Record turnout

John Meaden reports:

"The current December mild spell encouraged a record gathering of 17 Freewheelers for the 10am start . Possibly certain occasional participants were flushed out by the recent email of last dates of attendance ? The record number was even more remarkable as several  notable regulars were missing.

Drum was the chosen destination mainly due to the group size and we split into 2 groups . 8 of us went out on the 'low ' route - Rob , Dave , Rufus , Robin , Ken B , Bob , Ian D and myself . Rob went up off the Way early to join the ' high' group .  We did the well trodden but excellent 2 castles route - through the Crathes West gate then right towards Drum via the rough track then up the hill and left into Drum Castle grounds and the sweeping downhill to the Garden Centre .

The 'high' route group were Chris , Jeff , Johns L and Mo , Drew , Jack , Scott , Ian Sh and Dick . This group took the Hirn road route into Drum - inexplicably they arrived at the cafe before us - which we put down to a few social conversation stops despite our incredibly rapid progress in between  . 

After coffee we switched routes with 10 of us heading back on a conventional Deeside Way with the remaining core of the high group doing a reverse 2 castles .

On leaving Drum the sun was out and it was a very pleasant run back apart from a bit of bike chain trouble for Robin .

My Strava had 34.7 k and 199m"

John Morton supplied the following additional photos, starting with the Strava fly-bys:

l-r: Rufus de Silva, John Morton, Robin Brodie, Dave Williamson, Jack Simpson, Ken Black, Ian Dring, Bob Elder, Drew Leslie, John Meaden, Rob Pollard, John Larkin, Scott Hunter, Dick Taylor, Chris Low, Jeff Dickens & Ian Sharp. But who was the shadowy cameraman?

That same morning, 3 Freewheelers were having an away day at Gleneagles, where we cycled round the resort and the golf courses there - good fun:

Ian Stewart, Keith Gray and Malcolm Grigor

A very modest 16 kms with 134 m of climbing.