Durisdeer 5 March

Allan, Davie C, Gus, Jimmy, Johnny, Malcolm, Rex, Robert

On the way up

The skies were overcast as we met at Durisdeer for the Morton Castle walk. Robert assured us that the weather was going to be fine so we set off in an clockwise direction passing beside the cemetery and following the track up to Kettleton Bothy. When the backmarker arrived - guess who! – he was surprised to see the assembled company having coffee alfresco. “There are three guys in there still asleep”, said Jimmy, explaining the situation. It was later determined that the boys were from Thornhill, ‘getting away for the night’.

And down

By 11.15 we were on our way again and were soon at our highest point, looking down on Kettleton reservoir and beyond to Thornhill. The skies were lighter by this time and fine views were to be had. Having gone downhill and onto tarmac we reached Morton castle for lunch at about 12.45.

“An hour and a half back to the cars”, exclaimed Jimmy who, having left the house without camera or wallet, was still trying to find a friend who would buy him a pint.

Morton Castle in the distance

And closer up

Where's Malcolm's hand? It brought a smile to Johnny's face!

It is a measure of the pace that was set that we got back to Durisdeer in a tad over the hour. No bad thing as the rain had begun, but Robert had been right in that the day up to now had been much better than the BBC had forecast.

FRT was taken at our usual haunt i.e. the Crown in Sanquhar where we were warmly received. One of the regulars even asked after the ‘big man’ and seemed genuinely concerned that he had been poorly. However, the rest of pub asked after the dug.