Ardrossan to Irvine 5 November

Alan, Allan, Andy, Davie C, Davie Mc, Gus, Jimmy, Malcolm, Paul, Peter, Rex, Robert

Check out the details on the internet!

The main purpose of this walk was to take up Johnny’s offer of post-walk hospitality in the shape of lunch and beers so it was disappointing that he couldn’t do the walk himself due to him injuring his back lifting his grandson. He was happy enough though to stay behind and prepare the purvey.

It was good to have Andy back with us after a long lay-off and, as we assembled in Ardrossan, we were greeted by a beautiful, crisp morning, so much so that Davie the elder was in his shorts.

Sunny Ardrossan with Arran in the background

The route was the ‘usual’ one i.e.part of the Ayrshire Coastal Path, taking us down the seafront, past the memorial to those who died on HMS Dasher (check out the details through Google), continuing into Saltcoats and following the railway line into Stevenston. Crossing at the level crossing we continued on to the park at Ardeer where our resident ornithologist was temporarily stumped when asked to identify a duck. After some consideration he said that it was Brian. Brian apparently was a Muscovy duck, or maybe even a Muscovy duck cross (remember we were in North Ayrshire where mongrel ducks – as well as mongrel everything else – is the norm. This identification was not generally accepted by those who thought they knew better but Jimmy said it with such conviction!

The wee loch in Ardeer park

Soon we were heading out of Stevenston and up Dubbs Road towards Kilwinning where coffee was called for at our traditional stop at the entrance to the wee wildlife area. It was then a matter of following the road and path towards Irvine moor and eventually emerging at the Turf corner and continuing up Bank Street to Johnny’s.

Johnny did us proud with soup, bread, pies and nibbles as well as a selection of fine ales from the Nythva brewery. Alan also produced a home-made loaf from his rucksack to accompany lunch. Well done and thanks once again!

As well as the usual banter, plans were finalised (well as near finalised as you can get with this lot) for the Burns Supper at the end of January. After umpteen beers it was agreed that Jimmy would dress up as the haggis, Rex would be Grace (apparently as an Aussie he has some experience of this), Peter would be Holy Wullie, Davie the younger would do the Immoral Memory, Davie senior would address the glasses (that were holding him up), Allan would be Bam O’Shanter, Robert would toast the Ooters – slowly under a low heat- and Ronnie would accompany us on his ukulele and would learn how to play all twelve versions of ’The Star of Rabbie Burns’ at the same time!