Sunday/Monday runs

It's been a busy time for the Freewheelers recently - hard to keep track of it all. Yesterday was such a glorious day - shorts weather - that I felt I had to go out, so I did a 26 kms solo ride round Hirn and Myrebird - here's the stats - https://www.strava.com/activities/268468865

Anyone recognise where this photo was taken?:

Today (Monday) wasn't quite as nice but the activity started with John McWhinnie on a 9 mile (14 kms) morning Myrebird loop. John had intended to join the B team today but Keith and I had already arranged a mid-afternoon cycle and this didn't fit John's schedule, so he went solo.

The A team went out at the traditional 1 pm time this afternoon and Rob provided the following match report:

"The super six, Jeb, Bob, Dick, Ian Sh, John P and Rob, eventually set off from the guide hut after much fiddling of glove liners by Rob. 'Twas a grey day but the rain generally held off. The decision was taken to go for Cullerlie stone circle. En route, some of us saw a cow being born and we all helped to get a runaway calf back into a field...its never boring with the Freewheelers! Two new tracks were added to our repertoire; Rob had scouted them first, so as not to collect any more yellow cards. An easterly wind helped us on the way back and coffee was taken at the Milton.

24 miles at 10.3 mph, we're slowly creepin up on the speedometer."

The route overview, provided, as usual by John Perry:

Dick's team photograph:

Dick Taylor, Bob Elder, Rob Pollard, John Perry, Jeb Tyrie & Ian Sharp

The A team's stats for their 38 kms ride are here - https://www.strava.com/activities/269141372

Just over an hour and a half after the A team took off, I met up with Keith at Burnett Park for our planned trip to Torphins to see Syd, who is recovering from a shoulder operation. As I was waiting at the start of the old railway line, a vision in bright orange appeared - Archie was back from California and was going to join us.

Our route took us through the forest to Brathens initially and then up to Torphins via the traditional Freewheelers' way. Syd was happy to see us and we stayed there for a while before realising that we had a bit of a potential timing problem - a) it was overcast and darkness would be setting in soon, and b) Archie suddenly revealed that he had arranged to meet Jas for a beer in the Legion at 4:30 pm. We'd better get moving then - but which way? I preferred the safer option of returning the way we came but I was over-ruled and we headed back along the main road from Torphins to Glassel. By now, it was lashing rain and we got a good soaking, but worst of all was the traffic speeding close by. A Springfield Decorators van came especially close to wiping us out. Never again.

Stats for our 26 kms run are https://www.strava.com/activities/269211135

The attempted team photo at Syd's didn't focus properly - probably the worst team photo ever:

Archie Cook, Syd Freeman, Keith Gray & Ian Stewart

 Syd provided mugs of tea and showed us round his paintings, one of which is of a bridge session - you may recognise some of those at the table:

The overseas contingent have been active too - as well as Rufus cycling in Laos (see previous blog posting), Les was out and about last Thursday with a 41 kms cycle in the Algarve. His stats are here - https://www.strava.com/activities/266949017

Busy boys.