"On a very cold crisp morning 6 Freewheelers shuffled and slid to the Guide Hut at 10 am , the later start allowing the temperature to rise to about minus 3 - John Mo , John L , Dick (on conventional power) , Chris , Drew and myself .
We decided to head for the Potarch cafe vie Home Farm and
Craiglash . Once exposed to the weak sun it was not too bad at all and the
roads were ok . At the top of Craiglash 3 went down the road route with Dick ,
Chris and I heading up , then down the rough track .
Usually muddy this track was of course frozen solid -
much of the downhill was good fun but the frozen puddles were solid - not
breakable crust - and to be avoided . No spills and all down safely .
The road crew beat us down and were cosily huddled around
the log fire at Potarch . The feeding of the 6 by 3 scones was helped by the
odd egg roll ( John Mo) and crispy something for Drew . All washed down with
fine coffee - good service all round .
We then climbed towards Shooting Greens meeting some lost
bikers who had come down the hill looking for the Deeside way route to
Banchory- they went down the main road . We took the second track left near the
top , down to the sand quarry and the fishing huts loop then along the river
track - ice patches and frozen ruts on the narrow section were treated with
respect - one or 2 half spills but no damage .
Then out through the arch and home . Considering the
chill it was a very rewarding ride . Water bottles were full of ice and there
was quite a bit of ice flowing down the Dee ( Gru I think Dick called it ).
Lots of cameras in use - Dick and Johns Meaden and Morton supplied these:
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