Alan, Allan, Davie C, Gus, Jimmy,
Johnny, Kenny, Paul, Rex, Robert
We left Johnny’s at 10 o’clock and
headed down through the town towards the Magnum. It had been decided to walk to
Troon and get the bus back, as this would mean that the wind would be behind
us. Given the wintry conditions we took the option not to walk along the beach but
follow the cycle path alongside the beach park and up to the Gailes Hotel
passing, as we did, Gailes Marshes wildlife site, which interested our
ornithologists.
From here, the path was followed over
the dual carriageway and we weaved our way through the Shewalton Wood and past
the paper mill. When we emerged back at the main road at Barassie, and found a
bus stop, it was noted that a bus was due so we decided to terminate the walk
there and head back to Irvine, thus giving Johnny time to set up his big room
for the evening festivities. Because of the continuing road works, we had
longer to wait than anticipated giving Johnny a chance to find out that he had
lost his bus pass!
As the guys left the bus at Irvine
Mall they were hit with a sudden hail storm and were glad to seek shelter in Wetherspoon’s
for some FRT. Johnny and Allan had stayed on the bus and went up the road to
prepare.
All in all, by some good decision-making,
not like us, and some luck with the weather, we got some decent exercise.
Fourth Annual Burns Supper
This was an excellent night,
thoroughly enjoyed by everyone. Many thanks to all involved, in whatever way,
and particularly to Johnny for his hospitality and hard work.
It
was third week lucky for our attempt to do this familiar walk. The gales and
rain of the previous weeks had given way to snow and frost but, as we left the
car park and headed, wait for it, clockwise, there was little snow on the path
and overhead conditions were dry although a bit raw. 
Coffee
was taken on the foreshore just prior to the path we take to head inland. Most
of the guys who had donned yaktraks at the start of the walk decided, at this
point, that they weren’t needed and removed them. We took the walkway/cycle
track/bridle path up to the main road before heading up towards Thirdpart
Holdings again commenting on the new temporary roads that had been built over
the fields to cater for construction traffic. On the pot-holed track back to
the Portencross Road we stopped for lunch at a derelict building and sat inside
on dwarf walls (no comments about Davie please) for sandwiches and banter.
We
were back at the cars for one o’clock, bade farewell to Andy and Kenny, and
headed for our usual howff after this walk, i.e. the Lauriston in Saltcoats.
Much to our consternation, we discovered that the public bar does not open
until 2p.m. these days, and having decided that the alternative of having a
drink in the restaurant wasn’t quite what we were looking for, we headed to
Wetherspoon’s in Irvine, aka The Auld Brig. Here we met members of the
Cunninghame Ramblers, some of whom were known to us (for a variety of reasons),
and swapped information about our groups. We wish them well for the future.
