[Closed] Rhapsody in Blue at Ae (The new descent)

Well it's good to be back on the bike. I was up at Ae on my own and the plan was to check out the new blue descent after a little bit of the red. I really like the start of the red at Ae, and stopped along the way to take various photos.

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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/simonralli/8341520141/ ]IMG_6348[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/simonralli/ ]simon ralli[/url], on Flickr

From there it was back on to the fire road, and then a stop at post 12 to have some munchies. The post seemed to be pointing across the cross roads, but I checked my old map and it said straight down, which is where I went. The blue then goes along the river, and I found a very picturesque spot for another rest and more photos.

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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/simonralli/8341495931/ ]IMG_6376[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/simonralli/ ]simon ralli[/url], on Flickr

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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/simonralli/8342547766/ ]IMG_6378[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/simonralli/ ]simon ralli[/url], on Flickr

There were some flowers on the bank of the river in memory of someone's love

[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8356/8342536704_2d84600727_z.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8356/8342536704_2d84600727_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/simonralli/8342536704/ ]IMG_6384[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/simonralli/ ]simon ralli[/url], on Flickr

I only saw one couple as I crossed the bridge back to the car park, and was wondering how to get to the final blue descent. It was only on checking the map at the car park that I realised where I had gone wrong at post 12 😳

I was tired but was glad to back round the blue to check out the new line

[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8074/8342520546_eb15acbf8b_z.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8074/8342520546_eb15acbf8b_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/simonralli/8342520546/ ]IMG_6406[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/simonralli/ ]simon ralli[/url], on Flickr

[url= http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8359/8342517158_e5b9e0cbb1_z.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8359/8342517158_e5b9e0cbb1_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/simonralli/8342517158/ ]IMG_6412[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/simonralli/ ]simon ralli[/url], on Flickr

This is quite short but extremely sweet. OK, it is not on a par with Glentress, but a very welcome addition to the blue at Ae. As I was riding towards the start of this section, looking up there was still more hill, so it makes you wonder what could be achieved with more budget.

Overall a great ride getting back in the saddle, and for learners and people like me the blue is great, and for those out with less able riders this will add some fun if you hit it fast. It also makes for some added mixing up of the red, blue and dare I say orange at Ae for something a little different. If like me you stop to enjoy the foliage and views, it's a great little alternative to the main red for tired legs. Well done to all those who had a hand in building it.