Trailblazers Aviemore Trip
by Dave Church
Perfect timing, ready for 12.15 to go and pick up Michael
Chilcott at 12.30, just the two of us going as Ollie's grandad
is not too well (sorry Ollie). Get Michael loaded up and we
are off 1pm prompt. The weather's clear and we make our way
to our first official stop at Jedburgh for refreshments. I get
my first hint of the amount of food Michael is capable of eating
when after our meal we go back to the car and Michael gets his
first of many packets of jelly babies out, and starts tucking
in.
The sun is shining, the A68 is clear and everything
seems right in the world, when Bang we reach the Forth road bridge
queue. What should take about 30 minutes to get round Edinburgh
takes 1 and 3/4 hours, and we start to lose the will to live.
Back on the A9 things seem better and we start to perk up after
listening to radio 2 (Michael's favourite) I decided to let him
listen to the wonderful sounds of Northern Soul. I gathered he
must have been enjoying it, because he soon puts his headphones
on.
The journey is going well, and after the Forth road
Bridge we think we have gone through the worst, when Bang we get
to the A9 road works. Only 20 minutes away from Fesshiebridge,
our home for the weekend, we are now in a queue that takes us
a further 1 & 1/2 hours to get through. All is not lost, we
phone ahead to Mike and tell him of our dilemma, and he arranges
to get the pizzas on when we are 5 minutes away. At last we arrive
at Fesshiebridge, what should have taken 5 & 1/2 hours has
taken 9 hours, but the pizzas are ready and we are happy.
Saturday morning, and everyone`s there, although
Jo and Chris did arrive at 4 am. but everything's ok because Simon
and Mike, our wonderful hosts, have got everything in hand. Full
English breakfasts, maps and even the sun is shining outside.
Our first day is to be a cross-country event and our second is
more of a technical ride. Both days were brilliant and we all
enjoyed them, as the pictures on the website will show. The only
mishap of the weekend was Marie getting injured when she took
a tumble and hurt her arm. Even though the situation was bad,
Simon and Mike handled it extremely well and got Marie to hospital.
Come Monday morning, we all helped to clear up the
acommodation and thanked Simon and Mike for a fantastic weekend,
and we all agree we can't wait for the next one. Well done Simon
& Mike.
Photos of the Aviemore weekend are available in
the gallery.
May 2004
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