Drum run before the rugby - and beer

An early start today to make sure that we could get back to the Legion before 2:30 pm - the kick-off time for the Scotland - Japan match in the RWC. Six of us showed up - Ken P and I had recovered from our soaking on the way back from Torphins on Monday, and we were joined by Keith and Ian Sh, plus a rare appearance from Ken B, who had cycled down from Finzean for the occasion and Les, who just got back from his Canadian holiday last night.

We didn't muck around - the Drum loop was quickly chosen, but we didn't get far before we ran in to a school sports day and, specifically, a Triathlon, the last leg of which was a cycle. We thought we had averted the trouble by a slight detour along the muddy track past the Riches' residence, but, when we joined the Deeside Way proper again, we were faced by a horde of young cyclists racing towards us. One of them, head down, collided with Ian and down they both went, picking up a few bloody scrapes.

A quick detour up past the graveyard then along the paths to the West Gate at Crathes, then up and out the north end and round a loop we have done many times before, although the recent discovery of the road to Drum that doesn't involve the awful hill on the west side of the estate is a real bonus.

We got to Drum by 1:10 pm and, although we hadn't originally planned a coffee stop, we figured we had enough time for a quick one before heading back to the Legion. It was lunchtime and the Drum Garden Centre was pretty busy, but we scoffed our scones and were on the road again before 1:30 pm. Time for a quick team photo at a spot where we've taken many of them before:

Ian Sharp, Les Gray, Keith Gray, Ken Page, Ken Black & Ian Stewart

Time was still tight and 4 of us decided to go straight along the main road to Drum on the way back, rather than go down and up that stretch of the Deeside Way, but Messrs Sharp and Black went the traditional way.

Les opted out of the beer and rugby as he had family at home, but Keith, Ken P and I got to the Legion in good time to get settled and get the beers in in time for the anthems. Not many minutes later, Ken Black arrived, having left Ian Sharp behind at Crathes looking after what he thought might be a stray dog.

We were eventually joined by Archie, hot-foot from the Seniors golf, followed by Jas Bhagrath, then Richard Simcox to watch Scotland coast to victory in the end.

My Strava stats show the distance covered was 35 kms with climbing of just 700 feet - https://www.strava.com/activities/398565506#kudos.