Dennis

Thanks for the great run, everyone, and Morag and I hope to see you next year too. Report and pics on: http://www.royal-albertcc.com/club-run-reports/ http://www.royal-albertcc.com/gallery/b ... -may-2010/ Please feel free to add your own memories at the bottom of the report... Ian ©, I passed Nethertown cottage today on a bike run - great view from there and lots of hills about! Dennis

Hi Tony, Now that I have 100 milers in the legs, I would like to come too. What time's the start? Will ask some riders from here if they want to come along too. Dennis

Forgot to say, there will be about 20 riders in the bunch - plenty place for me to hide.

It'll be great to see you Frank. There will be a support vehicle, so if anyone wants to bring a picnic and tartan rug....

James, The average speed is usually about 16/17mph, so you'll be fine. The whole aim of this annual run is to keep the group together, and for everyone to help each other to finish as freshly at the end as at the start. Martin, sorry you can't make as I can still hear you shout 'wow' as we suddenly looked down on the Clyde Valley from a great height! Bring the youngsters next year. By jove, when I was young, ...... Tony, thanks for offering to bring a rider over. Despite what Martin says, the hailstones will be warm. Actually, the weather is surely turning in our favour now. Dennis

Hi guys, This year's social ride will again bring together seasoned cyclists from Royal Albert and Johnstone Wheelers. It will tour the Clyde and Tweed Valleys, and we'll see some very attractive countryside and views. This year, the route will be similar to the 2007 edition. Starting at Blackwood Hall at 9.30am, we'll make our way to Auchenheath, Kirkfieldbank, Byretown, Douglas Water, Crookboat, Carmichael, Tinto, Thankerton, Biggar, Broughton, Dreva, Stobo, Meldons, Eddleston, Peebles and will stop for lunch at The Hub Mountain Bike cafe at Glentress. On the return journey, we'll cross the Tweed and take in Cardrona, Peebles, Cademuir Hill, Manor Water, Lyne, Stobo, Rachan Mill, Broughton (Cafe stop), Kilbucho, Coulter, Symmington, Wiston, Rigside, Happendon and Lesmahagow, before arriving back at Blackwood. The significant climbs of the day will be at Kirkfieldbank, Dreva, Meldons, Kilbucho and Wiston, with one or two smaller ones in between. Tea, coffee, soup, cakes and biccies will afterwards be laid on, as usual, at Blackwood. There will be a few sections of tarmac which would be unrecognisable to the late Mr McAdam, so two spare tubes and at least 80% tyre pressures might be advisable... See you on Sunday! Dennis

Morag has asked me to find out how many people will be coming on Sunday, for the purpose of gauging the right amount of goodies. She insists that you will have to do the run to qualify. So, for a latest headcount, can those who will be taking part in this run please post to confirm. The more the merrier! Richard, I'm very sorry that you are not able to come on this run since the date was changed. The weather forecast indicates that the wind will change to the west, and it will be a bit warmer, by the end of the week... Thanks for your help. Dennis

Please note that the date for this event has now been changed to Sunday 16th May 2010, and it is hoped that many of you can still join riders from the Clyde Valley on this great run. Reminder of background to this run: This year's run (4th successive year) will be held on the above date. All are most welcome to come along for this run in fantastic Borders countryside. Free entry. Start - Blackwood Hall 9.30am To get there via M8 through Glasgow, switch to M73 then M74 till J8 Proceed 300 yards to Canderside Roundabout Turn left on B7078 3.5 miles to Blackwood Proceed past church and school on left to small crossroads at corner shop Turn left - Blackwood Hall is 100 yards up on the right [should take about 40 minutes from Johnstone to Blackwood on a Sunday morning] The route will take in Biggar, Broughton, Stobo, Meldons, Eddleston, then Peebles (with a few variations) and the Hub cafe at Glentress - where lunch will be served (at your own expense ). One of the main objectives of this run has been to keep the group together for the whole distance. It's an exercise in pacing, stamina and looking after each other, as well as enjoying the scenery, ra banter and meeting the objective! As usual, Morag said she will be laying on (free) soup and cakes afterwards - not to be missed! If you are interested in coming along on this new date, please post. Looking forward to seeing you on the day. Dennis

Date for Diaries This year's run (4th successive year) will be held on Sunday, 9th May. All are most welcome to come along for this run in fantastic Borders countryside. Free entry. Start - Blackwood Hall 9.30am To get there via M8 through Glasgow, switch to M73 then M74 till J8 Proceed 300 yards to Canderside Roundabout Turn left on B7078 3.5 miles to Blackwood Proceed past church and school on left to small crossroads at corner shop Turn left - Blackwood Hall is 100 yards up on the right [should take about 40 minutes from Johnstone to Blackwood on a Sunday morning] The route will take in Biggar, Broughton, Stobo, Meldons, Eddleston, then Peebles (with a few variations) and the Hub cafe at Glentress - where lunch will be served (at your own expense). One of the main objectives of this run has been to keep the group together for the whole distance. It's an exercise in pacing, stamina and looking after each other, as well as enjoying the scenery, ra banter and meeting the objective! As usual, Morag said she will be laying on (free) soup and cakes afterwards - not to be missed! If you are interested in coming along, please post. Looking forward to seeing you on the day. Dennis

Yesterday, Aileen was awarded the OBE by the Princess Royal at Buckingham Palace. Please see the following links: http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home ... r-1.986397 http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/search/di ... g_hero.php Congratulations from us all and hasn't she done well?!!! Previously an MBE (My Back Engine), Aileen is now an OBE (Our Back Engine), which applies to fellow local pilots, David McKellar, John Anderson, Vicki Begg, Kenny Christie, Jim Daly, Simon Simpson as well as myself! (Sorry if I've missed anyone else who has carried out this important role over the last few years.) Dennis

The Homecoming... I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky, And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by, And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking, And a grey mist on the sea's face and a grey dawn breaking. I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky, And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by, And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking, And a grey mist on the sea's face and a grey dawn breaking. I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied; And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying, And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying. I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life, To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted knife; And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover, And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over. John Masefield I must go down to the seas again, in a Johnson Wheelers group, To suffer on Arran’s hilly roads on the String Road loop, And hear the canteen dishes fly amidst a row of anxious eyes As the ship rocks in to Ardrossan where we say our quick goodbyes! a terrified Dennis White! Ardrossan Harbour 22 November 3.55pm

For those who want to recapture the rain, cloud, drink, good company and great banter endured by the 'dirty dozen', click here: http://s274.photobucket.com/albums/jj26 ... =slideshow ...and wasn't it some ferry ride on the way home today? Dishes flying - and that was once we were in the harbour! I'll try to post a link to a video of the serene state of the sea just before we entered the 'safety' of the harbour, and let you know if I succeeded... Dennis

I'll also drive to the ferry and take a rucksack. If this means a long ride on the Sunday with a bag on the back, so be it... Daryll, I don't want to put a dampner on things, but Morag noticed that, according the bunkhouse website, there are 21 out of 24 beds still available on Saturday 21st, November... Probably an out of date website, but we would be wise to give them a call to point out the slight discrepancy. Don't panic yet!! Dennis

Hi Daryll, What's the final plan for the Arran weekend - times, place(s) of meeting and routes, etc? In particular, do we all need panniers, or is a knight on a white horse waiting with a van? Dennis

I have just come back, after a few days away, to hear the sad news about Ian. In addition to all the things already said, Ian would go out of his way to help any individual who asked for it, as did I in connection with a website. His sense of humour, helpfulness and dedication, as well as his forum name, 'fatblokeonabike', will never be forgotten. Dennis

Hi Colin, Sorry I can't make it in either month Dennis

Aileen and I hope to be at the clubroom at this time if anyone else fancies a nice easy run. Dennis

Hi Daryll, Oops! Apologies for an early withdrawal, but Dave forgot he will not be back from holiday till the Saturday night, so he can't now join us. He almost cancelled his family holiday! I'll send you a cheque for my slot. Dennis

Simon, Sorry you can't make that weekend, especially as you initiated the idea for this trip. It won't be the same without you on such a bunch trip, especially if there is a sing-song at the place of abode, or punctures to be fixed inside the lunch-pub, like the last time! Dennis

If auldies are allowed to come, I'll be there! Dave from the far east (who was with us at Wanlockhead) would like to come too. KennyS, are you taking your car (and most importantly, everyone's bags...) or are you slumming it and going by bike? Dennis

I will be there at 9.30am on me bike, as Aileen has released me from tandem duty for the day. Nice n eeesy then, ok? Dennis

Hi Tony, I would like to have been able to join you for this one, but can't make Sunday. Hope to make the next one! Dennis

What a fantastic report of an amazing event. I can't imagine riding among 7500 riders; or riding up all these cols in one day; in that heat. Your preparation was spot on (especially the Peebles bit ) and it sounds as though many people didn't do that properly. Great pics too, but where was the domestique? Hope he wasn't one of the guys at the side of the road... Well done both! Dennis

Thanks for the great run guys. Aileen and I (more the latter than the former) struggled a bit on the ups, as can happen on a tandem, but we thoroughly enjoyed the 40+mph descent from the top of the Crow down towards Fintry. Kenny had a good descent, too, and we ran out of downhill to catch him! We thought initially that the bunch were going to Fintry until Frank came up to us and told us the bunch was going eastwards towards the 'tak me doon' via the Carron Valley. We decided to carry on to Strathearn and have a cafe stop there, then down into Glasgow via Charing Cross, Squinty Bridge (first time ever for me) and Govan. Hope you are ok Billy, and that you got home ok, Kenny. Dennis

Aileen and I will be out on the tandem on Sunday. Leaving the clubrooms at 9.30 (to give us time to get there) and could join up with you for part of the run if: Flat roads, No wind, No rain, cafe stop somewhere Dennis