Distance 15.1 kms
Not for the first time on our visits to Greenan, the car park was icy underfoot but as the photographs below confirm, the morning frost was part of a package since we were greeted by beautiful blue skies and winter sunshine. After a miserable few Wednesdays of rain, the weather gods have smiled upon us for the past three weeks.
As has been commented on previously, Greenan Shore car park is a favourite with dog walkers (at least I think that's what was said), and this time was no exception with a commercial dog-walking company vehicle parked there whilst, as we departed, the walker was returning with a motley collection of mutts, all happy to be out in the sunshine.
We set off along the shore and through Craig Tara, and upon reaching the main road spotted a dromedary (one hump) and a bactrian camel (two humps) - nothing out of the ordinary in these parts.
A few Ooters had packed Yak-trax ™ (other makes are available) but they weren't needed. The road climbing up to the Carrick Hills had been well-gritted although descending vehicles were tackling the road gingerly.
Refreshments were taken in a vertical position.
By the time we had reached the antennae (or aerials for non-radio types) the wind was getting up and we resolved to have lunch, on our return, in the lee of the buildings. Our cross-country yomp to the trig point was aided by the fact that the ground was semi-frozen so there was some resistance in the otherwise sodden ground.
Photos were taken at the summit, and after some discussion, but no vote, it was decided to have lunch on the leeward side of the top, which turned out to be a well-sheltered spot.
We returned at speed via High Greenan, for by now we had the scent of Rex's pies in our nostrils.
So much for the promenade, but what can one say of the pies, pints and pool?
The pies were delicious and plentiful. Jimmy was missed, but his pies weren't wasted
Rex proudly showed off his collection of vintage bottles and cans of beer which he has laid down, but this time we were only allowed to drink beer within its sell-by date.
Davie M must have got the wrong message about the pool for he had to quickly change back out of his speedos.
The tournament didn't have a single rule (Johnnie's 28 remain under wraps) yet it ran perfectly smoothly and we even managed to finish with just two finalists!
Those finalists were Allan and Robert. They had read the slope of the pool table far better than their vanquished opponents. Robert was the bookies' favourite, but it soon became clear Allan was the people's choice.
It looked as if the result of the final was going to go by the form book, for Robert's clinical efficiency in potting his balls was about to bring the tournament to its conclusion. Robert was on the black.
The room was so hushed you could hear a pin drop ....Robert lined up, he played and the white ball began its inevitable course towards the black. There was the clink of colliding ivory (or wood/plastic composite) and the black careered into the pocket. Victory for Robert ....
...but wait ...the black may have come to rest in the pocket but there's life in the white ball yet. It's still on the move and it is moving slowly but surely towards that self-same pocket into which the black disappeared just milliseconds ago. But does it have the energy to sink into the pocket? Will it sink Robert's hopes? Perhaps it did have the energy, or perhaps there was a transfer of energy from the onlookers to the ball, but somehow it just managed to crawl to the lip of the pocket and fall in!!! Robert's hopes were cruelly dashed. Allan was the Ooters' first Pool Champion and his victory was loudly endorsed, whilst a clearly-disappointed Robert received the sympathetic commiserations of the assembly. The caring Ooters at their finest.
It was suggested to Rex that we might do the same again next week but, for whatever reason, he demurred. Still, we have high hopes of placing the pool tournament on our annual calendar of events.
Many thanks to Rex for kindly hosting this event! It was fun.
1 comment:
Hi Paul,
Maybe I was missing last week (some folk pick the most inconvenient days to be buried) but after reading your pool commentary, I feel as though I was there in person. Have you ever thought of a career with the BBC? I hear they are looking for good cameramen!
Post a Comment