Midweek news

Les is keeping up his training - another 31 kms run on Tuesday - and Rufus was out round Scolty - twice apparently - on Wednesday morning - a total of 12 kms.

Keith, Colin and I headed south of the river on Wednesday afternoon, intending to do the Park Bridge loop, but we missed a turning and went too far south and head to head back a bit on the Slug Road before getting back on track again to Durris and down across the Dee, where we took this photo on the bridge:

Our cycle covered 31 kms in all with about 900 feet of climbing.

I was a late cancellation from the usual Thursday morning run which was planned for the newly extended Tarland Way - a point Scott noted in his match report:

"Only four responded for today's ride then a late call off due to suspicious circumstances meant there were just three of us turned up at the Guide Lodge this morning Dick, Jeff and Scott. Forecast for the early part of the morning was good but closing in later with rain and gale force wind. Not put off by these profits of doom and gloom the hardy three packed up the cars and set off for Aboyne. Leaving the cars outside the Black Face Sheep, bikes were mounted and off we sped up the Tarland Way full of excitement and anticipation of testing out the "new extension" to the track.

Bits of the route were a tad muddy with one section forcing us to dismount and trudge through a mix of mud and cow s#** but such was the determination to find this new extension the trio soldiered on. Alas any thoughts of a nice smooth ride along a newly prepared track from Coull Church into Tarland avoiding the road were shattered. Three miles of soggy grass, ruts and pot holes proved a bit of an ordeal not to be repeated in a hurry. Returning to the road the now somewhat exhausted threesome headed up over the hill and down to Dinnet joining the Deeside Way to Aboyne for a well earned coffee and scone.

Although the wind picked up slightly no rain fell so the weather people got it right again????

Distance covered was 16 miles."

Dick's Strava shows the route map and the stats - https://www.strava.com/activities/431292401

Dick also supplied the following photos:

Scott at end of Tarland Way

Jeff Scott and Dick at end of Tarland Way