"Two castles, a river and a lost
soul!
Seven set off on a lovely sunny
afternoon and Dick had a plan which everyone agreed to. First excitement was
the short vertical climb from the river up towards Crathes where Dick showed
his off road skills. We then went through the castle grounds and headed east
until we came to a junction by a bridge that took us up through a farm and onto
a rough track through the back of beyond - we ended up on a familiar road in
the direction of Drum Castle. After a short climb we went through the castle
grounds and decided to return to the Milton for coffee.
We headed along the Deeside Way,
stopping at the football pitch and noticed that one of our cyclists was missing
- Jack had taken the shortcut, misinterpreting the thoughts that everyone else
seemed to have about giving the river run a try.
Without an ounce of compassion for
Jack the six headed down to the river bank for a memorable cycle as far as the
track went before returning to the Deeside Way. We again headed down to the
river at Crathes and after another glorious river run we climbed the fence at
the football pitch and headed for coffee, where we were reunited with our
friend Jack, who had been there for half an hour!
It was a cracking cycle :)"
Distance - 37 kms. Climbing - 289 m.
Thursday brought a rare away day, reported on this time by John P:
"Solid,
serious biking!
I have been in holiday mode for the last (erm) six weeks, and the prospect of a serious Lock Muick Circuit was a bit daunting as most of my training recently has involved flexing the right elbow to get the glass to the mouth. Equally the thought of an 07:15 alarm, so I stood a chance of getting me, bike and car to the Guide Hut by 08:30, felt quite harsh. Nevertheless, in the spirit of searching out new coffee shops I rocked up at the Guide Hut to be met by seven athletes chomping at the bit for a ‘real ride’; Les, John M., Ian S., Aiden, Dick, Myself (JP), Chris and Mike the Reilly.
It was Mike’s suggested route and it proved a good’un despite the rather misty start to the day (a direct consequence of being too early!). Bikes were attached to cars and we made a stately (nay regal) convoy ‘up the valley’ behind a bloke in a red Mazda. We parked in the big car park behind the kirk at Ballater: Bikes off, clothes adjusted, bird-seed bars stowed, cars locked and off.
The first third was the slog from Ballater to Loch Muick; but a good slog it is, through beautiful countryside. We had to deal with more traffic than I would have anticipated and eventually left the waterfall to our right and emerged into the open moorland. The gradient eases as you progress to the car park and ranger’s hut. Here there was also the opportunity for a loo stop, so a little rush of blokes with inadequate bladders headed for the stalls. A little snack was also taken and gradually everyone realised we were not alone. Midges. Mike I think was on the verge of a Yellow Card for not warning us and suggesting repellant, but in all fairness… no, no, no he should have known! And who said anything about fairness… Yellow Card. Done.
So we didn’t tarry, and made our way to the loch and across the bridge (more midges and a photo or two) and began to head down the other side. Turning up left on the Landy Track, there is some uphill to be done, but not brutal and gradually we crested (is this Olympic-speak?) in the broad valley alongside Lochnagar. It is a delightful cycle along to the deer fence; we passed a couple of posh Range Rovers (but no recognisable royalty… probably hiding in the boot) and had a bird-seed bar break. Down to the high deer gate and man-handling of bikes over the top. Good team work chaps!
A fairly rapid return to to tarmac, reluctantly leaving the distillery to our left and back along the South Deeside Road. As we approached Ballater, Mike was for ever promising a, “Really good downhill”, what he wasn’t telling were the bits of rolling uphill, which certainly on my tired legs felt plenty of a challenge. Eventually, this wonderful bit of down hill (well not bad anyway) took us close to Ballater. It was then, onward, past the still present debris of the river and so to Rock, Salt and Snails cafĂ©. Very friendly welcome, good range of good scones and good, mainstream coffee.
The weather was fair enough for a table for eight outside and the scones and coffee were enjoyed in, what was by now sunshine. Various gadgets and electronic equipment assured as we had scaled the equivalent of Everest, averaged a speed just slightly slower than Mark Cavendish and burnt off our whole body weight in calories.
Excellent Mike, well done on the route; there was also a lot of enthusiasm to
do some more bike-rack starts before the weather shuts them down;
Aviemore, Dyce to the beach (admittedly odd, but sounded good at the time) and
what about a return to Tarland…"
Distance - 42 kms. Climbing - 530 m.
Whilst the A team had an away day, Scott reported on the B team's outing:
"Three
of us turned up at the Guide Hut this morning for a B Team ride, Robin, Scott,
and visitor/potential new recruit Justin Greenwood. Platform 22 was the
decided as the destination so we headed out past Inchmarlo to Easter
Beltie then along Craigmyle Road to Torphins and Platform 22 where coffee
and scones (up to their usual excellent standard) was enjoyed. Returned
via Campfield to Banchory.
No
photo, distance travelled 17 miles"
Elsewhere on Strava solo rides, Mike's been at it again - this time he cycled down to Glen Dye via the Slug and went over the Cairn the tough way - from south to north - a total distance of 85 kms with an amazing 1,398 m of climbing.
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