Allan, Davie
C, Davie Mc, Gus, Johnny, Malcolm, Paul, Rex, Robert
The rain had
been pelting down as we made our way to the meeting point in Sorn for the
scheduled Blacksidend walk, but, given the conditions, a decision was soon made
to postpone this in favour of a shorter walk up to Catrine and back. Judith,
aka Paul, proclaimed that the rain would soon pass, but once a decision is
made, it is made. An hour out and an hour back, and home by lunchtime was the
agreed agenda.
As we set
off back up the tarmac towards the side road into Catrine, the rain intensified
and we were glad we were not on the way up a hill. However, by the time we
reached the war memorial, the conditions had eased considerably, and we were to
be blessed with ideal overhead conditions for the rest of the day. Paul and his
rainfall radar had been right.
Continuing
on the road we entered Catrine via Chapel Brae and cut across at the Green
before crossing the river and taking the familiar path towards the bridge at
Howford. Coffee was taken at our ‘usual’ spot below the road bridge, and given
the ever brightening sky, the decision was taken to continue on up to the Ballochmyle
Viaduct and take stock there.
Having
reached this engineering masterpiece, Davie Mc suggested proceeding a bit
further and doing a wee loop which would bring us back to the bridge. Most
thought that this meant we would loop back to the viaduct, but the path that we
took led us up to Kingencleugh where lunch was taken on a series of steps
leading down to the railway line. Malcolm, in particular, enjoyed the rest as
he was struggling to get over a recent bout of illness. All good things come to
an end though, and we took the side road down to the A76 where we found the
path leading to the old road and back to the old bridge at Howford, hence
completing the loop.
We retraced
our steps back into Catrine stopping briefly at Peter’s house so that
arrangements for the evening could be confirmed. Interestingly, we were in awe
of the scaffolding that Peter had built up the side of a very tall tree to
enable it to be cut down. G’on yersel’, Peter!
Continuing
up past the voes, we took the riverside walk back to Sorn and arrived back a
full four and a quarter hours after setting off.
Given the
fact that we were going out at night, we did not indulge ourselves in FRT but
headed home after what had been an unexpectedly good day out.
Twelve of
us, the nine named above plus Peter, Ronnie and Jimmy, assembled at the Jewel
in the Crown in Kilmarnock in the evening for a multiple celebration i.e. the
tenth anniversary of the Ooters, Peter’s 70th, and Paul’s 65th.
Peter had baked a carrot cake in celebration of the event and the restaurant
contributed with a complimentary drink. The assembled company then adjourned to
Wetherspoon’s where we enjoyed Paul’s hospitality, and then some more.
Good times
indeed!
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| The rain had stopped by now |
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| Sunshine indeed! |
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| The plaques on the viaduct |
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| Step brothers |
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| Davie gives us a song, we soon moved on! |
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| Sorn Castle in the sunshine |
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