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'SKIDMARK’
CHRISTMAS
NEWSLETTER
DECEMBER 2006
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This year was Bouncy Bike Challenge
4 - also known as ‘The Smoked Salmon Run’
- and the team of 27 folk duly gathered at a wet and
slightly fishy smelling Arbroath harbour to start their
80 mile challenge. |
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Fuelled on the
tasty aroma of famed Arbroath Smokies (not) the
team set off and followed the meandering North
Sea coastline south (in a tad drizzly weather
but all still choral singing) and cycled the 10
miles to the first ‘Bob’s Cuppa Stop’
at the Carnoustie Golf links. |
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| From here the team
undertook the most dangerous part of the mission
cycling across the MOD firing range at Barry Buddon
Links; thankfully all incoming ammo was well wide
of the target thanks to the speed of the team and
the deflecting qualities of damp lycra! Emerging
unscathed at Monifieth, the bikers whizzed on to
Dundee Discovery Point via the ‘dockyard run’
and stopping by scenic Broughty Castle for a photo
shoot session! |
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| After lunch (allowing
Clive to dry his hair and Derek to dry his pants
with the hand dryers) the cyclic crew continued
inland along the River Tay heading to Perth. Morale
must have been high as a fascinating display of
trick cycling was on show throughout the Invergowrie
section. |
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Every good day should finish on
a high and this particular high was called Kinoull Hill!!
After a quick swill of energy tea from ‘Bobbys
Tea Troop’ and a rub down with a Tesco donut the
ascent of this minor lump was achieved quickly, painlessly
and mostly in silence! Once at the top, people carefully
threw their bikes in the trailer and we all skipped
hand in hand to the view point overlooking Perth –
a grand day out! |
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A quick
5-min van journey to our rough, basic and
humble digs at Perth Skylodge ensued and
once folk had finished their jaccuzzi, sauna
and Fijian massage the customary days review
and discussion took place over a hot meal
and squash at the Wheel Inn (it wheely was
good!) |
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| Next morning, bright-eyed
and slightly red tailed, the team revved up their machines
at the top of Kinoull Hill before enjoying an early morning
yeeeeeeehaaaaaa descent down into Perth. Rejoining the
River Tay the multi-coloured lycra machine made it’s
steady forage northwards first through Perth Inshes and
then via the leafy lanes of rural Perthshire. Morale was
once again prematurely spilling out unannounced in great
gushers resulting in numerous physic displays of spontaneous
trick cycling and involuntary route errors! |
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Almondbank, Pitcairngreen,
Moneydie, Bankfoot, Waterloo (how did you feel….)
and Birnam – all legendary place names
flashed by as the well oiled (and I mean well
oiled) chain of riders smelt lunch and divebombed
into Dunkeld. Greeted by Bob, Rob and Valda
(well know firm of bike catchers or Perthshire
folk band?) a sumptuous lunch was devoured in
the Atholl Arms (don’t mention anchovies
to Steph!!!!)
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| The final 20 miles
was a looping scenic route around Dunkeld passing
the famous beech hedge at Meikleour and the lovely
Loch of Clunie and Loch of Lowes before a minor
yeeha back into Dunkeld and the finish line. |
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Once the caked on oil, grease,
vaseline and donuts have been scraped off and people
had managed to get their hairstyle out of the ‘look
I have had a bike helmet on all day shape’
the end of event review, award presentation and
dinner with extra squash took place which was most
proactive - thank you to all those people who said
“You’re my best mate in the whole world”
and “I really love you buddy” during
the evening. |
Bob washing the donuts – Every Little
Helps!
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BBC4 was hopefully another huge
success with plenty of fun, social, physical exercise,
culture and impromptu malarkey along the way. Once
again, the hard work, time and efforts of those
who took part and the generosity of their sponsors
has resulted in another fantastic £5000 being
raised….well done and a huge sincere thanks
to everyone who took part and to all the kind sponsors
and donors who helped to raise this superb amount.
The funds raised has gone towards replacing the
worn and ageing furniture in the respite lodge lounge
– thank you all!
To date, the four Bouncy Bike Challenges have raised
a staggering £18,000 for Badaguish. Well done
to everyone who has taken part in any of the events
and for all the time and effort you have put in.
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