Sorn to boardwalk 24 July

 Allan, Davie C, Davie Mc, Dougie, Graham, Gus, Hugh, Jimmy, Malcolm, Paul, Robert

We had encountered some rain on the way to Sorn but it was dry when we arrived and remained so for our walk. The temperature was ideal for walking and soon we were on our way, taking the high path from the car park rather than the walk down the main road to the crossroads where we took the path up into the trees. Today’s outing would see us on the River Ayr Walk heading from Sorn to Muirkirk, but we were not scheduled to go that far today. The walking was good and there were a few ups and downs, wee bridges and bits of boardwalk before the path levelled out taking us to our first brief stopping point beside the river after about fifty minutes. This allowed the backmarkers to catch up and for a breather to be taken.

The next section was straightforward until the wee nasty part that took us up the hill, but it didn’t last long and before we knew it we had arrived at our lunch/coffee spot at the boardwalk at about twenty-five past eleven.

 

Refreshments having been taken, there was a suggestion from somewhere that we might go on further before turning back, but this fell on deaf ears – and there are a lot of deaf ears amongst us now, both literally and metaphorically! So, we headed back the way we came, by this time in bright sunshine, until we came to the path that branched off to left which would take us down to the Glenlogan bridge. Most took this route but Killie Davie, not fancying it, and his minder, Dougie, continued straight on. Down at the bridge and beside the river, those who still had coffee and pieces devoured them before following the tarmac up to the aforementioned crossroads. Some took the high path from here, and some took the flatter option along the pavement back to the cars where Davie and Dougie were waiting for us.

We were back at quarter past one having done about 7.2 miles, although the gizmos could not agree as to the exact distance. FRT was taken in the sitooterie at the Black Bull in Mauchline where a pleasant hour was spent.