Baltic Bawbags - Sunday 4th Feb

[Mr Panda]

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Tis a bugger when plans go awry :|

That it is Mr P.
How is the dug doing? Hope all is well now.

Jamie

Getting much better now - looks like he ate a healthy dose of rat poison, so you can guess the effect that had on him. Was 50/50 last weekend but they let him home after a day or two on drip and vitamin K. Getting back to his old self now but will still be a few weeks before normality regained.
Still trying to establish how he got to the poison as it was poked deeply into gaps between/below concrete slabs etc to a distance he couldn't have excavated. Maybe the rats started moving it around who knows. Originally thought he'd eaten poisoned rat(s) but not sure now. Found a couple of "turds" in the garden undergrowth which were blue/green in colour - same as the poison blocks :?

 

[Jamiedyer]

Glad he's on the mend. Really nasty stuff.

Jamie

 

[clubby]

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Do you think they're still out there? Lost in the snow somewhere? :shock:
Not heard anything from those that attended yet, where's the photos guys? :?

Not heard anything as naebody turned up.

Well that's not strictly true. I turned up , thankfully with four reliable friends. Davedh also turned up with two friends but they were planning on heading further out than we were, so set off on their own, swapping places with my group on the climb until we parted ways at Loch Ordie.
We carried on up the sunny, open west side of the loch and out towards the shooting lodge, then back over between the two hills on the boggy track we took a few years back. This was a bit interesting in places as overnight snow was covering the track and hiding soft boggy parts. At the bottom of the downhill, we were waiting to regroup and spoke briefly to a local who then disappeared down a bit of secret singletrack. Of course we had to follow and popped out at the top of Mill Dam, next to the junction that we split off at on the second part of the loop. Really nice section of trail and also means you don't have to ride the section past the boat house for a second time. From there we followed the usual loop and had a lovely clear day to enjoy the viewpoint at the top of the cliffs trail.
Weather was kind to us. We quickly cleared the freezing fog that was hanging around at car park level, and once up in the hills it was a nice still, sunny day. Ground conditions were pretty boggy in places but there was actually less standing water then when we were last up in November.

Shame nobody could make it. I know a lot of you couldn't help it and would rather have been there, but the rest of you need to stop making excuses and get of your lazy arses and ride :twisted:

 

[DynaCol]

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Apologies again for not turning up but I've been dealing with a few things lately and basically shouldn't have made the commitment to go in the first place.
I'm out until I'm feeling up to it I'm afraid, don't know when that will be or whether I'll be able to attend another MacRetro ride as I'm considering moving away for work ATM so my attendance would likely be to rides in the south of Scotland only unless it corresponded with some time off etc.

I'll still be posting occasionally and getting out and riding but it's local rides for me only as I travel so much for work my motivation to drive any distance at the weekends is sadly depleted.

I did get out on the bike the same day along the canal for what it's worth :roll:

 

[clubby]

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Glad you're getting out Colin. My comments weren't aimed solely at you, there were plenty of guilty parties. I can understand you not wanting to travel in your time off. Good excuse to organise something down you way though.

 

[DynaCol]

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I know, I feel guilty enough myself for not turning up though. If I say I'm going to do something I tend to do it so not like me to not show. My mood has been up and down lately and that week it was definitely down :roll:
I'll see what I can do, I've got a mate who wants to go out riding at some point soon so will post up when/where that is and if folk want to come along then that would be good. Probably only be up at Carron Valley but might look at trying to extend the purpose built trails with a bit of the fire road routes up there if I can work out a loop of sorts (most of the fire roads seem to be dead ends so might have to be a "there and back" type route). Was planning on heading up there tomorrow for a quick run so will see.

 

[Jamiedyer]

Hi Dyna and Clubby.
At least you weren't on your own Clubby. Sounds like a nice route for it too.
Like Dyna there was no way I could do it after Heather having to head south on Saturday, though like Dyna, Caleb and I did get a ride along the canal. Opposite ends maybe
We drove to Inverness and met up with Brian. I felt bad as my late withdrawal stopped Brian coming as well as I was giving him a lift.
Jamie

10 by Jamie Dyer, on Flickr

 

[jimo746]

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That must be a record turnout for a MacRetro ride Clubby, for all the wrong reasons :facepalm:

Good job you brought some backup and were able to make a good ride out of it.
I'm starting physio sessions tomorrow so hope to be getting out and about to some rides in the near future

 

[velomaniac]

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Apologies from me as well Clubby. I have realised lately that I have become.....Depressed. I need to go see my GP ASAP as its basically messing with me badly and destroying all motivation. I know that meds will help a bit but I need to get off my arse and force myself to get out in the fresh air.
I think I have always been a bit down but recently I have become a lot down and for the sake of those around me who I care about I have got to get it under control.

 

[RobMac]

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I can relate to that totally
Once your out on a ride I've NEVER regretted getting out and off my arse, once the endorphins hit!!!!
I'm a happy chappy again :twisted:
It's all legal and no nasty side effects.