"OK so we failed, aagghh! How will we look Ian straight in the eye ever again - THERE WAS NO TEAM PHOTO. And what a team it was today, 5 athletic, highly tuned athletes arrived outside the Guide Hut as usual at 13:00 hours. However today there was one interloper of an age that the Freewheelers constitution would not allow; at the muster call, Dick, Scott John P, Jeff and Richard P. where all present and raring to go. (Richard being the upgraded version of John, whose hardware is stuck in the last century and won’t allow any further upgrades)
The usual umm’ing and aah’ing was refreshingly short, and we all agreed on the nice sunny afternoon it was, a trip to Platform 22 and back was very attractive. An uneventful trek up through town, right along the Glassel Road, through Burnett Park and on up and down to the old ITE centre. We lost Scott for a few brief moments along the back road as he had a critical stock trade to action that wouldn’t wait - cakes on him next week I believe. On up towards Mains of Easter Beltie (that seemed a name worth recording!) where we let ourselves through the very new and shiny gate across the track up from the farm. Decision time, were we going to make a bigger trip of it by heading out towards Sauchenbush (Get that name!) or doing the usual by dropping down to the main road and the wriggle round via Gallowcairn? Sense and stomachs prevailed and we headed more directly straight to Emma’s via the second option.
Good range of cakes with a notable pineapple and coconut scone topped off with passion fruit curd = Pretentious Delicious Scone, well done Emma! A fair bit of chatter re Christmas options including acknowledgment that the Christmas meal on the 12th included invite for spouses, partners and mistresses. Timing of this last comment was unfortunate as our waitress brought the cakes and scone just as I was saying mistress, slightly bemused, she retreated to attend to our beverages. (Noteworthy, Platform 22 is hosting a Christmas market on 5th Dec along with stalls, roast hog and who knows what else…)
The usual return route was embarked on via Craigmyle in the now very low sunshine. Gradually it slipped lower and we lost any source of warmth and it was quite crisp as we headed toward Home Farm and down the fairway to Inchmarlo Golf Centre. Jeff sped away to get home while there was still a bit of light and we all returned Burnet Park-wards after a very pleasant and not too stressful ride in the autumn sunshine. Excellent!
Dick's Strava shows 28 kms with 1,000 feet of climbing - https://www.strava.com/activities/433861836
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