ANGUS CC NEWSLETTER WINTER/SPRING 2007
Annual Lunch
This year’s annual lunch will be at the Park Tavern Roundyhill on Sunday 14th January 2007.
There will we a short run as usual from the club rooms at 10am arriving at Roundyhill for 12 -12:30pm.
All those wishing to attend please contact Raymond Moug 01307 464948 or Ron Harrow 01575 574082
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Bike Jumble Sale
The 3rd Scottish Cycle Jumble will be held on the 25th Feb[Sunday] at the Inglis Hall Edzell from11am till 3pm. The Sunday Club run that weekend will be to Stracathro.
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Forfar Weekend
As shown on the runs list, Ron Harrow as organised a DATC/AUDAX weekend based in Forfar.
On the weekend of April 28th and. 29th
Saturday 28th choice of 2 runs:- “Pitlochry” 150k or “Glenisla” 102k
Sunday 29th choice of 2 runs :- “Scone the Flat” way 100k or “Glens explorer” off road 50k
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Dates for Club Meetings 2007 (open to all club members)
Thursday 8th February 7:30 pm Club rooms
Thursday 10th May 7:30 pm Club rooms
Thursday 13th Sept, 7:30 pm Club rooms
AGM
Sunday 28th October 2:30 pm Club rooms
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Membership Reminder
Would any member who has not yet paid this year’s subscription please contact Dave Fawcett 01575 573990
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Alistair Moug continues his travels in the Antipodes and if you want to see what he’s up to here’s the link:-
http://alonabike.spaces.live.com/
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For those of you getting a hard copy of this newsletter that’s it I’m afraid, but there is a short article on a tour in Norway (which was organised by Pat and Ron) in the electronic version of the newsletter. Photocopying availability limits paper copies of the newsletter to one double-sided A4. Check the club’s web site (www.anguscc.org ) (in the library if you need computer access) – if you have a computer and are not on the e-mailing list send me an e-mail and I will add you to the distribution list. Finally I will put a couple of copies of the full newsletter in Andy’s shop which you can read when you pop in to buy your bike and hike gear (The Outdoor Store High St Forfar) Thanks to Dave for pulling this newsletter together. Good cycling – Norman norjohnston@yahoo.co.uk
CTC TOUR OF NORWAY (organised by Pat and Ron Harrow)
Tony Wilkinson writes:
Barry my London friend said, "In June the rain is at least warm". Lowri said, "the hostels all seem to have special drying rooms for wet clothes". So prepared for wet I entrain for Newcastle and then 11 mile Sustrans route to N. Shields to meet our Leaders, Pat and Ron Harrow at the Fjordline ferry terminal. There is Ron sporting an incandescent orange 'Harry the bike' cape. We were in for a wet tour.
The party of 16 very experienced cyclists divided into two groups: 10 from the environments of Forfar in Scotland, 5 from odd corners of England, and Dave the Aussie. The Scottish group were extremely friendly making us outsiders feel at home very rapidly, so much so that they were dubbed "The Scottish Mafia" thereafter.
A trip with Fjordline is all about food and drink, a huge smorgasbord for supper and then breakfast. This was a booze cruise so we were accompanied by a large group of young vivacious Norwegians getting progressively tipsy. However most of us had a good night's sleep and disembarked at Haugesund at 11 :45 next morning, happy, in spite of the thick mist. Then through customs where the officer said, "no worry, 1 km and then bright sunshine"; it was.
Apart from a bit of morning mist we enjoyed sunshine for the next 7 days. It was hot by the Fjords particularly on the many climbs.
Very soon we came to our first major waterfall. Coming at the start of the holiday it was a real joy. However from then on the only time when we were free from the sound of rushing water was at the top of a frozen wilderness. Most of the time we were in view of big waterfalls.
We followed the main roads except when alternative minor roads or cycle tracks were available. (Use the appended itinerary to follow route.) We started with 2 days along the Fjords.
In sunshine the fjords are beautiful, blue water with vivid green on the slopes towards the pink and blue shaded cliffs. It was like cycling through a perpetual picture post card. Near Haugesund the villages seemed larger and there was an amount of sailing and other water sports. Another 40k and the villages were a small sprinkling of dwellings and the water was free of activity. Everywhere seemed prosperous and freshly painted.
Many of the fjord side roads have been upgraded by building tunnels, some over lk long. Usually the old road was retained as a cycle track around the tunnel. These detours were usually a good surface and very scenic.
The tunnels were unpleasant. The longer ones had lights, but the roar of a vehicle in the tunnel was very loud and intimidating as the sound reflected along the tunnel. Rarely straight, unlit shorter tunnels were a problem. A cycling headlight had nothing to reflect its beam except wet black walls and road. After a short while one feels disorientated unless there is something glimmering ahead.
At Kinsarvik we took a ferry to see the Ethnic Museum at Utne. We were presented with a very interesting display of the history of domestic farmsteads in remote areas. During the long dark months life was hard. It is difficult to imagine how they managed to survive.
Another ferry brought us on to the scenic climb over to Ulvik and a rest day which we spent at Osa visiting a strange Japanese 'sculpture' called Stream Nest. From the rear it looked like a colossal petrified porcupine, at variance with its lovely setting.
On reaching Ulvik we had cycled 200k inland, climbed at least lOOOM and returned to sea level. The next ferry took us onto the road which climbed out of the Fjord system up to l250M and our first icy wilderness, Hardangervidda. We passed about lOk from the Hardanger glacier, which is about l6sq k in area. At this height in June the lakes are still frozen, patches of snow remain, and the reindeer migrate to browse on the exposed vegetation. We crossed two other icy wastes: Valdresflya 1390M, which boasted the highest hostel in North Europe, and Helgedalen, 1405M. A feature of these high places is the abundance of the little red huts which are Norwegian holiday homes. They are scattered everywhere, I suspect that every household has one.
Amazingly, when you remember that the high level roads are open only for the summer months, road surfaces were excellent. Also they were well graded. Starting about sea level the gradual climbs were very long and slowly I became tired, changing the gears down again and again. Descending was something else, freewheeling for several kilometres; I achieved a steady speed of about 55kph. The roads are so good that brakes are rarely needed. Wonderful!
Few of the villages still have a Stave Church. Built in the 12c, the wooden structures are unique and picturesque. Inside the structure is visible. Everything is covered in creosote and some pitch. There are vestiges of old murals. There are few other buildings of any age.
We usually stayed in hostels. The holiday food was exceptionally good except at the Youth Hostel at Boverdalen and the Guest House at Ullenswang. At the latter our host was keen on traditional foods and for a main course we were presented with a pile of sheeps' heads which had been marinated and cooked. Otherwise the meals were an ample, smorgasbord, as on the ferry. We tended to buy supplies for lunchtime picnics. Most places had a Spa supermarket and the assistants were all. very keen to use their English. Their helpfulness was a real contrast to home.
During the second week the mist and cloud stretched longer into the day. Sometimes there was a little drizzle in the mist but there was no rain except on 2 afternoons when it poured for about 2 hours, I wore my cape twice. I gather that we were very lucky with the weather. Under these conditions Norway is 'wall to wall' scenery and very beautiful.
Our final day was spent free range in Bergen, a place that I shall re-visit. Pat and Ron Harrow chose a really interesting route and organised a memorable holiday.