Spring Run 13 March 2017

John Morton did the honours again

"Fine weather brought out 10 riders and a few pairs of shorts :)

Jack Simpson, Scott Hunter, Rob Pollard, John's Perry, Larkin and Morton, Ian Sharp, Ian Stewart, Iain Wright and Dick Taylor were all there.

With a fairly large team - and with it not quite warm enough for sitting outside - our choice of coffee stops was restricted.

Larger teams had been to Finzean and Drum recently, so John Morton ('designated route picker' for the day) suggested trying the Learney for a change!

We went out via Burnett Park and up the old railway track before cutting across to Home Farm where the ducks seemed to be enjoying a wee spring splash. The usual route was taken through Brathens to 'Craiglash Junction' and then on via the bumpy track through Easter Beltie and into Torphins.

Learney had plenty of space inside for larger groups. Phone number if needed is 013398 82859.  

The Queens fountain(*) provided a nice backdrop for the full team photo before we set off to loop round Torphins Golf Course and head home via Campfield Glassel and Brathens."

John didn't mention how we were all feeling slightly guilty about not going in to Platform 22 and how we snuck in to the Learney, not daring to cycle past P22 lest Emma spotted us traitors! She has no reason to fear, however, as the scones in the Learney were not a patch on Emma's. In fact, Ian Sharp made comment to the staff in the Learney that some of our group thought the scones were a bit hard. The response he got was one of slight surprise - "they were only yesterday's"!

On the return trip, when we got to the narrow bridge on the Glassel road, the plan was to turn left and head up to Hill of Brathens, but, as we gathered there, Rob went shooting by, heading back the way we had come - towards Home Farm. We weren't quite sure why and Rob hadn't said a word, so Jack volunteered to chase after him and shadow him home, to make sure everything was OK.

Elsewhere, (very) occasional Freewheeler Malcolm Lodge was down in South Africa taking part again in the annual Cape Town Cycle Tour, the world's largest timed cycle race, where last year Malcolm claimed the 2016 Strava Freewheelers climbing record. This year didn't go so well, however, as Malcolm reports

"Cape cycle race abandoned after 30 minutes. Organisers cancelled race due to high winds..40kph gusting to 70.

Never got to start, or even get near the start. They were turning people back as the gusts along city streets were upending some cyclists. 

What do 30,000+ cyclists do on a Sunday. Cafes, bars and restaurants having a bonanza. 

Cycled out along Atlantic coast until wind got too bad. Land fires are also taking hold. Mother Nature wins again....at least it's nice and warm. "