Faindouran lodge

Good ride today with George from Tomintoul up to Faindouran lodge in wall to wall sunshine. Ben Avon looked fantastic with snow patches.Never saw a soul all the way up even though Queen's view car park was full. Repairs to the bothy are now complete. On the way down we met a couple at Pony men's hut who were doing a bird survey. Further on we met another couple climbing up from the bridge on bikes who said they were heading for Derry Lodge and Invercauld today. This was about 3.30pm. They seemed not to know that it was hike-a-bike all the way from Faindouran to Fords of Avon and then even more a good part of the way to Derry lodge. They didn't look like proper mountain bikers. I wished them good luck, at least it was good weather.