Alan, Allan, Billy, Dan, Davie C,
Davie Mc, Dougie, Ian, Jimmy, Malcolm, Paul, Robert
It was decidedly ‘fresh’ as we set
off for our familiar Muirkirk Circular walk (aka the Lunky Hole walk) from
Kames. Tibbie’s Brig was soon behind us as we took to the old railway line and
then passed Adam’s Stane (the Covenanter memorial). At this point Jimmy, who
had indicated that he would not be doing the whole walk as he was still nursing
his sair back, called a halt and returned to his car, whereas the rest
continued to our usual coffee spot on the walkway beside the River Ayr. By this
time, the temperature had risen a bit, meaning that walking conditions became
very good, not too warm, not too cold. Underfoot conditions had been OK given
the recent rains with only a couple of muddy stretches to negotiate.
 |
On the boardwalk for coffee
|
As is our norm, we had a wee look into
the big hole in the ground, now looking a bit more picturesque, before crossing
the A70 and taking to the tarmac and heading for Netherwood. Lunch would
normally be taken at the bridge over the Greenock Water, but today we stopped
on the road between Netherwood and Burnfoot Farm and sat down with our backs to
the wall, which offered us some shelter from the breeze. Davie Mc had said that
this was a better option as the bridge was covered in sheep droppings, and, if
your scribe’s memory is right, we have stopped at this spot before.
The problem with this resting place
was getting back on your feet when it was time to go, but eventually we were on
our way again down to Burnfoot Farm and then up to the remains of the old
opencast. We took the high path as the lower one was flooded and, after
fighting off the midges, arrived at Glasgow Road which took as down to Muirkirk
and the now legendary, at least in the annals of the Ooters, Lunky Hole.
Suffice it to say that Dan survived his initiation and, whilst we took a
breather, half a dozen bikers arrived, drove round the car park, and then moved
off.
A decision was taken to take the
shortest route back to the cars, so we walked down the road noting that the
Empire Bar was open and approached the Corner House with its outdoor covered
drinking area. It was closed but we wondered what had happened to the barmaid
with whom we had had many spirited conversations. You couldn’t write the script,
but, as we passed the caravan park, who should come out to greet us as long-lost
friends? Lauren, who had been helping the staff at the park, told us she had
taken a one-way ticket to Vietnam and had spent the last two years there before
returning to run the Coach House again. She said that if we were back down in Muirkirk
we should give her a ring and she would make sure the hostelry would open early
for us. Nice touch! Thanks, Lauren.
The cars were reached four hours and
twenty minutes after having set off, not our fastest time for this walk, but
the pace had been moderate on certain stretches, and the reckoning was about
ten miles.
A good day out!
