Follow You Follow Me

Jeff was again star reporter from Thursday morning's ride:

"Follow You Follow Me

On a very fine August morning, Jeff, your reporter for today, arrived at the usual rendezvous to find three co-riders (Alan, Steve and Drew) asserting they were looking for a leader. Mr S. had declined to point the fickle finger of fate, presumably in response to last week's threats resulting from an e-assault on the Fungle.

Despite the assertion, they had in fact determined Potties via Craiglash and the cut-off was a good option, as it would give Alan a chance to reacquaint himself with his ditch, which he had become rather fond of on his last visit. So off we set on the appointed route, via Home farm and the Glassel road. On the approach to Craiglash, Drew set off in pursuit of an athletic young lady who had overtaken us a little earlier, but fortunately our left turn arrived before he could achieve anything embarrassing.

The track across to Potties had a few puddles, but otherwise we found our way across to the descent track without too much bracken bashing or ditch investigation. On arrival at Potties about 50 minutes after starting, we decided it was a bit early for coffee, so I sold the lads an entertaining jaunt over to Finzean Farm Shop instead by taking the "off-road monument by-pass route", which none of the others had done previously.

We therefore headed for Ballogie, where we regrouped for team photos (Steve manfully transporting the Lanterne Rouge, breather shots in front of the gallery, and the "Ooh wots this? Oh look, we found a coffee shop!" pairing).

Then off up the hill, pulling off to the right into the forest.  It's a bit of a slog up the hill, but after the Fungle last week, this seemed rather trivial. We then pootled round the forest tracks a bit, as the sunlight through the trees was all rather lovely, before dropping down to Finzean House, the main drive out, and the blast down the hill to the FFS.  Fine bacon/sausage butties and coffee all round, and then a straightforward thrash back to Strachan, where I peeled off, and the other 3 elected, I think, for a Mill of Cammie finish.

Absolutely gorgeous day out - shame some thought fit to waste it on golf!"