The Kinross weekend is a ends based system so the final score doesn't matter too much, just the number of ends that each team has won. The real tricky bit is that the winning team must organise next years event.Not being a curler I get to make my own amusement while they play. Last year I hired a bike and cycled around the loch. This year was to be the same.
The trick is to play well enough to retain face, and avoid slagging, while playing poorly enough to get out have having to be in charge next time.
Olympics is nothing compared to this.
But the bike hire place from last year was no longer open. It was part of the hotel group (which also had the other hotel, gold course, ice rink) Their in hotel info made no mention of bike hire or the bistro which was alongside it. A simple question at reception confirmed that it was no longer open. But might open again later in the year. Not much use to me this weekend then.
Google showed another bike hire place, but its website was still under construction so no opening hours were available. Also the copyright was 2012 which made me sceptical.
My plan was simple - have a walk down and see what was available if anything. Other wise just go for a walk.
Even this simple plan was ruined by the weather - miserable. So, I decided to get the camera and head over to the rink and watch the curling.
Once out it wasn't as bad as it had looked from the breakfast table so heading into the town and managed to hire a bike. And was really glad I did.
Apart from being a bit blowy, it was really nice out. A bit wet under foot (i.e. mud up to my knees when I got home) but it never rained on me and was surprisingly warm.
At the moment there is a cycle path 3/4 of the way around, form Kinross Pier to Vane Farm RSPB, but the new connecting bits are almost ready to be opened - a single bridge is missing so next year I can do laps.
It was cross country from the hotel until I hit the path, then anticlockwise as far as I could go. Turn around and head back, as far as I can go. Then turn around and try to hook up with the other cycle path north of thee loch. But that was on a busier road that i would normally find relaxing so back onto the path and drop the bike back.
Over all I managed 35.k km in fairly windy conditions on a bike that had handlebars way to low for me. Compared to last year, it was 10 minutes longer on the bike, but managed 7 miles further. And that included stops, and a chat with an old colleague I bumped into.
All in all a good day.
The curling went well too. Won some, lost enough, took home 6 of the 10 raffle prizes. Had a wild dinner where the staff we genuinely terrified...
