Going Off Road

'A token effort this weekend' says the Corporal (Alan). Stuart and Scott couldnt make it so the plan was a wee cycle and then home. With that in mind I got tucked into the indian takeaway feast that we had for my wife's birthday.

The token effort turned into a 30 miler which took three hours. Couple of miles into the journey it started to rain. A lot. So by the time we got to bogside we were soaked. Then it stopped and the wind kicked up so we dried out. When we got to the end of the cycle path the corporal suggested we head for Gartmoor Dam (which I didnt know existed until a few weeks ago). Its only 2.5km further on and it looks like its tarmac all the way. WRONG! Pretty soon we were on a bumpy, muddy, pot hole covered farm road and then we were into the forest and into the serious off road stuff. The route was filled with little bridges to cross the fast flowing burn and if you didnt line the wheels up, there was a fair shout you were going to end up in the drink.
It was muddy, a wee bit scary in places but great fun and I was laughing like a wee kid going along at some parts. Having said that it did cross my mind that I would be in big trouble if I copped a puncture 20km away from home.

Gartmoor Dam is set in beautiful surroundings...even if it is near Alloa - sorry Mo and Fraz and the fine people of Alloa. The pics below were trying to give the impression that we have became so majestic on the bikes, that like the swans in Gartmoor, we can literally cruise on water :-)

However, I realise that we just look like a couple of rejects from a mountain bike accessories catalogue.