Eight people, one dog and three cars assembled at Glenbuck for the walk; with Rex and Dougie, delayed by traffic in Ayr, phoning to say they would head straight to our official starting point at Kames.
Even our mathematicians were having problems with this logistical poser. We were considering phoning Robert in France to see if he had a solution when the aforementioned duo turned up at Glenbuck. Now it was simple - 10 people and a dog squeezed into two cars with two cars left behind.
If the blog is to be believed, the Ooters last visit to Cairn Table was on 31 August 2016 and the record shows that on that occasion we all had the opportunity to admire Gus's plums.
So this was a new walk for some and a long overdue repeat for others.
The weather was dry, with a cool wind and the promise of rain later. From the start the pace was fast and once we started the climb proper we were soon well spread out on the hill. Ian and Gus, the drillies, raced off into the distance with the rest of us pechin' behind them.
Fortunately, the previous Cairn Table blog had been
Attached to a post near the cairn, and fluttering in the wind in the style of a Tibetan prayer flag, was a brand new Rangers scarf. Whether it had been placed there to seek divine intervention, or whether it had been left there in disgust after the home gubbin' by Killie, we couldn't be sure but Malcolm took all the barbs with admirable restraint. We were sorry that Jim wasn't with us today, but Kenny took some photos for him.
It was chilly on top so we were soon up and going again - or at least the last to arrive were.
Ten Ooters managed to find half a dozen different ways off the hill but we all gathered beyond the ramshackle footbridge over the Douglas Water (that's its name according to the map) where the shooters' track ends.
The rain we had been expecting had now arrived and full waterproofs were donned, though the rain was never particularly heavy. We continued beyond our usual lunch spot, finding shelter on low banking at the side of the track. Then we completed our descent to Parish Holm, where the verges of the track to the A70 were carpeted in snowdrops.
After skirting Glenbuck Loch we were back at our cars, completing the walk 10 minutes faster than in 2016. Again we all piled into the two cars, though Holly was a bit reluctant to sit on Alan's knee.
FRT was taken at the Empire Bar. We were sorry not to be asked "Does your dog bite?" since the regular at the bar has been in hospital for several weeks. We wish him well.
Distance 9.5 miles.
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