Thursday Freewheelers

Our cub reporter from the Thursday Deeside ride is Jack:

"I have been coerced into making an attempt at recording today's efforts following a good dose of bullying from some of the assembled riders.

With the Aviemore 3 lochs trip abandoned early primarily due to the adverse weather forecasted for the area, 6 good souls turned up at the Guide Hut in anticipation of getting wet at some stage during today's local run. 

1300hrs passed as we waited for Iain Wright, who, I understand was down to join us. Iain didn't show but Pete turned up after having his porridge.

Usual route discussion slightly complicated by the possibility of having to consider flooded roads. Anyway we headed out over the Feugh Bridge and past Les' abode - no life evident at that time!

We continued west towards Mill of Cammie and downhill towards Strachan but cut off at Templeton Croft and headed for the now infamous AA box on the Cairn road. Brief stop there with some talk of no brake use on the downhill section to the B976 at Feughside Inn. The observant among us noticed the high water levels in the burn beside the road with signs above the left hand verge of some recent serious water flow.

From there we headed west towards our chosen coffee stop at Finzean Farm shop. On the way there we battled at least a 2 gear headwind with only 2 athletes choosing the path adjacent to the road.

The usual coffee and scones were ordered and discussions were had on the referendum and camping in Europe.

A longer stop than maybe normal was the order of the day and when we emerged there was still no evidence of any rain and the usual team photo was supplemented by a more unusual shot of us all aboard the kids' wooden train outside the shop. John Perry takes credit as being the instigator of this lark.

The return route chosen was up over "monument hill"- some climb that! The descent to Ballogie telephone box coffee shop was accompanied with some whopping and hollering but we all made it safely down.   We then headed eastwards to the Potarch road past Potarch Lodge with its new wall and then over the bridge to the Deeside way towards Kincardine O Neil and branched off to go uphill and join the road to Glassel Quarry.

Mike athlete Reilly then took off like a scalded rabbit and disappeared up the hill only to be seen again at Glassel Quarry. He admitted to being on a Starva run and was duly awarded a red card for his anti-social behaviour.

"To horse" was the cry and we took off downhill branching off towards Glassel. A more social bunch held together until we got to ITE Brathens.

This is where the majority headed off right and I continued solo down towards Raemoir and home.

A good run was had by all and we were back well in time before the football KO. I understand that photos and route will be sent separately by others."

l-r: Mike Reilly, Peter Seago, John Perry, John Meaden in the baby seat, Jack Simpson as engineer and Ian Sharp driving.