Time, its often the hardest thing to find. Fortunately one of my freinds, Emma, is great at organising people, and persistant enough to make things happen. As so often, with plans made way in advance, the weather decided not to play nice for the weekend. So we scaled back our plans, loaded up with as much wood as we could carry and heaved our bikes and bodies up a pretty big hill to find a secluded bothy.

Im not a massive fan of bothys, so often they just feel cold, damp and lonely. However for a very wet november night, in the pouring rain and filled with friends they can be transformed into the most welcoming and homely space around.

Nicky, one of my friends who never lets simple things, like practicalitys, get in the way of her ideas, volunteered to cook for all seven of us. I carried the food (massive bag of vegtables, chickpeas and halloumi) in and she prepared the most delicous feast.

Saturday being Josies birthday, Jenny had carried in an entire, homebaked cake! She even managed without squishing it too much. Josie is Irish and had been hoping for a Guinness cake, but it had all been sold out, so Jenny used a great local ale instead to make a Black Gold cake. Yum!

• 

• 

And then all that was left of the night was warmth and laughter around the fire before a cosy night sleep.

Waking in a bothy, the heat of last night fire long seeped through the stone walls, grey light peering in through the windows is hard. Motivating yourself to get up and get out there in the rain and to put on those wet shoes and finally shut the door behind.

Once we were finally out and riding, despite the headwind and persistant rain it was fine. Bikes are always good, and bikes with friends even better!