Annbank Circular 10 July

Alan, Alan McQ, Allan, Dan, Davie C, Davie Mc, Gus, Iain, Ian, Jim, Jimmy, Kenny T, Rex

Following our decision not to travel down to Abington, given the dreich forecast, we met at the Bowling Club in Annbank on an overcast, but warm, morning. Jim was in a buoyant, but certainly not bhoyant, mood after his team had had a victory the previous evening over St Joseph’s (Academy under 13s).

Anyway, the faint drizzle in the air was ignored by most as we made our way up the road and down towards the River Ayr. Despite the recent rains, underfoot was generally OK, so good progress was made up to the point where Davie Mc gave us an option i.e. follow the riverside path with its difficult wee bits due to landslips or follow the sign up the steps to the higher path. This latter route would take five minutes longer but Davie the Younger opted for the safer higher path and was accompanied by four minders. This option proved, in fact, to be the quicker one, as they had to wait on the low boys at the point where the two paths converged. ‘There were some slippy, tricky bits’, said Derval Davie. By this time the rain had got heavier, but we were relatively well sheltered from it by the trees as we headed up to our usual coffee spot at one of the fishermen’s shelters.
No stopping today, though, as we continued up to our crossing point at the road bridge before starting the second part of our outward journey. By this time the rain had got heavier meaning that most donned their jackets despite it being so clammy. Just before half past eleven, coffee was called for in the shelter of the trees, before heading up to the Burns and Wallace monument for lunch, half an hour later. The rain had stopped, and we were enjoying our break, before we realised that we were two short. Killie Davie and Jim, who had got detached from the main group, had eventually reached Oswald’s Bridge but had turned right and headed for the return leg before realising that something might be wrong. A phone call managed to remedy the situation and they arrived at the monument, just as the rest were ready to move off.

Better late than never!

The return journey, in dry conditions, along the Auchincruive side of the river, only took about forty minutes and we were back at the cars three hours and twelve minutes (according to our official timekeeper) after having set off. Nearly seven miles was the distance and, as we got changed, the rains came again.
FRT was taken at the Tap o’ the Brae where a pleasant hour was spent.
Given the weather, this had been an appropriate length of walk leading to a good day out.