More Curling

Just back in from a weekend in Kinross where Fiona was curling. Its a funny competition where they try to be as good as they can, but not to win it outright since the winners have to organise it for next year.

I was left to my own devices while the curlers were on ice.

I took the opportunity to hire a bike and go for a cycle. I do not recommend cycling in jeans and boots - there is no stretch. I could barely get my leg over the cross bar.

It was good fun though. There is a newish path which almost circles the loch (Loch Leven). This is the Loch Levin Heritage Trail and seems to be a locally financed initiative to promote the amenities.
They've done a great job. The path is excellent At the moment it only goes about 3/4 of the way around but plans seem to be in place to complete the ring. At the moment it goes from Kinross pier out to RSPB Vane Farm. I was worried at the very start. I didn't look very closely but the surface was a wooden deck with no-slip strips. It meant the hire bike rumbled as it passed over it. I didn't think I would cope if it was all like that. Luckily for me it wasn't.

The path was in fantastic conditions and despite all the rain was quite dry with only a few small puddles over the entire length. Being on the shore of the lake it was also quite level. There were numerous benches where you could sit and look out over the lake, and there were hides for watching the local wildlife.

It was cold but dry and I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

I finished my afternoon off with a sauna while waiting for the curlers to return.

Apart for the curling ,the main purpose of these weekends is the food and I have to admit I enjoyed mine. I'm sure the diet has gone to pot though. I'm not looking forward to tomorrow's weigh in.

The curlers did quite well - no booby prizes and didn't win outright so they don't have to organise it next year. And Fiona won both her games which she was pleased about.

Dual Use

Just got in from my lunchtime cycle. Its all part of my "2013 - the year I get lean" campaign.

We're lucky here in Troon because national Cycle route 7 passes through the town and a recent initiative has joined up all the local paths between golf courses etc as part of the Local Cycle Network. This means I can do a short 7 mile circular route virtually all off the road on cycle paths. The few bits I am on the road are cul-de-sac with little to no traffic.

One of the things you need to be careful about though is the dual use nature. These routes are not exclusively cycle routes and I don't think they should be. But I do have issue with those people who just have no appreciation that there are other people trying to use them.

In the 30 minutes I was out I had to virtually stop on 3 separate occasions. Once was just timing - I was coming up behind a woman with a push chair just as another push chair was approaching.
The other 2 were just people not considering. The woman stopped in the middle of the hedge lined pathway with her dog sniffing about. I only just managed to stop once I saw the lead. I wonder how far the dog would have been catapulted if I couldn't stop in time?

from Google Maps

The other was a family (its a nice winter's day here today and there seems to be a lot of kids about) walking across the full width of the prom, despite the clearly marked cycle path. And them glaring at me.
This image from Google Maps shows exactly what I mean. The whole esplanade to walk on and they choose to walk in the very obvious cycle path. As do the others further down. The cycle path was put there for a reason - to protect walkers by keeping the bikes in one place.

 Its amazing how those 2 metre strips of non slip surface with the white bike symbol repeated every 50 metres attracts so many walkers.


If nothing else, these stops are affecting my time!

Rant over. Time for a shower.

Music Night

Just back in from the Ayr Town Hall.
The South Ayrshire Schools Orchestra were having their annual concert and Ciaran was playing oboe.
He missed this concert last year as he was away with the Scouts skiing, oops I mean on an cultural exchange, in Kandersteg in Switzerland.

There were three separate orchestra tonight - the Junior (all primary students), the Symphony (all secondary) and the Chamber (not too sure about this but seems to be mostly the older secondary students)
Because of the three groups, with different sizes and structures, each played one after another with a short gap between to change the layout. That kept everything flowing really well.

I have to say it was amazing! You have to give credit to the talent these children have.
For the first time in years the Symphony orchestra had a soloist, who was excellent.

Sadly I couldn't see Ciaran as our seats were just in line with him and the conductor. But I could see his oboe bobbing about.

We were again all caught out by the movements. Not being familiar enough with the music means there is a tendency to applaud whenever they stop playing, even if its between movements. By the middle of the 7 movement piece by the Chamber orchestra I though we had it right but failed again in the last piece. This was despite us being told they were playing the first and third movements, but in our defence they took a long time to start the final movement.