Ecotopia Bike Tour; Summer 2017.

         For those who fancy a group cycling holiday, this sounds like their sort of thing. So if you want to see a bit of Europe and learn new skills, then get on your bike and give this a go.

Ecotopia Bike Tour; Summer 2017:

        Ecotopia Biketour is a self-organized, international community that has been organizing a yearly bicycle tour in different regions of Europe since 1990. During the tour we visit environmental and social projects and practice forms of activism and sustainable living. We follow a vegan diet, practice consensus decision making, and share skills by doing workshops. Ecotopia Biketour is for anyone interested in travelling by bike, community life, DIY, environmentalism, and learning by experience.
         Usually 20–40 people cycle with us at the same time. Most people join for somewhere between 2 weeks and 2 months and participate in the tour for the first or second time. We rarely cycle all together, usually some people go ahead in the morning and mark the route with arrows on the road. People then follow in small groups in their own speed and rhythm. We keep distances at a level where no particular fitness or experience is necessary.
         We try to create a non-hierarchical environment by rotating responsibilities, sharing skills and respecting personal needs. People can sign up for daily tasks (cooking, pulling a trailer, marking the route, etc.), but everyone can decide individually how much they want to do. We meet up every couple of days to talk about how it is going and to collectively make decisions. It is one of our core values to create a non-discriminatory environment.
         We cook communally with wood, carry all our equipment ourselves and try to buy local and organic food and to dumpster-dive where possible. Participants are asked to donate 3–5 € per day to cover the food costs, but people who cannot give this donation are also welcome to join.
         This year we will focus on skill-sharing and other forms of alternative education. We will have workshops regularly where we want to share abilities and knowledge within our group and with the projects we are going to visit. We will start at the end of June in Strasbourg in France and will cycle for 3 months via Nancy (Vélorution Universelle), Bure, Freiburg, Basel, Bern, Lausanne, Geneva, Grenoble, Toulouse to Barcelona and end near Tarragona. The exact route and dates are being announced on our website.
If you have some recommendations for projects, groups and events for us to visit on the way or would like to help preparing the tour, write to 2017@ecotopiabiketour.net.

Participation Guidelines:

Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk
 

Has Summer Arrived???

        Well, well, whatever happened to our weather, blue skies and 16 degrees, pity about the 16mph wind. The sun made me think of Aberfoyle, so that's where I headed, it is an easier ride home that it is on the outward journey, more long incline drags, as you gain height to about Ward Toll, then you get some nice runs down towards Aberfoyle. So naturally that 16mph wind was in my face on the run out, but gave me a wee push back home on the easier stretch. Still a wonderful afternoon. The sun brought out all manner of cyclists in all shapes and sizes of bikes, but the Lycra clad brigade in their light weight bikes, out numbered the rest. I now accept that they will pass me at regular intervals, usually with a "Hi" as they with their young legs and lungs zip along the road.
       Last year after a run that was meant to end in Aberfolye, but was foiled, I posted about the pipes that run from Loch Katrine to supply Glasgow with its fresh water, and how the road at Ballot Toll  was closed, as where the pipes cross the road at that point, there seemed to be problem, as it was all supported by steel columns across the road. Well it seems that it is still a problem, though the road is open in a controlled single line traffic arrangement, with height restrictions on vehicles, the pipes still look in a precarious condition. Perhaps the fresh water supply to a major city is not a priority.

        Liz MacGregor's is a pleasant watering hole when visiting Aberfoyle. Good soup, nice cakes and not expensive.

        The might River Forth that ends up entering the North Sea on the east coast at Edinburgh, starts its life in these parts. Here it is, just a little river, as it winds its way through Aberfolye. 

Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk

Martyrs' Stone.

       Managed out four times this week on the bike, though getting a bit cold. I hope I didn't give the impression that the last run I done up the Loch, was from Arrochar to Tarbet, 4+ miles? I come from the other direction, from beyond Balloch to Tarbet and then round to Arrochar, before turning back to Tarbet for that plate of sustenance.

      Last Wednesday it was a wee dash round my home territory, a non stop 30 mile circuit circling round Lenzie, Kirkintilloch, Milton of Campsie, Torrance zigzagging this way and that until I got my 30 miles. No stops, so no photos. Thursday it was the same territory, but cut it short to 25 miles, again no stops, no photos. 

       Monday I decided to go up the Aberfoyle road, on  reaching the Aberfoyle/Killearn/Drymen round-about, I was met with cones across the road stating road closed, and a notice saying diversion via Drymen. No intentions of going to Drymen, I decided that I would go through the cones, and if it was road works, I could just cycle/walk through and then carry on to Aberfoyle. 

     What a wonderful experience, mile after mile with no traffic. I started to imagine that this is what it will be like when the real "oil crisis" hits us, no noise of roaring cars, no thundering lorries, roads for bikes. I began to wonder what the cones were there for, when about 400 yards from Ballott Toll, it became obvious. There is an aqueduct that crosses the road at that point, carrying the lovely clear waters of Loch Katrine to the people of Glasgow and surrounding districts to flow into their homes for drinking, among other purposes. It was propped up with about twelve steel columns across the road, tall steel fencing across the road with heavy chains and a notice, DANGER, no entry. It looks as if the vital water supply to Glasgow is about to fall down, disaster for Glasgow should that ever happen. I admitted defeat, turned the bike and headed back along the wonderful stretch of traffic-less road.

        Today, Wednesday, it was a repeat of last Thursday's run, though I did stop at one point for a couple of photos. It was the Martyrs' Stone on the Kirkintilloch/Kilsyth road, a monument to mark two Covenanters who were put to death for their faith. I just feel that I would have respected them more if their passion had been for humanity, rather than for their faith. I have photographed this stone before, but I thought it was worth another shot. It must be the least visited monument in this part of Scotland, as it is situated at the side of a rather narrow road with no footpath or parking and a steady stream of fast traffic.

Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk

Cook And Drive.

 Duck Bay, Loch Lomond, looking towards Ben Lomond.

        As I no longer do the mileage on the bike that I used to, I find that it limits the places I can visit. Gone are the days when I would step out the gate at my front door, throw my leg over the bike and head for Tyndrum, Loch Kathrine, Dunoon, Arrachar, Callander, Inversnaid, Kinloch Ard, Strathyre, Lake of Menteith, Loch Venachar, etc. and a variety of routes in between. Now I find that I pedal around the Campsie Hills area, the Aberfoyle Road and of course the Loch. Not that there is anything wrong with any of these places, all a beauty in their own right.

The pier at Luss on Loch Lomond.

      So Saturday saw me once more, along the Bonnie Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond. On the way back down the Loch, I stopped at the picturesque village of Luss, on the shore of the Loch. Many years ago it was an isolated little village that few people new about, now it is difficult to cycle down the main street as the cars are parked tight along its full length, with cars trying to negotiate the remaining space. It has a large car/bus park which is usually full.

Looking along the shore at Luss.

       When my kids were still at school I would take them there armed with an inflatable dinghy, and they could paddle up and down the burn that flows into the loch at Luss, or I would row them out to one of the islands, a fair distance from Luss. On one occasion I decided that we would have a full cooked meal on the shore, but no barbecue. So I wrapped some steak with onions and potatoes in tinfoil. Making sure it was properly sealed, I then tied it to the exhaust manifold of my car engine with two pieces of wire. We set off and occasionally there would be the wiff of cooking food. On arriving at the shore in Luss, the other visitors sitting around looked somewhat surprised when I lift the bonnet of the car undone the tinfoil package and filled the air with the smell of hot steaming steak and unions, all beautifully cooked. The secret is to gauge the distance you will drive to the amount you want to cook.   

 Row of cottages covered in shrubs and roses, Luss main street.

Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk

 

Two Days, Two Climates.

        My cycling season is coming to an end as the days get shorter and colder. My wee bronchial tubes complain too much under such conditions. So I grab a day when ever I can, this time it was Wednesday and Thursday. Scotland is probably unique in that two days following each other can be so different. Wednesday was my most familiar run, the Campsie area, it was overcast, with an easterly wind around 17mph, with quite a chill factor. Thursday it was very hot and the wind was around 3-4mp, which made it a very pleasant outing. So much so, that I didn't stop to take any photos, just a jaunt round the same area and back home. 

    So just the one photo from Wednesday, the Campsie Hills with the mist creeping ever lower, one of its myriad of faces.

 

Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk

Delight In The Drizzle.

         Another dull overcast day, but the wind had all but disappeared. So it was a magical run around my most familiar cycling pad, the Campsie area. Cool but pleasant, it would have been nice to see the sun. Though there was a very light drizzle just as I churned the last few miles home, it didn't in any way detract from the pleasure.

Cast your eyes down from the overcast skies
and what will you see?
Why, priceless jewels and colourful gems
all absolutely free.

Pleasure In The wind.

         I reckon that I read the forecast wrong today. I thought it was sunny intervals and light winds, but out on the bike it was dull, overcast and a strengthening WNW wind, I put the wind at approaching 20mph. on stretches. Not my favourite cycling conditions, but, still a wonderful pleasure to be out on the road.

Rather menacing clouds over the Campsie Hills.

Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk

 

The Wonders Of Smooth Tarmac.

        What a glorious day, imagine a summer like that, in this country. I suppose some people will say that is what we get, sadly it is just a one day summer. I decided that it has been a while since I went up the Loch, (Loch Lomond), so that was where I ended up. It was a beautiful run, the usual chaotic traffic, but after all these years, you get used to it. One surprise, last time up that way, some of that road was in a dreadful state, especially the part where you approach the Inverbeg Hotel. It is a cyclist's nightmare, dreadful potholes, cracked surface, broken tarmac and loose gravel. However, the powers that be have seen fit to re-surface a large section of the road on that stretch. Gone are the nightmares and the swearing, it was pure dead brilliant, smooth black tarmac, and the quiet whir of the wheels, gliding along in magnificent sunshine, with the Loch on one side, the hills beyond, and trees and shrubbery on the other side. A wondrous vista of natural beauty.

The entrance to Tarbet Hotel Loch Lomond.

Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk

Aching For The Sun

        Hi, to my friends, comrades, followers, readers and critics, a big thanks to all those who read my "stuff" and comment. Stasia and I are off on a wee holiday, a nice wee break. No doubt both of us will be expecting different things from this escape, but I will be looking for some kind warm sun to gently caress my ageing body. It will be a chance to re-charge batteries, after what has been a very busy and at times stressful period. I will be be parting company from my dream machine, my bike, and this blog will probably fall silent for another wee spell. Though I expect both bike and blog to re-start when I return. 

           A photo from my run  last Thursday. Just peeping through the trees is a favourite watering hole of mine, The Aizle Tearoom. at Ballott Toll, on the Aberfoyle Road. It is not expensive and they do a lovely plate of lentil soup. All cycle runs should end at a good tearoom.

See you soon.

Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk

Great Run, Pity About The Roads.

        Well it seems that this glorious spell of wonderful weather is about to fizzle out in a few days time, we will be back to what we know best, a bit on the cold side, windy and wet. However it was great while it lasted, who knows, perhaps it will come back again, SOON.

Ward Toll, a cross roads and a garden centre. 

       I took the bike along another road that I haven't been for a few years, up past Ward Toll, turn right and head down to Buchlyvie, turn right along the road from Stirling, then soup and coffee at Ballot Toll. For some reason I can't find the name "Ballot Toll" on the google map.

Buchlyvie, needs to see to its roads.

      The decision to take the B road to Buchlyvie was a big mistake, for about 1-1.5 miles, the road surface is atrocious, difficult to describe it other than there must be a law against call a piece of ground like that "A Road". you then get a couple of miles of fairly decent surface, then it gets worse than the first bit. The section after you go over the wee hump bridge and start to climb up to the main road, defies description. I thought as I turned onto the main road from Stirling that it would be a good surface, it is not, for the first mile or so, it is a nightmare, it does eventually turn into what could be called "A Road". I would recommend that anybody with a decent road bike should not go anywhere near the Ward Toll to Buchlyvie road.

Ballot Toll, one of my favourite watering holes when out on the bike.

      From Ballot Toll,  I went on to Drymen, then on through Croftamie and on to Glengoyn, famed for its single malt whisky.

Ptarmigan Pub Drymen.

Glengoyn Distillery.

       Despite the miles of excuses for roads, it was a wonderful day out.

Another view from Drymen Square.

Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk

The Bumpy Road To Aberfolye.

 

        Still the sun shines, and our dour Scottish personality is already saying, "Aye, we'll pay for this", but grab it while we can. Another glorious day temperature in the 20's and a light wind, magic. After last weeks nasty experience on the Loch road, I decided to go for the Trossachs and settled for Aberfoyle. It has been a few years since I took the bike to this lovely spot. It was a very pleasant run though not much in the way of flat roads. However, again the road surface raises its ugly head. After you go round the round-about at the Rob Roy Inn, the road is a disgrace, as the main road into Aberfoyle, it is broken, potholed, rough  and a danger to cyclists. You have to suffer about half to three quarters of a mile if unrelenting bangs and bumps, on a narrow busy road. I don't know if it is a fact that many motorists are unaware of what goes on under their car while driving over these road surfaces, and they just accept it, but it is costing them money on damaged shock absorbers and tyres. Perhaps if they wake up to that fact they may complain more and get something done about the problem. Of course you face the same road on the way out of Aberfoyle. Never the less, a beautiful day out.

About four years since I visited this lovely spot on the bike.

Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk

 

The Engine Still Runs.

        After Sunday's fall at Tarbet, I went to bed with a stiff left knee and a tender bruise on my left calf, I suppose it is where my calf hit the pedal, or the pedal hit my calf, I'll leave that intellectual debate for later. I woke up on Monday morning with a stiff left knee, a darker tender bruise on my left calf, a stiff left wrist and a slight soreness on my left shoulder. This lead me to the conclusion that at my age when you fall, you don't bounce, you crunch.

      I decide that Monday and Tuesday would be, a take it easy couple of days, but Wednesday was so beautiful that I decided to to test the body to see if it still worked. So off I went on the bike, what a wonderful day, a short run out to Campsie Glen, with the usual eating ritual, and felt great, no ill effects. Back home in reasonable style with a smile on my face. Still the odd ache here and there, but the engine still runs.

        No, this is not Germany, it is Haughhead at Campsie Glen, one of those weird places where strange people go to talk to their imaginary friend, who lives in an invisible house in the sky.

Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk

Ah, To Be Young Again.

 

        Tuesday was the chosen day for the bike run, quite warm, sunny intervals that cleared to give us a nice sunny sky, But OH, that wind, 13/14mph was the stated force, I think they were being a little modest, never the less, it was a great run. One thing I find very pleasing, is when there are lots of cyclists on the road, and Tuesday was such a day. They were out in force from the usual solo riders to the small and large groups, wonderful to see.

        I spoke to one solo rider just past the Kirkhouse Inn, he said he was heading over the Crow Road and then heading for the Queen's View. On a route that has practically no flat bits, two stiff climbs, as to get to the Queen's View he would also have to climb The Whistlefield, then make his way back. Ah, Oh to be young again.

Visit ann arky's home at www.radicalglasgow.me.uk