At long last, the warm and sunny biking weather is finally here. Arriving at Kinross Services, were nine happy bikers, all eager to enjoy the days run around the Fife countryside.
In no particular order we had:
Mike ONeill – Suzuki GSX-S 1000
Gavin Paterson – Suzuki Fazer 1000
Grant Powrie – Triumph Tiger 900 GT
David Syme – BMW 1250 GS
Brian Torley – Honda Pan European
Antonios (Tony) Tsikrikas – Suzuki V-Strom 650
Dave McWilliam – Triumph Tiger 850 Sport
Andrew ? – Can-Am Spyder RT (Yes you read that correctly)
Myself – Triumph Bonneville SE 865
(Apologies if I’ve got some of this wrong)
After the usual get together chat and briefing, we set of with me leading and Dave as TEC. The first part of the run took us up through Glenfarg, Abernethy and Newburgh and onto the fabulous River Tay coastal road. This is always a fun section with great views of the river. Our first stop of the day was at the Tay Bridge car park. Coffee and rolls were enjoyed by some while the others chatted about the bikes and in particular, Andrews Can-Am Spyder.
Suitably refreshed we set of again with Grant as TEC, we were down to 8 bikes as Dave had to leave us.
We wound our way through through Tayport, St Michaels, Balmullo and Dairsie. All was going well, the drop of system was working a treat, what could possibly go wrong.
After Dairsie there’s a convenient stopping spot with fine views over to the St Andrews area. I pulled in followed by David and Tony, then we waited, and waited. I was getting rather worried at this point, as when I planned this run, the road down through Dura Den was closed as it has been for months.
There was no way to get lost, was it a breakdown or worse an accident. The three of us turned round and went back the short distance to the narrow bridge over the River Eden, the only possible problem point.
What did we find, nothing, no sign of any bikes. Thinking that the rest of the group must have gone down the closed road through Dura Den we proceeded in that direction. To my surprise, the road works have been completed and the road was open. The group could only have gone this way.
What to do? I had chatted to Grant earlier, who was running as TEC, about the next stop at the Cheesy Toast Shack. He told me that he had been there recently. It was at the beach but the car park could be very busy. All we could do at this point was to hope that the lost group would have stopped and that Grant would lead them to the Toast Shack. So the three of us pressed on with a little bit more pace in the hope of catching up with them.
We followed the slightly amended route all the way to the Toast Shack. It was beside the beach, and the car park was very busy as Grant had mentioned. The very kind attendant moved some traffic cones and gave us VIP parking. I had hoped to find the rest of the group there, I was to be disappointed, they weren’t there. Where could the lost group possibly be!!!!!!!
The only thing we could do was to wait and see if they would arrive. We might as well get some well earned coffee etc. while we’re here. We then looked at the beach, watched people braving the cold water out swimming and also the giant octopus kite flying high in the sky. And we waited and waited and waited.
Then, over the horizon, the bikes arrived, which was a great relief to me. But where have they been?
Well it transpires, that when one of the riders (who shall remain nameless), crossed the bridge over the River Eden he had two options, turn left following the main road or turn right crossing the white junction markers onto the Dura Den road, the wrong way. I was correct to assume that Grant would take control and take the group to the Toast Shack, and this is exactly what he did. On arrival at the Beach side Cheesy Toast Shack in St Andrews they expected to find us there, but we weren’t. Where could we possibly be?
Grant thought he would ask at the Shack if there was by chance another one close by. He was informed that, yes we have one at Kingsbarns, about 8 miles away. It turns out that the the Toast Shack in St Andrews was the one he had previously visited and not the Kingsbarns one that we were at. After much laughter, at least we were all back safely together again.
Suitably refreshed we set of for the final part of the run. This took us through Arncroach, Largoward, New Gilston, Bonnybank etc. On a back road just after Langdyke we turned left onto the Star road. I pulled the group in just round the corner allowing us to be seen by following riders. Looking in my mirror, I spotted the same nameless rider followed by one other going straight past the junction in the wrong direction. Oh no!!!!!!!! we’re split up again. Brian at the rear of our group quickly turned round and raced after the two lost souls. So again we waited and waited for them to rejoin the group.
Thankfully the rest of the run was trouble free and we arrived safely at Powmill Milk Bar. At this point the coffee and Grants generous wife’s delicious traybake was consumed with plenty of jovial banter. It’s the first run that I’ve organised that’s went so badly wrong. But, ignoring that, everyone really seemed to enjoy the day.
Many thanks to Dave and Grant for running as TEC, and to Brian for rounding up the lost boys.
I’m now looking forward to the next, hopefully stress free, run.