19 March Cumbrae 4

Jimmy was late - it was his own fault, he should remember his PIN number - so, when he joined the rest of us at Johnny’s house, scones and coffee were almost finished. (You do spoil us, Mr. M.) There were only five of us today (plus Holly, of course) as sickness and commitments depleted our band yet again. Jimmy also forgot his camera. So did Johnny so we are relying on Rex to provide the evidence for today.

As a consequence of Jimmy’s tardiness it was a later ferry than usual that we took from Largs for the circuit of Cumbrae. The 10:15 boat was just drawing into the jetty and already the twitchers were at it - a raft of Eider, a murmeration of Starling, a boredom of birders. This was to be a day of Davie and Jimmy with binoculars glued to their eyeballs.

We turned south from the ferry terminal towards Millport. We stopped, there were birds on the shore. We started again. We stopped for there were birds on the water. We started again. We stopped for there were birds in the sky, on the fields, in the gardens, on the sand or the rocks. We stopped frequently. Bob learned that there was more than one kind of plover. Rex learned the orgasmic call of the eider. Johnny learned patience. Davie and Jimmy were in their element. It took us nearly two hours to cover the three miles from the ferry to Millport. Granted we stopped for coffee but this was still slow going. (The pace was to pick up but I will get to that in due course)

Across the water Arran looked good with the snow capped peaks catching the sun. Millport also looked good in the brightness, a sea-side town waking up from a long winter sleep. Fresh pain was being applied and gardens were being tidied up. The newly restored Garrison building was commented on for this was in the process of reconstruction the last time we were here. And here, in Millport, we were sheltered from the cool northerly breeze but did we stop for lunch. Did we heck!

Davie said we should take lunch on the picnic table beyond the caravan park where the view was best. And we all listen to Davie. Don’t we? So we left the shelter of the town. The breeze hadn’t warmed up to any extent, - it blew off snow in the highlands - and lunch was had in slightly less than balmy conditions. But the view was good, Davie. It was during this peece stop that Davie told us that there was no three o’clock ferry, that the one after half past two was the half past three. We had four and a half miles to cover and nearly an hour and a half to do it in so there was no real rush.

But Davie’s statement seemed to alarm the older members of the group for immediately after lunch they took off along the road like turbo-charged peregrines. (This illusion was just put in to keep the bird theme going.) It was difficult for the birdie two to keep up. Davie stopped for a pee and found himself two hundred metres behind. Jimmy struggled to close the gap on the leaders. Davie struggled to close the gap on Jimmy. But eventually the group came together as the oldies ran out of steam. Still the pace was kept high. Bob and Johnny broke into a jog but slowed up as they ran out of puff and the rest caught up. This happened more than once. Hares and tortoises spring to mind. The tea-room at Fintry Bay was passed quickly as was the outdoor centre at Bell Bay. Come to think of it, everywhere on that stretch of road was passed quickly. On rounding the final bend we could see the two o’clock ferry still at the slipway. Jimmy, Johnny and Rex ran. Davie and Bob ran behind. Holly set the pace in front. Fortunately the boatman saw our effort and took pity on us. He waited until we were on board before he left. The first three miles of the walk had taken two hours. The last four and a half miles were done in fifty-five minutes by Johnny‘s watch. Not bad for old boys who have been know to shift a pint or two.

We may suffer tomorrow but we took pleasure in today. A ten mile walk at a variety of speeds and another good day on the island.

We took refreshment in Largs.

Hopefully, next week we will be back to a fuller compliment of ooters if not a full one.