Thursday ride

John Morton is the reporter this time:

"With Ian Sharp declaring ''spring'' we resumed starting time of 9.30. Good shout indeed - it certainly was fine spring weather.

Dick, Jack, John's Larkin and Morton, Ian Sharp and Bob Elder, Scott, and Rob Pollard set off towards Potarch via Inchmarlo and Brathens with Scott as designated team lead for the trip. From Brathens, we followed the familiar Craiglash road - which was apparently the original North Deeside road before construction of the current route. 

We had decided to get ''down and dirty'' swinging left from the road before the quarry, passing by the lochan below Sluie Hill in puddles up to yer pedals. We cautiously dodged Sluie House per se using a 'sheep track' to cross to the fast and muddy decent through Sluie Woods for Potarch.

Muddy jackets removed, we were entertained with 7 fine cherry scones and 7 coffees. Jack had intimated a need to head home early due to prior engagement. Fed and watered, we wrestled with the Dinnie Stanes a while (pic 1) before engaging a passer by to take the team snapshot (pic 2).

Climbing was inevitable for the route home. Half way up to shooting greens there was some debate over 'more climb versus more mud'. The latter won the day with plenty of the slimy stuff splattering its way onto the bikes and bikers as we passed the washed out section before Blackhall. ''A wee bit technical'' was shouted as we stepped off the narrow trail to allow two younger full-suspension bikers to pedal past in the up stream direction. For the record, this was of course nothing to do with freewheelers abilities or indeed average age - just our good collective understanding of etiquette and giving way to those coming up hill ;)

​At Bridge of Dee, there seemed to be a river rescue exercise going on. We trust this was training and not a real incident. 

All in all a great wee day ​out.

[PS: from Strava Flyby it appears the 'youngsters' were Anna & Joe with rides titles ''Wind of Change'' and ''Squelchy Sunny Scolty Scoot'' respectively. Looks like they had a great day out too]."