Recent pan-European activity

Lots of action from various Freewheelers recently. In the Algarve, Les is still pedalling away. Whilst Dick, Ken P and I were slogging our way round the Costa del Sol golf courses, just along the coast, Les was out on 2 wheels again last Thursday on a 39 kms ride - https://www.strava.com/activities/417977747 

Do not believe everything you see on Strava, however. John P was also in southern Spain last week, walking the hills and round the city of Sevilla, using Strava to monitor distances walked.

Last Friday, Ian Dring made a tentative, under the radar debut when he ventured out to Platform 22 with John Meaden and Jack Simpson. John reported as follows:

"At a chance meeting at Tease on Friday morning between Jack Simpson and John Meaden the idea of a late morning cycle was floated and we duly set off from Burnett Park at 1115 joined by the 'still in training ' Ian Dring .

The conventional route to Platform 22 was followed in mild conditions with light winds . Coffee and plum/cinnamon scones were consumed (7/10. - very good) on Ian's tab hence Jack christened the group the Freeloaders .

After advice from bona fide Freewheelers we took the correct route north out of the cafe and along the minor road to Campfield - great views out to the west .

Then back via the old ITE site down the hill and right turn into the forest , left up to Glen O Dee hospital , on through the woods to old tip road then through the new houses to Cairds  Wynd.

Jack and Ian returned through Forestside and John looped back to Burnett Park.

18 miles ,  2 hours 45 mins , not sure how many feet ."

Believe me, the photo looks better upside down!

Today (Monday) a more "official" BVCG/Freewheelers outing. Ian Sharp broke with tradition and instructed us all to meet along the railway line to accommodate Colin's gentle return to Freewheeling. Like most e-mails, it was lost in translation by some - Jeb, being a non-Banchorian, wasn't exactly sure where to go, whilst Ken P, John P and I congregated at the start of the railway line at the east end of Burnett Park. Jack - who hadn't replied to say he was coming - apparently chose a point halfway between where I was and where we were supposed to be.

Eventually all 9 of us (excluding Jack) met up and headed up the usual route towards Hill of Brathens and beyond to Torphins. When we got to the point where we have do a short detour along the main Torphins road, we spotted a yellow jacket coming in the opposite direction from the Glassel road, hotfooting it to Platform 22. Yes, it was Jack, who had chosen the more direct route on the road to catch up with us.

So it was that the largest ever assembly of Freewheelers posed for the traditional team photo:

Back row l-r: Jeb Tyrie; John Perry & Scott Hunter.
Front l-r: Ian Stewart; Jack Simpson; Colin Kilgour; Bob Elder; Ken Page; Jeff Dickens & Ian Sharp.

In an effort to avoid another samey "boring" team photo, I had suggested we form a mini pyramid, using the benches and table top to create three different levels, but, a bit like e-mails, it was re-interpreted and the above raggle-taggle is what we got. I'll keep trying.

The return journey was the usual one via Campfield and Home Farm. My Strava stats (which included a return cycle to Caldwell & Dempster afterwards) showed a total distance travelled of 31 kms, with climbing of 1,000 feet - https://www.strava.com/activities/420773164