Dean Castle to the Laird's Table

 Alan McQ, Bob, Davie C, Davie Mc, Malcom, Johnny, Jimmy,Gus, Paul, Rex and Hugh.

Since  our normal (?) reporter was smitten by the dreaded lurgy, and couldn't make the walk, it seems to have fallen to my lot (ie no other bugger willing to do it) to give a short account of our walk to Craufurdland lochan.

We left the carpark about five to ten, a bit apprehensive about the weather, but we were glad that no rain fell for the whole walk. The leaders shot off at a cracking pace on the paths we have covered before, but it is a walk with lots of left and then right turns with Derval Davie struggling to keep up so that he could keep sight of them and not go the wrong way which he could easily have done. We reached the Laird's Table about 11 with everybody except Davie and Isla opting to go for coffee. It has to be said that quite a few of them were disappointed with the fare on offer, complaining about the quality of the scones and empire biscuits. Davie remained outside with his flask of coffee enjoying watching the trout jumping in the loch. He got chatting to a fisherman who showed him his boobie (no, not his boabie); a boobie is a small fishing fly, so there!

After coffee we more or less retraced our steps back to the cars, arriving about 1pm. Jimmy's language was extremely colourful when he discovered that a bird (must have been some size of a bird) had shat on his car door handle! 

In the evening, minus Paul but plus Peter, Kenny T and Billy, we met at the Jewel again to celebrate Malcolm's 75th and Davie C's 70th birthdays. Most were resplendent in their new 20th anniversary polo shirts, including Katriona. We had a thoroughly enjoyable evening with your scribe learning for the first time that Davie C's nickname was Ben the Chan! 

We retired thereafter for a nightcap to Wetherspoons where Davie Mc, on mishearing the bargirl, ended up with a brandy and coke. So it was his turn to utter profanities! However this was a very pleasant day out, with a lovely meal and plenty of banter to follow.

Arrangements for Wednesday 15th October

Falls of Clyde 

Meet at Kirkfieldbank for the walk up to view the Falls of Clyde.

Some from the Craufurdland walk.

 

 

Largs to Fairlie 1st October

 

Alan, Alan McQ, Allan, Davie C, Johnny, Rex, and a fleeting visit from Paul

There had been torrential overnight rain, and it continued on our journey to Largs, so much so that we never gave Knock Hill a thought and even considered going for a coffee and waiting to see if the rain was to abate. Paul arrived and immediately discovered that he had forgot to pack his waterproof jacket so decided just to go home. Unfortunately for him, the road conditions had deteriorated to such an extent that some roads had been closed, meaning that he had a tortuous journey home visiting some parts of North Ayrshire he hadn’t been to before and probably didn’t want to visit again.

By just after ten o’clock though the rain did go off and we strode out towards Fairlie, crossing over the raging torrent that was the Gogo burn, before stopping for a few minutes at the ‘Pencil’. The path obviously had some large puddles on it but all-in-all the going was good although we were into a breeze, and the skies were still laden. Reaching our turning point at the picnic benches at the far side of Fairlie it was decided that it was too windy and wet (the rain had started again) to have our pieces there so we retraced our steps fifty metres or so to some benches adjacent to an old wooden boathouse where we got some shelter. Unluckily for us the rain got heavier as we sat so we didn’t delay and set off on our return journey. The rain got heavier but by the time we were leaving Fairlie it had stopped for good this time, and although there was only six of us, we still managed to get well strung out along the footpath. It was ten to one when we got back having covered seven miles and at least it was dry whilst we got changed.

FRT was taken in Wetherspoon’s where we treated ourselves to some chips as well as the usual refreshments. This had been a better day than we could have hoped for earlier in the morning and we enjoyed having got off our chair, got oot the door and gone a walk wi’ the Ooters!

Arrangements for Wednesday 8th October

Craufurdland 

Meet at the Dean Park for a walk to the Laird's Table at Craufurdland. A short easy walk before our celebratory curry in the evening.