12 July Low-level walk

Allan, Dougie, Johnny, Rex

Simply for the record, the Bank Street Four met at Johnny’s for coffee and scones, with cream and jam, or was it jam and cream (the folks in Devon and Cornwall get agitated if done not to their traditions) prior to our walk. Rex was recuperating from his eye surgery and reports that all is hunky-dory, saying that his consultant considers that his eyesight, without the need for glasses, is now 110%. Things are much bigger than they used to be, or so he boasted. Dougie was recovering from the excesses of the previous night at the Cricket Club. Allan and Johnny .. were just recovering.

Dougie was keen to show off his new orange trainers, bought just in time for today i.e.12^th July (more of these later), so it was with a certain swagger that we set off towards Eglinton Park. The route was the usual one, i.e. up through the scheme, over the bypass and on to the park. We didn’t go via the standing stones as this would have added another forty minutes on to the walk, and this suited all present. Soon we were through the park, and very busy it was too, given the glorious day and it being the summer holidays, and passed through the Dirrans and on to the cycle route taking us back towards Irvine via the town moor. We were noting the ever-increasing amounts of giant hogweed beside the path when Johnny shouted for us to avoid a female cyclist, ‘Watch out for the bike lads’. The said cyclist, whose number has been taken, made a derogatory comment about us considering ourselves to be lads. The next female cyclist commented, ‘Is this a boys’ day out?’ We liked her.

When Dougie was calling for a wee break we stopped at the bench overlooking the railway bridge over the river only to be aware of a potent and all-enveloping smell. Where was it coming from? It was honking! Well, remember Dougie’s new trainers. They had been well and truly christened with dog shit. (No pictures have been published in case anyone has just had their tea.)
And so, we made our way back into the town and up to Johnny’s, three of us together carrying a red warning flag, and Dougie keeping a safe distance behind us. The boy managed to get himself cleaned up at Nythva and related the fact that he was famous for collecting such material. It had taken us two and three-quarter hours to complete our walk, done at a sober pace, at least for three of us!
Johnny provided us with a fine selection of craft beers (a three-pint day, hair of the dog etc) to go with pies, crisps, and salad (see us, see healthy eating!).
Many thanks again to JM for his hospitality.