home and at the back road from Dundee to Forfar Jimmy was heading home as well, we were a wee bit early for our trip to Jessies so we turned left as well and got Jimmy up the long brae before we turned right towards Carnoustie and back into the Ferry.
Jessie's Kitchen is in a garden centre on Albert Rd, tucked out of the way but always very busy, to be honest it's yummy mummy hot spot and three sweaty cyclist were a bit out of place. The soup and sandwich combo was also pretty tasty and by the time we had finished the sun was out and we had a wee seat outside enjoying the views over the Tay.
We could have sat for a while but needs must and we decided on a route through Dundee, Liff and a long climb towards Newtyle then back home to Forfar, in the distance we could make out the hills round Loch Brandy covered in snow, a touch under 60 miles but a lovely spring day out!
Wednesday, 5 March 2014
Arbroath - 03/03/14
With the sun shining and the wind not to strong we headed up up the Dundee Road and down to Inverarity and up the gradual climb to Whigstreet where we dropped down to the right and followed the wind pretty much as we could towards Arbroath with Ron stopping at Carmylie for a cuppee leaving the rest of us to go the the Meddowbamk Inn where we met up with Duncan and George.
Charlie headed straight for home leaving the six of us, Gus, Keith, Norman, Brian, David and myself to a run towards Montrose. Before we dropped down to Ferryden we took a left turn up to towards Rossie then a decision to keep the hieght we had gained saw us turn left onto the A92 for a mile or so before a right turn had us back towards Boysack offering good views down over Inverkeilor.
We stopped and regrouped for the last time just before the Crem and rolled through Friokheim as a group then straight back to Forfar with Gus and Keith setting a good pace getting us in well before 3 o'clock.
Net Sunday it's Edzell, leaving at 10 from the Leisure Centre.
Charlie headed straight for home leaving the six of us, Gus, Keith, Norman, Brian, David and myself to a run towards Montrose. Before we dropped down to Ferryden we took a left turn up to towards Rossie then a decision to keep the hieght we had gained saw us turn left onto the A92 for a mile or so before a right turn had us back towards Boysack offering good views down over Inverkeilor.
We stopped and regrouped for the last time just before the Crem and rolled through Friokheim as a group then straight back to Forfar with Gus and Keith setting a good pace getting us in well before 3 o'clock.
Net Sunday it's Edzell, leaving at 10 from the Leisure Centre.
Thursday, 30 January 2014
ACC Annual Lunch - The Drovers - 26/01/14
A big crowd had signed up for this run to the Drovers for lunch but the rain was dinging down so it was the usual suspects, Dave, Gus, Keith, Ron & Ian who headed up as far as Visocchi's for coffee and shelter.
With lunch booked for 12:30 we headed out round via Cortachy to try and get some shelter from the wind and rain, this worked pretty well but we did hit a bit od snow and slush at the high points.
We arrived drookit but in the knowledege that we were dafter than the other 14 who had come by car. Twenty sat down for a fine three course lunch with plenty refreshemnts during which time the sun came out!
We left about half past three and had a good run down the road as the wind had dropped and the rain had stopped.
The new runs list should be posted shortly, Sunday 2nd it's the Tilted Teapot in Burrelton (if it's shut its the pub) & Sunday 9th is Brechin Garden Centre.
With lunch booked for 12:30 we headed out round via Cortachy to try and get some shelter from the wind and rain, this worked pretty well but we did hit a bit od snow and slush at the high points.
We arrived drookit but in the knowledege that we were dafter than the other 14 who had come by car. Twenty sat down for a fine three course lunch with plenty refreshemnts during which time the sun came out!
We left about half past three and had a good run down the road as the wind had dropped and the rain had stopped.
The new runs list should be posted shortly, Sunday 2nd it's the Tilted Teapot in Burrelton (if it's shut its the pub) & Sunday 9th is Brechin Garden Centre.
Tuesday, 31 December 2013
The MacDonald Arms - 29/12/13
The last club run of the year started slowly with a puncture, thankfully it wasn't raining - just cold, sunny with a light breeze. We were heading to Balbeggie, the coffee shop in the garage has been closed for over a year now and was a popular stop for cyclists but we had not been to the MacDonald Arms at the top of the hill as a group before.
We made good progress through Newtyle and were heading for Laughing Horse Hill where Ron and Gus turned for Meigle and Ardler leaving the rest of us to slog up the hill. It's a lumpy route and we had a fair amount of ice and slush to contend with. We had passed through Kinrossie and were just a Thorngreen when disaster struck for Colin. The free wheel completely went so he was stuck, thankfully it was only a couple of miles to the pub and our lunch time stop and most of it was downhill so he was able to coast with David and I giving him a push up the hills.
Thankfully a relative was able to come and pick him up so he got home OK. We headed back along the main road but it was pretty busy so we turned off back into Kinrossie and the back roads to Ardler. Donal's chain was slipping and coming off, thankfully the roads were fairly flat so there wasn't to much need to change gears.
The wind had got up and it was getting cold, with frozen feet a stop for some in the Tav was required to thaw out before heading back to Forfar.
We made good progress through Newtyle and were heading for Laughing Horse Hill where Ron and Gus turned for Meigle and Ardler leaving the rest of us to slog up the hill. It's a lumpy route and we had a fair amount of ice and slush to contend with. We had passed through Kinrossie and were just a Thorngreen when disaster struck for Colin. The free wheel completely went so he was stuck, thankfully it was only a couple of miles to the pub and our lunch time stop and most of it was downhill so he was able to coast with David and I giving him a push up the hills.
Thankfully a relative was able to come and pick him up so he got home OK. We headed back along the main road but it was pretty busy so we turned off back into Kinrossie and the back roads to Ardler. Donal's chain was slipping and coming off, thankfully the roads were fairly flat so there wasn't to much need to change gears.
The wind had got up and it was getting cold, with frozen feet a stop for some in the Tav was required to thaw out before heading back to Forfar.
Boxing Day Run - Carnoustie - 26/12/13
After the went and windy Christmas Day Boxing Day was the complete opposite - bright, sunny and only a light breeze from the South West.
A good size group met at the leisure centre to work of the Christmas excesses and after a brief chat we decided on Carnoustie which would give us the wind behind us for most of the way back.
The side roads were slippy so we took the main road heading up the hills through Kingsmuir, Crachie stopping to regroup at Little Lochlair and a final decision on the route. We didn't expect anything other than the Coop to be open so were delighted to find that the cafe on the corner was open so we got coffee scones and rolls to warm up before the long grind up past Mains of Panmuir to Craigton past Affleck Castle, Lucky Slap and Husbandtown and onto the back road between Forfar and Dundee. It was fairly quiet but we turned left for Whiggstreet and Lour follwed by Caldhame and home.
A good size group met at the leisure centre to work of the Christmas excesses and after a brief chat we decided on Carnoustie which would give us the wind behind us for most of the way back.
The side roads were slippy so we took the main road heading up the hills through Kingsmuir, Crachie stopping to regroup at Little Lochlair and a final decision on the route. We didn't expect anything other than the Coop to be open so were delighted to find that the cafe on the corner was open so we got coffee scones and rolls to warm up before the long grind up past Mains of Panmuir to Craigton past Affleck Castle, Lucky Slap and Husbandtown and onto the back road between Forfar and Dundee. It was fairly quiet but we turned left for Whiggstreet and Lour follwed by Caldhame and home.
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.
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,
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