Friday morning - 3 more rides to report

I nipped down to the Ladies Australian Open Golf again on Wednesday - it was Pro-Am day. I watched Charley Hull (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charley_Hull) playing the 18th (her 9th) and before she putted out and whilst her playing partners were putting, she walked over to the other corners of the large green and laid down little discs and then started practice putting to them, completely ignoring her amateur partners. Once they had holed out, Charley stepped up and holed her (real) putt. Extraordinarily rude, I thought - I assume it was within the rules of the Pro-Am, but certainly not the spirit.

Anyway, back to cycling - I completed just 22 kms that day. Next up was the usual Freewheelers Thursday outing, reported on by Jeff:

"The Number of the Beast

The shriek of eldritch laughter rent the sky. "Mwah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-hah!  When shall we three meet again?"

"Well I can do Thursday, but only if we go at 09:30" said Scott.

"Fine by me" said Jeff.

"Why am I still not getting the flippin' e-mails" said Ian.

Now, since it seems most of the usual coven members were off doing "Planking on Ice", or "Strictly Come Planking", or some-such nonsense, a select and magical three of Messrs Hunter, Sharp and Dickens set off on Thursday morning.  Since I'm writing this, it started in Strachan, picking up stragglers at the guide hut on the way, and depositing them at Burnett Park on the way back.

At the guide hut, a brief casting of spells divined that we should head for Torphins, with a guiding principle of staying in the lovely sunshine and off ice as much as possible, not that conditions were at all bad really.  We exited Banchory up the Glassel road, diverting past Home Farm, then falling back onto the conventional route via Mains of Easter Beltie, and finishing the approach to Platform 22 via the little north-side ring road.

Some cack-handed faffing with cameras in front of Platform 22 brought forth an Angel of Mercy to take the team photo, and we then trooped in for coffees and some very fine Dark Chocolate and Cherry scones, still warm from the oven.  Scott was very keen on the "damn fine conversation" as this killed enough time to avoid succumbing to Ian's eagerness to return via the Back o'Torphin's Golf Club route. 

So a more conventional return via the Campfield road was executed, though some local farmer had seen fit to resurface this in mud. The finish into Banchory was Glassel road again, with a diversion through Brathens before cutting back. Ian and Scott dropped off at Burnett Park, with a last shout of "And tell Ian Stewart to sort out those address lists!" from Ian Sharp. Jeff finished the course by going round via Mill of Cammie.

Total distance:  39 km (26 for Ian and Scott) and 666 m of ascent/descent (and hence the title!! - though only 540m for Scott and Ian). Another great morning out, and well spent not planking!"

Elsewhere, as Jeff referred to above, John P - and possibly some others? - elected to head to the slopes. He sent this missive:

"Should have been biking 

One itinerant Freewheeler (John P.) decided today was the Scottish skiing day to take my good wife to the Cairngorms for and idyllic day of blue-bird skiing. Me and another six and half million punters descended (ascended?) on the Cairngorm lift and café system. Suffice to say it was way beyond its capability and whilst there was sun and snow, the pistes were narrow, thin, icy low down and typically Cairngorm plateau high up (icy wind). We battled with the uplift, deciding to go the long way up Car Park, Corrie Cas, M1. By the time we had achieved the Ptarmigan café we were cold and ready for coffee. Ha! You mean that is the QUEUE… for coffee? We did bear with it (each relaying to ‘you know where’ - more queues). We warmed-up and decided to retreat entirely from the mountain. White Lady proved a good run until it got icy. We stupidly thought we would do M1 Poma back up to White Lady before calling it a day (morning!). M1 then decided it needed the ‘ammer so we waited and waited and waited whilst the ‘ammer was brought. Ultimately we gave-up and headed right back down, got in the car and had a nice genteel walk round Loch Morlich. Which is what we should have done in the first place… or biking… or tax forms… anything really, except for (not) skiing with six and half million others."

Finally, early this morning (Friday), I went for a short run - 33 kms - and here's the photo from the Dunes at Henley on a lovely cool, slightly cloudy morning:

Following John P's lead and staying on the multi-sport theme, here's one from my deep sea fishing trip last Sunday:

Two of these salmon and one snapper was my share of our haul.