"The sunshine proved a real crowd puller today with a record 13 attendees heading off from the Guide Hut, with the numbers swelling to 14 by the time we reached scone territory !
The starting pack were Ian Sh / Bob / Jeff / Jeb /Scott / John P / John M / Ken P / Iain W / Jack / Ken B / Mike R – plus an all too rare appearance from a founder member Colin Kilgour – who chose todays route.
We headed eastward along Deeside Way – heading for the “ scone destination “ of Drumoak Garden Centre – but Colin took us up the Castle Main Drive rather than from West Lodge, resulting in much huffing & puffing and yellow cards being mentioned.
We held off with the yellow card being Colin’s first offence !!
At this point John McWhinnie – who recently jetted in from USA- phoned to see where we were and to join us.
Up the usual way past Crathes School and along “ top road “ and down back of Drum Castle.
Lovely sunny weather was enjoyed by all as we sped downhill for our deserved scone break – to be met by John McW – he had taken “ route 1 “ via Myrebird road and the Deeside Way to join us.
So now we had 14 Freewheelers ( am sure a record attendance ) cueing up at the coffee shop upstairs in Garden Centre – much to the consternation of the usual elderly wifies out enjoying their quiet coffee !!
We agreed to take Deeside Way route home – with usual suspects breaking off near West Lodge to head home their own ways .
This overall route was a stroll for Colin – need to see more attendances from you Colin !!
A good ride enjoyed by all.
My estimate was circa 24 miles but I am sure John P will provide accurate route / distance details.
John Meaden is to provide the ( very large ) team photo."Slight correction to Ian's narrative above - the starting 13 was not a record attendance, but when the numbers increased to 14 later on, that equalled the record that was set for the cycle prior to the Xmas lunch.
John M supplied 2 team photos:
John P supplied the route map (and last Thursday's, which has since been added to the blog):
John P's Strava stats show a distance of 39 kms with 173 m of climbing.
On Sunday morning, I took the coastal esplanade route south to Glenelg - 41 kms with 259 m of climbing. On the way down, passing West Lakes, a pelican was showing more than a passing interest in what the fishermen were up to:
At the Patawalonga River, Glenelg, there's a replica of HMS Buffalo which is famous for transporting 176 of the original colonists of South Australia (which unlike the other Aussie states was not populated by prisoners from Britain), including the colony's first Governor Captain John Hindmarsh:
History lesson over - now for a first in the Freewheelers blog - beach volleyball! Couldn't linger long - might have got arrested:
Les was apparently also out on Sunday morning, but his Strava only shows a distance covered of 0.1 kms, which is not going to trouble the stats too much! What happened, Les?
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