Starting Off…with a Bang !

I’m off again, up to Scotland to see my girls…eventually !

Firstly a trip into Manchester, see the dentist –and the good news that it will only cost £230 !! – I told them I’d see them in a few weeks, and set off with my gums still numb from the anaesthetic that the Hygienist said I’d need, whilst she hoked about in my roots !! I felt like a donkey..hee haw ..

A quick visit to my Dads and then I was off up the road, and onto the motorway.. another fine day in the North, although the forecast was for rain coming down from Scotland, so maybe I’d drive through it ? As it turned out I didn’t se any rain, although it was quite windy and chilly, when I stopped for my smoked salmon and cheese sandwiches (No, I wasn’t splashing out, just emptying the fridge !)..

After a few hours driving, I decided I’d head for Mabie forest http://7stanesmountainbiking.com/Mabie/Phoenix-Trail , just over the border with Scotland, and south of Dumfries – where there was one of the 7 Stanes bike trails/park.. I located it just after 4 p.m., the sun was shining, and it looked to be sett for a nice evening.. there were few people around, so I thought it would be great to stop the night… I saw a forestry worker who agreed that I could…provided I paid the car park charge - £3… even for pensioners !, good value I thought, paid my money, and changed into my biking gear, and hit the trails shortly after 5 p.m….

Even though it’s quite a while since I had ridden any mountain bike trails, I still decided to do the hard ‘Red Phoenix Trail’ and set off upwards, puffing my way past some younger men getting ready for the same I imagined .. I was going great guns, and enjoying the forest which had closed in around me, however as I neared the top of the hill,  the views suddenly opened out in front of me, with views to the distant sea coast of Galloway.. although I couldn’t really figure out where I was !

Then it was time to start swooping downhill, along some narrow twisting rocky tracks down through the forest, and some boardwalk sections raised up above the rocks- balance needed ! I’d just got through the first section (looking good !) and turned along a forest road, to the next section when ‘BANG’ – my back tyre went flat almost immediately… Oh dear, it would have to be a long way from Wally, still no matter I carried enough spares…didn’t I ?

I soon had the bike upside down, and the wheel off, and found a big hole in the tyre – I remembered now, that had happened earlier this year ( Scotland again) and I meant to fix it…what a time to remember, obviously more Rosemary needed ? I had 1 spare inner tube, and was going to patch the tire, unfortunately I didn’t have any patches, 2 tubes of glue though… so I did what I could, pumped up the new tyre, replaced it on the bike, and started gingerly making my way along the trail… I had to go through another section, before I found an ‘escape route’ signed to the car park – still 4kms away though…

I took that and hoping that I didn’t pop the tyre again rode back down to the car park,Wally…and Chilli + Rice.. another ride survived, I probably did about half of it, I’ll have to come back one day, it’s nice here…

So, I’ll see what tomorrow brings, depends on the weather, and my thoughts on the tyre as to whether I can do another trail on my way up North..

So, for today..Good night, from bonnie Scotland !