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

Ardler - 03/11/13

There was a ferocious wind and not to dark a sky as we met at the leisure centre in Forfar, those that had braved the bothy on Saturday had received a good soaking on the way home and didn't fancy another tough day!

The plan was to head over the hill of the three cairns to Kirkmichael but it soon became apparent that we would be blown off the top of the hill so that idea was gone.  Talked then turned to Blairgowrie and the main road up but that was going to be into the wind for another 11 miles so we came to the idea of some shelter and an easy day.  On the way to Blair Ron & Gus oted for Coupar Angus and a cupee then Ardler and the rest of us headed towards Blair and out the Dunkeld Road.  Stopping to consult a map we chose a route to the East of Loch Clunie and headed for the Kinclaven Bridge.

When we turned at Clunie Loch and headed for Ardler wewere fortunate to have the wind behind us and a wee bit of warmth from the sunshine most of way through Coupar Angus and into Ardler where we had completed 46 miles in the morning, not bad considering the weather.

We had lunch and headed for home clocking up 60 miles for the day and home before dark.  Nice easy loop which is here if you fancy it.

Next weekend it s the transport cafe at Inchture with a 9:00am start.

St Andrews 27/10/13

With the clocks changing we had an extra hour in bed and got up to bright morning after a night of heavy rain.  The first 20 minutes were fine then a brief rain shower forced the water proofs on.

We were heading on an unusual route to Dundee, up the Dundee Loan, a right turn to Douglastown then a left up the hill to Kincaldrum, and left along to the Glamis Rd.

Angela turned, heading for Kirrie the Gus turned off heading for Newtyle leaving three of us to take the long grind up Lumley Den crossing the dual carriageway then down to Burnside of Duntrune where we turned left passed through Balumbie Golf Coursethe Michelin Factory and down to the Tay Bridge.  We stopped at the cafe for a warm up and by the time we left the sun was out.  We took the reverse of the route we normally follow into St Andrews where we had, probably, the pepperiest bowl of soup ever in the Whey Patt.

Heading for home we were into the wind up to Strathkinness but then we had the wind behind us most of the way back to Forfar.  We had to stop to put the rain gear on just before the bridge and we had some pretty heavy showers to go through before we got home.

The light was beginning to fade as we entered Forfar  as we entered Forfar we had completed 73 miles, a good total for the day.  The route is here if you fancy giving it a go.

This coming Sunday the plan is Kirkmichael starting at 9:00am from the leisure centre.