Cumbrae 22 June

Allan, Gus, Jimmy, Kenny T, Rex

 

Five of us met in Largs on a breezy, overcast morning for our crossing to Cumbrae. We were pleasantly surprised to see that the ticket office had been given a makeover and that the ticket was £3.20. Somehow we thought that it had been more expensive in the past.
The route was the tried and trusted one i.e. up to the Glaid Stone, down in to Millport and then back up the west of the island to the ferry. As we passed the water sports centre it began to drizzle and continued to do so for about ten minutes. Just as we considered wet weather gear, the rain abated and it was to remain dry for the rest of the day. Coffee was taken not at the Glaid Stone but at the wee picnic area at the side of the road just below the summit. The reason was simple for this break in tradition, it was too breezy at the top to enjoy our break comfortably. On the way down to Millport Rex and Gus were in front of the rest, too far in front for the back three (definitely not a flat back four) to get their attention to say they were going to pop into the Cathedral for a look. We’ve seen it before, at least some of us have, but it was certainly worth the effort.As we walked through the town we commented on how quiet it was for a late June day and wondered how the traders survived. It was warming up nicely by now, so we broke another tradition and stopped for lunch at the benches in the wee cove just by the Police Station. Here we not only enjoyed our pieces but also the lapping of the water on the beach in the pleasant weather – by this time the breeze had also calmed down.

Now don't get sand in your pieces!

As we moved off after lunch, most of us were in shirt sleeves, and by the time we reached Fintry Bay, we were hot enough to treat ourselves to large cones. We missed the two o’clock ferry by five minutes but enjoyed sitting at the slipway, chilling out and watching the incoming ferry fight its way across against a heavy current. We also took note of the road that disappeared up the hillside to service the hydro scheme that we had encountered some months previously and assumed by this time that it had dried out.

We missed the ferry but Rex couldn't wait for the next one!

FRT was taken in the Village Inn at Fairlie where some of the more interesting locals (Tonto and Wurzil Gummidge) introduced themselves to us.
A good day out, especially as the weather continuously improved throughout the day.
P.S. We had originally decided to try the new Wetherspoon’s in Largs , The Paddle Steamer, but it didn’t open until the following week.