First snow this winter.

We thought it was cold and wet last week, unfortunately it was colder and just as wet this week again at Glentress. Up near the top of the Black Route there was a slight covering of snow, a bit on the wettish side but still snow. Still all good preparation for the Strathpuffer which is now 7 weeks away and could possibly be a good deal colder (and wetter or snowier)!!
No photos again today, too dark. wet and cold for my fragile camera!

Wettest, (and probably coldest) ever at Glentress

Baz and I arrived at Glentress at 5.30 am this morning and it immediately started raining. In fact it ,to use a Scottish expression , chucked it down for more or less the remainder of the ride. Under the trees it wasn't too bad but up near the top of the Black route, where its a bit more exposed, it got into every nook and cranny aided and abetted by the wind! We still managed 17.5 miles and reckon it's good preparation for the Strathpuffer! No photos today, too crap weather to risk the camera.

Just one more piccy of Rebus

After a hard days playing there's nothing to beat a good snooze!

For all doggy lovers!

This is Rebus, the new puppy in Baz's family! He's a Tibetan Terrier and rejoices under the official name of "Ozone Oddball", but known to all of us as Rebus!

Is he cute or what?!!!

Just like crossing the Red Sea!

Out for a road ride on the back roads of Midlothian today we came across a man and his female cycling companion standing perplexed astride their bikes on the road to Carrington at the notorious flooded section. Unsure of how deep the water was they were not too confident of getting through it even after we had gone through. Clive, ever the Sir Walter Raleigh, cycled back through again and showed the route to take! The man eventually got on his bike and came through and more or less forced the woman to do the same, which she rather bravely did. Only after she reached the other side did we see that she had only a pair of sandals on her feet, it could have been quite amusing had she failed halfway through as the water was about 9 inches deep at its deepest, (and I was taking photos as well)!!!

Clive blazes the trail!

The male cyclist takes the plunge!

The female cyclist goes for it as well!

Bill the badger returns!!

Out for a ride tonight, Friday, and nearing the end of a 19 miler in the dark, who should scuttle across the cycle path in front of Clive and me but our old buddy,Bill the badger! I've not seen or heard him in the undergrowth or out in front of us for about three weeks or so but there he was tonight, going about his business (whatever business badgers get up to). Anyway it may be gales and torrential rain in the south of Britain but it was dead calm and rain free in Bonny Scotland!

Scenic Sunday at Glentress

Taken around 8am this morning looking down over the Tweed valley in the Scottish Borders towards Peebles from high in the hills at the Glentress Mountain Bike Centre. The picture is a tad grainy due to a combination of low temperature, a fair bit of dampness and probably mainly camera quality!

For more Scenic Sunday views look here.

Early morning at Glentress

Today's ride started at about 5.30 am with the temperature hovering just above zero.The climb to the top of the black route , nearly 9 miles , soon gets the sweat up and running and when we descended back down to Spooky Woods we met up with another biker who very kindly took our picture. Turns out he was a photographer to trade and must have been distinctly unimpressed with my modest camera! This last week I've not done as many miles as usual due to a head cold so the training for the Strathpuffer will have to be stepped up a gear!

Wet, wet, wet!!!

So wet today that I didn't bother taking the camera with us to Glentress. Baz and I started at around 6 am in steady rain and pitch darkness and decided against any heroics on the black route as its pretty exposed at bits higher up. We did 14.5 miles and by the time we finished the rain was becoming heavier and more miserable! I suppose this could be called "cold weather training"..........I think we prefer slightly drier and warmer weather training.

Scenic Sunday on Minch Moor

Taken earlier in the summer at the point where the Innerleithen cross country mountain bike track crosses the Southern Upland Way, a fantastic view on a beautiful summer's day.

For more Scenic Sundays click here.