Johnny is learning the state capitals of the USA. In order to preserve his ageing memory he has set himself the task of memorising lists, the first of which is the state capitals of the US. We would put his new learning to the test throughout the day.
Davie Mc wasn’t going on the walk today. He was suffering from sinusitis which was a great pity from his point of view for we all descended on his house in Darvel to enjoy his hospitality whether he was feeling up to it or not. From our point of view this was one of the highlights to the day for the morning was dreich, the forecast dire and the rain had just started. Not only were we reluctant to carry out the proposed walk, we were also reluctant to leave the warm comfort of Davie’s living room and take to the cold January dribble. In view of this reluctance and the conditions outside, Jimmy’s suggestion that we curtail the walk from the long, high level to a more direct low level one along the river, was eagerly accepted.
The walk itself was a wet but fairly straightforward affair. We crossed the Ranoldcoup Bridge and found the road down the south side of the river towards Newmilns. The effects of Tuesday’s storm and the rains of the last four months were evident as we walked down the road. Blown-over trees, sawn up and roughly cleared from the road, and large pond-like puddles lying on the sodden fields reinforced our belief that this had been a particularly wet and windy winter so far. A tree yet to be sawn and cleared caused a minor diversion but no real inconvenience to our progress down towards Newmilns.
The decline in manufacturing in our area was commented on as we passed the empty and demolished mills and factories of Newmilns. Even the large employer Vesuvius Crucible is in a state of dormancy with only the office seemingly occupied. And Newmilns is typical of many Ayrshire towns. Yet there are signs of possible recovery with smaller units occupied. We will wait and see.
We left tarmac west of Newmilns and took to a pathway beside the river. There was a warning notice there that the path was temporarily closed due to flood damage but we don’t pay much attention to notices. We walked on. Near Galston we came across this flood damage to the path. The river in spate had changed course and washed away some fifty metres of the south bank and with it the path. The authorities have erected a temporary fence along the steep bank and local feet have created a temporary pad alongside this. This is the way we went, joining the made path at the side of the football ground in Galston.
The bus drew up at the bus stop just as we arrived. We took it back to Darvel. Lunch was taken in Davie’s and a fine old Macallan was liberally dispensed by our host – just to drive away the dampness of course.
After lunch we repaired to the Black Bull for FRT. That’s where we really tested Johnny’s new-found brain training. What’s the capital of Texas? Austin! Florida? Tallahasse! New Jersey? Trenton! Johnny was in good form. Idaho? Boise! Alabama? Montgomery! Quick as flash was Johnny. Nebraska? Lincoln! Wisconsin? Em! Em! Try as he might this was one that stumped Johnny. Not only did it stump Johnny, it stumped the rest of us as well. For all the time we sat in the Black Bull Johnny scratched his head (metaphorically not literally or we might have suspected that he was keeping pets) but nothing would come back. Not that anybody cared for we had better things to take our attention.
When we were only half way through our first pint, the barmaid came over to our table. ‘Have you boys had your Ne’erday from us yet?’ she asked. When we replied in the negative she gave us the next round on the house. Many thanks to her and to the Black Bull – may they have a happy and prosperous 2012.
And a Happy New Year to all our readers - both of you.
PS The capital of Wisconsin is Madison - Ed
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