Stockie Muir

I can hear the wind whistling down the lane outside - the sun is blinding through the top floor windows and I just got caught in a downpour on my way to work. It's a pretty typical Scottish day, regardless of season. Earlier in the week I noticed Wednesday's forecast was particularly unique - despite the morning temperatures being below zero there was sun and barely any wind so I planned a mid week ride. As a result of the low temperatures there was ice on the roads north to Drymen but most had been worn out or had thawed. The light quality was fantastic and only 12 miles from Glasgow this is the Queens view north to Loch lomond and the Trossachs to the north east. I could see the icing sugar that had dusted the peaks as a 76 year old cyclist sided up to me and chatted - I spotted the easily viewed Ben Ledi and Ben Lomond but she pointed out the Ben's that I didn't know - like Ben Venue and Ben Bhreac. She was obviously a keen hill walker too and had that healthy contentedness that you see in active old people.