Prestwick to Troon and back 18 July 2018

Alan McQ, Alan S, Dan the Man, Davie C, Davie McM,  Dougie, Gus, Iain, Jim, Jimmy, Kenny R, Kenny T, Malcolm, Paul and Peter

Whether it was the promise of a nice easy walk in nice weather or the lure of Irene's scones, 14 of us gathered at Dougie's house in Prestwick and enjoyed a lovely 30 minutes or so sitting in Dougie's garden enjoying their hospitality. Thanks for the teas, coffee and scones, Irene. We'll be back for more!

Thereafter we made our way down to the old swimming pool at Prestwick shore where we would start today's walk. Davie remembers that as teenagers he and Jimmy once attended a bathing beauty contest there away back in the day. No Jimmy didnae win!

Anyway we set off at 10:10 am and followed our usual path thro' the dunes and down along the Pow Burn (how low the water was) and heading north along the beach towards Troon. We had our first stop at the toilets in Troon, where Gus was forced to spend 30p. Imagine 6 shillings for a pee! If Davie McM had to pay 30p every time he needed to piddle he'd be bankrupt in a fortnight!

At this juncture it should be mentioned that we had been joined by the youngest person ever to accompany the Early Ooters on one of their walks, no, not Alan McQ, but Alan Stewart's grandson, Dan, who was brave enough to dare (Dan Dare geddit? Aw, please yersels) to be seen with a senile bunch of old degenerates. Well done, Dan!

After a short stop, we headed back towards Prestwick going past the South Beach  Hotel and past all the grandiose big hooses before joining the cycle path that runs alongside the golf course. When we reached the railway bridge that takes you across the golf course and onto the beach a lunch stop was called. By this time it was getting extremely warm, so we all ensconced ourselves in the shade of some trees. Here the botanists  among us discussed the the big tall plants with Davie McM surprising everybody by knowing that one of them was called Evening Primrose.

After lunch the pace seemed to step up as the thought of a cool pint in the Pioneer drew ever nearer. We arrived back at the cars 3 hours and 35 minutes after we had set out, ready for the banter and the FRT which was enjoyed for a good hour and a half. For some it was a 3PD, for the drivers it was orange and bloody tonic.

PS Holly was absent from this walk due to an infected paw which elicited some very sympathetic comments from the Ooters, more than her master got when he had a sair fit!