Arrangements for Wed 23rd June.

 Meet in the car park beside the A frame structure close to Ochiltree . The walk will go in search of Wallace’s Cave. Meeting time 10.00.a.m.

Portencross 9 June

Allan, Davie C, Gus, Hugh, Ian, Johnny, Malcolm, Paul, Rex, Robert

It’s official! The Geenock Cut walk is jinxed.

On a very wet morning Johnny and Allan were first to arrive at the cut-off to Cornalees to find a sign saying that the road was shut. Undaunted, they decided to try their luck and made it to the car park where they could see that the section that was shut was the road from the visitors centre up to the Brisbane Glen road. The rest, however, having reached the cut-off were more cautious and made a decision to return and do the Portencross walk. Eventually, the Irvine duo were contacted and they too made their way back to Portencross for the familiar clockwise circuit.

It was about twenty-five to eleven when we got started in some light rain but by the time the power station was reached it had dried up and we were to have no more for the rest of the day. We did notice the two large drilling ships still docked at Hunterston and that the two large wind turbines had been removed. We didn’t stop for coffee but took lunch at our usual spot in the shelter of the trees before making our way back to the cars reaching them two hours and thirty-five minutes after having started out and having covered the best part of seven miles. No FRT today as there was nowhere available nearby with an outside area able to accommodate us.

It was probably fortuitous that we didn’t do the Cut walk as it would have been in low, wet cloud for the duration. Next time this walk is considered, a scouting party will be dispatched the day before to check the roads and will camp out overnight to ensure that we can access Cornalees.

Arrangements for Wed 16th June.

 Meet beside the Gogo burn in Largs at 9.30.a.m. in time to catch the 9.45.a.m. ferry to Millport. Lunch at the Garrison is optional. 

Dunure to Culzean 2 June

Allan, Billy, Davie C, Davie Mc, Dougie, Hugh, Iain, Ian, Jimmy, Johnny, Kenny T, Malcolm, Rex, Robert plus Paul for lunch

Creatures of habit

There were one or two fleeces on as we met at Dunure but before setting off all had been discarded as we set off in glorious sunshine for Culzean. Underfoot was very dry so good progress was made up and down and round the fields until we reached the track down on to the beach. The tide was well out meaning that firm sand could be found for walking on and before too long we were sitting at our usual point just before Croy shore for our coffee break being entertained by a couple of lady dogwalkers, one of whom was in the water with the seven or eight dogs in their care. 

As we approached Culzean Kenny had to turn back as he to be back home early, but the rest of us made it up to our lunch spot where we met Paul whose knee was still bothering him to the extent that steps and stairs were a problem.

We retraced our steps back to the cars, again stopping briefly for a wee break at our favoured spot allowing Davie Mc to catch up with us. He had gone into the second-hand bookshop at Culzean looking for a bargain.

We were back at the cars at about twenty past two meaning that we had been on the go for four hours and twenty minutes and had covered nine and a half miles.

FRT was taken at the Abbotsford in Ayr where Iain kindly bought the drinks to celebrate his recent 70^th. Thanks, Iain. We only stayed for the one but can report that the lad who served us was very pleasant!

The start of a good long day

Take care at the style!

Going down to the beach

The great outdoors

Who him?

Magical Culzean

Remember to count the steps!

I see no ships

 

Arrangements for 9 June

Greenock Cut

Meet at Cornalees at 10am.