To describe the route of today’s walk would be an exercise in repetition for we have done it so often, the last time in glorious summer sunshine (16 June). Today the conditions couldn’t have been more different from then. The freezing winter continues with clear skies, very low overnight temperatures and midday ones that still refuse to rise to the zero. Today was no exception. When we gathered in Annbank at 
nine-thirty it was around the minus six mark and the snow that fell a fortnight ago still lay powdery in the fields and crunched and squeaked underfoot. The morning had all the ingredients for making another superb winter day.
This was another day made for the camera so in this report words will be few and photographs many.
We took the direct route from Annbank towards Auchincruive squeaking snow under the boots and thoroughly enjoying the winter woodland. When we reached the river the cameras came out – for the first time today but not the last – for the light on the icy water was tempting for the photographers. Shots were made downstream to show the ice; shots were made upstream to capture the light of the rising sun on the water; shots were made across the river to the snow fringed trees on the other bank. Funnily enough while all this artistic activity was going on, the rest stood around and waited. Now there’s a new thing for the Ooters!
Auchincruive House (now Oswald
Hall) caught the rays of the low sun and glowed with a warm light above the shaded cold-blue river. More shots and more waiting. Have we suddenly remembered the ‘compassion’ of the spring? Or is it just Christmas. We will see.
Great, long icicles hung from the arches of Oswald’s Brig. More pho
tos.
All this camera work and the strain of waiting fairly used up the energy resources so taking a turn over Oswald’s Brig we came to the Burns-Wallace monument for coffee. Why here? Because we always stop here. So There! We think Johnny must have some sort of problem for, for the second week running, he produced his hip flask and dispensed the warming brew. Long may his problem last.
Despite the cold, we spent some time over coffee (and whisky) for this is a short walk and we had plenty of time. But we dragged ourselves to our feet eventually and set off downriver again. Apart from the buzzard perched on a telegraph pole, next section produced very little of interest and we were at the SSPCA kennels before our next photo stop. The heron was spotted hunched up on a branch fifty yards over the field. At that distance and with its head hunched into its shoulders, it was difficult to say for certain what it was so Paul stopped for a picture. True to form now, the leading bunch walke
d on.
We caught up with the leading bunch just round the corner. Robert had spotted a natural ice sculpture where a burst pie had sprayed the hedge and was busy photographing when we arrived. We waited for him to finish then we all moved off together.
The river was chock full of ice slabs and a brief halt was made on the bypass bridge to shoot it. Then we walked over to the ‘Steppies’
There was no place to enjoy lunch here so we walked down the left bank of the river until we found a bench and a log to sit on.
It was during this stop that Paul heard and then saw the woodpecker on the other side of the river. So he says for when the rest looked, all we saw was a bird flying off a branch. It might have been a woodpecker. We will give Paul the benefit of any doubt even though he didn’t get a picture this time.
Davie was for taking the ‘short way’ to the bus stop but Robert and Jimmy were for over the footbridge into Craigie Park. Following Davie’s example of last week, they immediately swung down and over the bridge. The rest followed.
Craigie Park was shut. The building of the new university building necessitated a closing off of
the riverside pathway and we were diverted up round Craigie House., a first for all but Jimmy who told us something of its history (Och, no’ mair history? –Ed). Anyway, the diversion took us through the park, on to Craigie Road and back to the river at the dam. We could now walk down the north bank of the river, pass Turner’s Brig, cross the Auld Brig (Mair bridges? – Ed) and through the town to the bus station.
This was a very familiar walk made special by the conditions, a day enjoyed by all.
The bus carried us back to Annbank where a convivial FRT was taken in the Tap O’ The Brae.
nine-thirty it was around the minus six mark and the snow that fell a fortnight ago still lay powdery in the fields and crunched and squeaked underfoot. The morning had all the ingredients for making another superb winter day.This was another day made for the camera so in this report words will be few and photographs many.
We took the direct route from Annbank towards Auchincruive squeaking snow under the boots and thoroughly enjoying the winter woodland. When we reached the river the cameras came out – for the first time today but not the last – for the light on the icy water was tempting for the photographers. Shots were made downstream to show the ice; shots were made upstream to capture the light of the rising sun on the water; shots were made across the river to the snow fringed trees on the other bank. Funnily enough while all this artistic activity was going on, the rest stood around and waited. Now there’s a new thing for the Ooters!
Auchincruive House (now Oswald
Hall) caught the rays of the low sun and glowed with a warm light above the shaded cold-blue river. More shots and more waiting. Have we suddenly remembered the ‘compassion’ of the spring? Or is it just Christmas. We will see.Great, long icicles hung from the arches of Oswald’s Brig. More pho
tos.All this camera work and the strain of waiting fairly used up the energy resources so taking a turn over Oswald’s Brig we came to the Burns-Wallace monument for coffee. Why here? Because we always stop here. So There! We think Johnny must have some sort of problem for, for the second week running, he produced his hip flask and dispensed the warming brew. Long may his problem last.
Despite the cold, we spent some time over coffee (and whisky) for this is a short walk and we had plenty of time. But we dragged ourselves to our feet eventually and set off downriver again. Apart from the buzzard perched on a telegraph pole, next section produced very little of interest and we were at the SSPCA kennels before our next photo stop. The heron was spotted hunched up on a branch fifty yards over the field. At that distance and with its head hunched into its shoulders, it was difficult to say for certain what it was so Paul stopped for a picture. True to form now, the leading bunch walke
d on.We caught up with the leading bunch just round the corner. Robert had spotted a natural ice sculpture where a burst pie had sprayed the hedge and was busy photographing when we arrived. We waited for him to finish then we all moved off together.
The river was chock full of ice slabs and a brief halt was made on the bypass bridge to shoot it. Then we walked over to the ‘Steppies’
There was no place to enjoy lunch here so we walked down the left bank of the river until we found a bench and a log to sit on.
It was during this stop that Paul heard and then saw the woodpecker on the other side of the river. So he says for when the rest looked, all we saw was a bird flying off a branch. It might have been a woodpecker. We will give Paul the benefit of any doubt even though he didn’t get a picture this time.
Davie was for taking the ‘short way’ to the bus stop but Robert and Jimmy were for over the footbridge into Craigie Park. Following Davie’s example of last week, they immediately swung down and over the bridge. The rest followed.
Craigie Park was shut. The building of the new university building necessitated a closing off of
the riverside pathway and we were diverted up round Craigie House., a first for all but Jimmy who told us something of its history (Och, no’ mair history? –Ed). Anyway, the diversion took us through the park, on to Craigie Road and back to the river at the dam. We could now walk down the north bank of the river, pass Turner’s Brig, cross the Auld Brig (Mair bridges? – Ed) and through the town to the bus station.This was a very familiar walk made special by the conditions, a day enjoyed by all.
The bus carried us back to Annbank where a convivial FRT was taken in the Tap O’ The Brae.
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