Ballageich Hill 16 January

Alan, Allan, Davie C, Davie Mc, Dougie, Ian, Johnny, Kenny T, Malcolm, Rex, Robert

As we met in Eaglesham an executive decision was made to take some cars up to Ballageich Hill and therefore cut out the two-mile walk along the road. The weather was bright and cold but, with wintry showers promised, we didn’t hang about and were on the top of the hill at 10.15. The view was grand, but we pushed on and followed our leader, who shall remain nameless, on an unfamiliar, some would say wrong, path. After encountering some boggy stuff and loads of dougals, we emerged halfway down Lochcraig Reservoir, only to find that the track we had headed for was a muck heap. Never mind, we made it up to the head of the reservoir where we took stock.

The long and muddy road

In the past we had stayed high for a longer time and had come out between the reservoir and Bennan Loch. The road we had now come on to would have taken us back up to Bennan Loch if we had turned left, and some wanted to take this route, but the majority held sway and we turned right to head down to South Moorhouse Farm. Here we turned right and followed the track, which again was very muddy for the first couple of hundred yards, until we reached East Moorhouse Farm and its Clydesdale horses. Continuing on, we emerged on Kirkton Moor Road, where we stopped at our usual spot beside the road. We took lunch as this was going to be our only stop, even though it was only about twenty past eleven.
Ian was congratulated on having some nice chicken soup and had brought a handsome mug for the use of. Having partaken of most of it he put the mug down to have a blether. The next time he looked, Holly had her nose in the mug and had scoffed the lot. She emerged, licking her lips, to the laughs of all around.
The sky was threatening so we didn’t linger and made our way past Bonnyton Golf Club and back to the rest of the cars, which were reached just after noon. Probably one of the shorter walks we will do but we had got it remarkably dry.
FRT was taken at the Kings Arms in Fenwick where, in the warmth, we watched the heavy wintry showers outside. We had got the best of the day and had done about five miles in just over two hours. One or two would have liked a longer walk, but not many.

Two stallions and a wee Clydesdale

Arrangements for 23 January

Meet at Johnny's at 9.30am for coffee and scones, and to drop off items of food and drink for the evening.
The walk will be decided on the day taking in to account the weather. Aim to depart Johnny's at 10am.

Those attending the Burns Supper should be at Johnny's from 6pm for a prompt start to the meal at 6.30pm.

Prestwick to Troon 9 January

Alan, Allan, Davie C, Davie Mc, Dougie, Gus, Ian, Jim, Johnny, Kenny T, Malcolm, Paul, Rex, Robert

We were greeted with a sparkling January morning, perfect for our walk along the beach. In the past we have stopped for coffee at the Pow Burn, but today we continued on for another twenty minutes or so until we found a reasonably comfortable place to sit. At this point Dougie, Jim and Kenny turned back as they had engagements elsewhere to attend to.

Overhead there were blue skies, a winter sun, and little breeze, and underfoot we found firm sand for the next leg up to where we left the beach at the toilets in Troon. By this time layers had been removed as it was becoming pleasantly warm. Rather than have lunch there, as it was still a bit early, we went on up to the approaches to the Ballast Bank and found a seat big enough to accommodate us all.
It had taken an hour and fifty minutes to get there but we shaved thirty minutes on the return journey, although Ian and Holly did it in even quicker time.
Nine miles in about three and a half hours, including stops, made for a good brisk walk.
FRT was taken in Wetherspoon’s in Prestwick where we cut back by ordering just one bowl of chips. But we did share a pizza!

Costa Clyde

Washed up on the beach

Hard to believe it is early January!

Arrangements for 16 January

Ballageich Hill
After much deliberation, it was decided to try this walk again.
Meet at the top of the hill at the Green in Eaglesham  (Polnoon Street) at 10am. We can decide then how we do the walk. Several options were mooted today including doing it backwards and parking some cars at the layby at the hill.

Annbank to Ayr 3 January

Alan, Allan, Davie C, Davie Mc, Ian, Jim, Jimmy, Johnny, Kenny T, Malcolm, Peter

The weather was dry, overcast and a bit raw, as we set off towards Auchincruive, having wished each other ‘A Happy New Year’. There were some muddy bits on the path, but progress was good, and we reached the road after thirty-five minutes. Rather than do what we usually do i.e. go up to the Wallace and Burns monument for coffee, we decided to press on, as we had a bus to catch at twelve forty-five.

At about eleven o’clock, as we made our way past the cottages towards the river, Jim and Kenny turned back, as they had said they would do, as they were needed at home. Jim had been in a buoyant mood as his team had recently won a game against a team that didn’t turn up. It’s maybe just as well that Robert was an absentee today. That’s two lots of £7 that you owe the kitty, Robert! As you won’t have enough fingers to count, (mind you, don’t you come from Crosshouse or thereabouts?), that makes £14.
Decision time arrived when we had to decide whether to chance the stepping stones, the result being that half took the chance whilst the other half accompanied our chancellor along the road. On seeing the stones being lapped over with water, the road crew assumed that the chancers would have turned back and, for once, sense had prevailed, as they arrived at our lunch spot adjacent to the stones a couple of minutes later.

Piece and quiet!

The walk down into Ayr was straightforward, the highlight for Jimmy being that he saw two kingfishers and an otter as we passed Craigie. The last time so many Kingfishers were seen was in the Jewel in the Crown!
The bus stop was reached just after half-past twelve, probably the quickest we have done this walk, and we waited patiently for the bus. The electronic sign gave us the time it was due, then the number of minutes to wait, then the fact it was due, and then, to our despair, all information about it disappeared.
As we thought the worst and started thinking about a Plan B, the 43A eventually arrived about eight minutes late, a fact not lost on the driver as he tried to make up the time ‘racing’ to Annbank.
FRT was taken in the Tap o’ the Brae where, other than the fact that they had run out of fresh orange and couldn’t make coffees, a pleasant hour was spent. Davie the Purse was resplendent in his pullover with its own built-in deodorant. A nice Christmas present Davie, but we don’t think it will catch on.