Glentress

It was March '04 and the forecast was bad but we had booked our weekend in Scotland and we were
going to enjoy it. The first day and a half was spent at Glentress in the Glentress Hotel , only 50m from the
start of the trails, tolerant of mud and equipped with a hose and a shed, a friendly atmosphere to. I will
definitely be staying there again. On Friday night we took our lights out on a the red route. Saturday we
did the black route. Both were great rides but due to the darkness and then the bad weather I didn't get
any pics.

Such a special place had to be revisited so here are some pictures of my July '04 visit to the Borders. We
booked into the Glentress Hotel again and a big thankyou has to be given to Brian, Liz and the staff for a
great stay. The weather was kinder to us this trip only raining for 10mins on the final part of the Black
route. Fantastic riding, can the Welsh centers catch up? They'll have to try hard as Glentress is already
improving the Red Route. I'll have to see what that is like next time. I am definitely going back as I still
have to get past the sharp corner on the North Shore.

Me riding the Ewok Village seesaw

Me making the jump look easy
this time. (Video of not so easy)

Me on a deliverance berm

Paul B. riding the 'Shore

Lewis and Paul P. with well earned
beers at the Glentress Hotel

Sabine getting her first air

April '05 saw us back at Glentress and we were out and riding by the Friday afternoon. Unfortunately after
starting on the Red route we found Spooky Wood shut due to felling but the sign promised it to be open
the following day. After cutting through to the Black route and meeting up with Paul P, Neil and Keith we
had a great ride back while talking about doing Spooky Wood in the morning. Porridge and a fry-up had me
fueled up for the morning, although I had to take it easy on the first climbs not too see it again. It was not
long before hitting the new section and it didn't disappoint. Flying down it, with Roger on my tail the first
time, kept my speed up but landing nose heavy twice and almost coming out the top of a berm kept me
concentrating. The second run was faster and smoother but I still didn't clear the last double, you have to
work hard to keep the speed up for the air and by the bottom I was completely shot. Taking the cut
through we finished on the Black route and saw Roger cleane the North Shore first time, I still have to get
past that corner!! The Yin/Yang thing did see Roger landing face first off the seesaw though........