Back to the Gene Pool

I went cycling yesterday in the playground of my forefathers.....with my father. On what was a chilly but sunny day my dad and I headed to Dalmellington and Loch Doon where he grew up and I spent many a Saturday afternoon at my Gran's.
We parked at the side of the loch before unhitching the MTB's and heading along the side of the loch and then towards Loch Reicawr.

We then continued for a mile or so till a small signpost indicates a mountain bike track, constructed some ten years ago. From here we followed it on this lumpy section to Loch Bradan which is a fresh water reservoir for thousands of homes in Ayrshire.

After we reached the point where the trail started heading towards Loch Doon and Finlass again, it became a bit of a hike-a-bike. The trail turned viscously upwards and the combination of gradient, boulders and ice it was impossible to cycle.
What should have been a great decent (and was a few years ago) was ruined slightly as the track has become cut up and boulder strewn. From tracks on the path it is clear that scrambler motor-bikes have decided to use the track which has cut it up considerably. We did find our way back on to the fire road and a nice decent for 3km back to the van.
This was once a good wee trail which would make for a better trail hike rather than bike these days, however the scenery and memories of weekends past made up for that.
A pleasant last ride of 2014!