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.

AGM - Ardler & The Belmont Arms 20/10/13

With the clubroom still under repair from the flood we met in the Osnaburg with the club treating the membership to bacon rolls, tea & coffee - not something we could have in the clubroom.

Ron and Mary had previously announced that they were standing down as president and secretary so a change of leadership  was the main order of the day.  Charlie was nominated and accepted the position as President and Brian Batson moved from Vice President to Secretary and Raymond Moug is the new Vice President.

The rain had stopped and it was a nice mild day by the time we headed off from the Littlecauseway.  Ardler was the planned destination and we headed along the Bogside Rd at a gentle pace until the first of two punctures gave us a wee rest.

It was getting to opening time and there was a distinct change in the pace after the second stop.  The main group was just nearing Ardler when the breakaway 2 came back to us with the news that The Tav was not serving food today so a quick discussion on a new venue resulted in the Belmont Arms being chosen as the new venue.

We hadn't been there for a while so it was a welcome change. The Belmont Arms has gone through many changes over the years and is now back in the hands of the Kinpurnie Estate, if you have £1.5 M in your back pocket it could be yours along with 50 acres!

The bar staff set up a table for us and the food was fantatstic!  We headed back out into the sunshine for the 17 miles home at a steady pace getting back into Forfar just before four oclock.  A good day out!

Next week we meet at 9:00am for a run to St. Andrews.