So after the excitement of Italian whitewater, the calm of some sunny sea paddling evenings its time to shred some MTB trails. I got a day way down south in Berkshire at the Swinley Forest crown estate and their many acres of mtb routes. Not much altitude in scottish terms but they have used whats there pretty well. I blasted off the blue on to the full red loop and then back to the coffee house on the blue again. Refreshed, I went back out and off-piste as the woods are simply full of trails built by the locals. They have even got tall pines to make me feel at home. Of the whole 42 kms I did that afternoon, the "Labrynth" was the best bit and had me whooping with delight and pedalling like fury. What a great work-out. If you are doooon sooooth from scotland then have a look on the map just south of Bracknell.
And another coincidence was to bump into another solo rider that afternoon by the name of Chris - who was not only an offshore sort of guy but was born in the same place I was. Small world!
Next up was a couple of leg stretcher loops including an evening with my local group - Aboyne Nomads. Good to get up and around Scolty Hill with its many local built short, snappy, reasonably steep trails (downwards of course). A group of 8 so lots of social giggles and camaraderie. Nice to feel back in the local riders group and the weather up here just now is stunning.
