As I sit and watch it snowing, typical, I've just created an event for a social meet as I've hired the Pond BBQ area at Mugdock Country Park from 11am to 4pm on Sunday 22nd May.

The idea is to muster at 11am to meet and greet, have a tea or coffee, have a pee then set out on a ride. Keep the ride to around 2 hours to be back at Mugdock with a couple of hours for BBQ and socialising.

While riders are away, I'll light the BBQs so they're ready to start cooking from about 1.30 – 2.00 pm. If you don’t want to (or simply can’t) come early for a ride, then come anytime for the social part.

I’m not providing food! It’s strictly BYO.

I shall provide the charcoal and all other BBQ-ing necessities, and also a gas hob and the makings for a cup of tea or coffee so I'll be asking you all for £7 towards that and the site hire fee. I hope that’s fair; I could lose out, I could end up making a donation to the Air Ambulance, all depends on turnout.

Please bring your own choice of food and ginger, plus a mug and plate. You can arrive with your food supplies to leave in cool-boxes or get what you want while out, that’s up to you.

This is a social event open to all BMers but I’m suggesting that we also make it a Pick-up-a-Pillion Day. However, you do not have to be a pillion, take a pillion, or even go for a ride to come join us for the BBQ. Please arrange pillion requests/offers through the event and by PM before the day – don’t just turn up expecting to be paired; and pillions, if meeting your pilot at Mugdock please arrive almost ready to go.

Hope it turns out a nice day, but the BBQs are sheltered as is some of the seating, and I’ll bring a tarp to provide extra shelter if needed.

https://www.bikermatch.co.uk/events/event.asp?event_id=6599

What a super star you are Izzy thank you for going to the effort I will try hard to be there By the way how did you get permission to swim in the Falkirk wheel ?                                                                                                                                                                             

I think you're confuddling me with someone else; I've swam lots of places but not the Falkirk wheel.                                                                                                                                                                             

Yep honest mistook just looking at the background of your profile pic the only bit of water with that elevation I could think of was Falkirk wheel lol ( My first lol )                                                                                                                                                                             

Ah, no, they'd not let anyone swim in that.

Pic was taken at Barmouth, we hired a belle tent up from the camping site with it's own hot tub - best part of the trip!                                                                                                                                                                             

This sounds like a fab-u-lous idea Izzy!

Wish I lived closer, but unfortunately I can't justify the journey there and back for a BBQ 😕

Although we will see you and DA-man at Middleton-in-Teesdale and without a doubt at Balloch O'Dee! 👍🏻

I wish you well with this one, it sounds like a great idea!
🤞🏻😊

Play bonny sweetie, probably all waiting for a more reliable forecast than "am sure Izzy has the weather sorted" 🤣😅😂🤣

And there'll be no deep fried road kill - I haven't got a fryer 🤪                                                                                                                                                                             

Anyone looking for a lift to bbqand or run I have a spare seat                                                                                                                                                                             

C'mon folk, just 2 and a bit weeks to go, get your names down and come along.
It'll be better than sitting on your backside complaining there's never anything happening up here.
We don't bite (there are midges for that, lol).                                                                                                                                                                             

Hiya Izzy how you doing ? hope your doing well and had a decent weekend , just wondering you wouldent happen to know what the route will be for the wee run do ? but it will be nice to get out and see everyone looking forward to getting out and thanks for organizing this wee doo , not enough happens over this side of the border so its all appreciated x

I may pop in if up that way run...                                                                                                                                                                             

Hi Shaz, not done a route as I'll be tending the store and lighting fires but I'll have a look and put something up.

Of course anyone is welcome to suggest a route, just list places and road numbers or paste the URL to a Google map you've done.
Anyone?

Sven, would be great to see you if you happen to be around.

Aye well you never know where I'll turn up when I'm out a run..🙃😆                                                                                                                                                                             

Perfect sounds like a plan Izzy il have a wee look soon as I get back home at the weekend, im guessing via Germany or the nurburgring is maybe a touch out of the way ? Lol I can't imagine you being too happy if we all pitch back up 7 days later , burgers might be a touch overdone by then lol x

Shaz, you are sooo cheeky! 😂🤣😂

I'm sure you would love to eat a cardboard charcoal burger though. 🤢🤮 I'm sure everyone would love to see you try it. Video footage would be great. 👍🏻                                                                                                                                                                             

Serving suggestion, lol, couple of 2-hour loops:

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Mugdock+Country+Park+Car+Park,+Stirling,+Glasgow/Craighat,+Glasgow/Aberfoyle,+Stirling/Callander/Kippen,+Stirling/Fintry,+Glasgow/Mugdock+Country+Park+Car+Park,+Stirling,+Glasgow/@56.1017591,-4.5624379,10z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m44!4m43!1m5!1m1!1s0x48885a9536fb7c43:0x4ac3f90c928448d0!2m2!1d-4.3296426!2d55.9730008!1m5!1m1!1s0x488850d1a5fb0641:0xa0c681c77dfd160!2m2!1d-4.4165104!2d56.0286738!1m5!1m1!1s0x4888f77090b73cef:0x542af3a155f5170d!2m2!1d-4.3846028!2d56.1786724!1m5!1m1!1s0x48888b44ce5faee7:0x8f3ded41dbf79c6b!2m2!1d-4.2116631!2d56.245059!1m5!1m1!1s0x48885f8b0dcb23db:0x1252ba8c5b4a9ff0!2m2!1d-4.166745!2d56.126624!1m5!1m1!1s0x48885c2f0730d9bb:0x1424a6c23768a20f!2m2!1d-4.22064!2d56.052824!1m5!1m1!1s0x48885a9536fb7c43:0x4ac3f90c928448d0!2m2!1d-4.3296426!2d55.9730008!3e0

or
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Mugdock+Country+Park+Car+Park,+Stirling,+Glasgow/Milton+of+Campsie,+Glasgow/Carron+Bridge,+Denny/North+third+reservoir+parking,+Stirling/Craighat,+Glasgow/Mugdock+Country+Park+Car+Park,+Stirling,+Glasgow/@56.0455981,-4.4683025,10z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m38!4m37!1m5!1m1!1s0x48885a9536fb7c43:0x4ac3f90c928448d0!2m2!1d-4.3296426!2d55.9730008!1m5!1m1!1s0x48885d257a065697:0x63e9d7a0f259bf18!2m2!1d-4.161484!2d55.965089!1m5!1m1!1s0x488866a2ff80a06d:0xa0c681c77dfccc0!2m2!1d-4.024031!2d56.027078!1m5!1m1!1s0x488863bf7fe726a3:0x7e6768e6f516c5ca!2m2!1d-4.0029096!2d56.0709789!1m5!1m1!1s0x488850d1a5fb0641:0xa0c681c77dfd160!2m2!1d-4.4165104!2d56.0286738!1m5!1m1!1s0x48885a9536fb7c43:0x4ac3f90c928448d0!2m2!1d-4.3296426!2d55.9730008!3e0

this second one takes you along the Tak Ma Doon Road so be prepared for narrow, gravelly roads and fording a stream - so maybe avoid if there's been a lot of rain in the preceding few days?

Allow extra time for stops to regroup (if riding as a group), take photos, or grab a coffee/ice cream.
Go either direction and both could be shortened by cutting through the middle if wanted.
Hope this helps - it's not my usual neck of the woods.

Narrow Gravely roads with streams and ice cream if we make it without going for a swim sounds fun I wuna do that one lol 😁 , ah lindsay the happier I am the cheekier I get lol but if we get to go to the nurburgring il happily eat cardboard and even video it lol so are we getting to go? Il get the bags packed 😁 x

Shaz you're gonna have your pillion getting worried about how much luggage she needs to pack!                                                                                                                                                                             

LMAO @Shaz, sounds like a man with a plan! 😁👍🏻😂🤣

Izzy, I love the name of the road 'Tak Ma Doon Road'... 😁😂🤣👍🏻                                                                                                                                                                             

Izzy lol poor pillion will be thinking ah a few hours nice wee relaxing day out , 7 days and 4 countries 2000 miles later lol , ah 2 panniers even tho they are small and a top box will make it work as us bikers always do lol , Lindsay , germany you up for it ? then maybe we can just nip down the road to the Spanish Pyrenees on the way to teesdale round 2 il start getting ready , just let me know where you would like to meet up lol