Support for Torphins Paths Group

Four Freewheelers cycled up to Torphins this afternoon to attend the official opening of the new Waulkmill bridge. We left Banchory in warm sunshine but got caught in the thunder and lightning storms sweeping Deeside and, by the time, we arrived in Torphins, we were all well and truly soaked - and most of us were only wearing light jackets and shorts.

A decent sized crowd gathered and walked (we cycled) down from Learney Hall to Waulkmill bridge where the local councillor gave a nice little speech and his young son cut the tape, after which we all marched across the bridge - mostly with umbrellas up:

l-r: Drew Leslie, Ian Stewart, John Larkin & Dave Williamson (camera lens blurred by rain)

There was a welcome of tea/coffee and home bakes up at the Health Centre afterwards so we hot-footed it up there to dry out and heat up a bit. I got cornered by the medical volunteers to do some hands-on CPR/defibrillator training. Dave appeared but was too slow getting his camera out to catch me on my knees with the dummy:

The rain had stopped now so we made our way back by the shortest possible route. Our gear was still soaking and cycling made it feel very cold - all we could think about was getting home and into a hot bath/shower - but, by the time we reached the top of Beltie hill, the sun was starting to warm us and quite suddenly attitudes changed. "Let's stop for a pint outside the Tor-na-Coille" - so we did!

Good deed done.