Sunday sunshine

Setting off from Heaven bikes for the Sunday morning club ride was a lonely affair again this week but the sun was rapidly mowing through the cool morning mist which lifted my spirits. My back still felt weak so I relished the excuse for a gentle ride to aid my recovery and decided on a short route with an easy climb along the Kyle through the old Oak wood then turning at Spinningdale up into the Fairy Glen. The late autumn colours and the leafless trees combined for great views across the spectacular scenery for which there's little else than to give thanks and praise.

Colin

Cold Sunday

A cold Sunday morning in November, mercifully no ice on the road but still hard to trust the black damp patches on the tarmac. It's not early but the sun has yet to make an impression and it's difficult to believe it will as the cold air burns my throat and reddens my face. My legs are rusty and stiff so my efforts to warm up just shift some of the pain from my toes and fingers into my thighs. The road goes deeper into the Glen and beside the rushing water it's cold, bitterly cold, perhaps the winter leggings wouldn't have been such a bad idea after all. It's hard to relax into the ride, my bike skills are all gone but how long has it been since I rode in daylight? I force myself on, and quicker now that I can see further than the narrow beam of my lights. So what to do? I've reached the bridge, my fingers and toes are painfully cold but I resist the temptation to turn for home and head for the turn out to Amat and the Alladale estate.
Five minutes later and the pain and worry are all forgotten, another road, another track, right there on the doorstep  yet unexplored......

Colin 13/11/11