Ness Glen 15 July

Allan, Billy, Davie C, Davie Mc, Dougie, Ian, Malcolm, Paul, Rex, Robert plus special guests Alan and Dan

It was good to see so many guys turn up for the walk on, what was to prove, a rather dreich day. As we headed from the car park at the Junior ground in Dalmellington on to our usual figure of eight walk there was a lot of catching up to do as we walked through the Promised Land. Before too long, Robert found out to his cost that the wooden walkways today would be slippy, but, before we knew it, we were on tarmac and making our way up to Dalcairnie Linn. Only a couple of us went down to have a look, with the rest wishing to press on up to the bench at Barbeth. We stopped briefly here, as Deval Davie decided a coffee break was in order, but given the conditions most just took a breather before moving on. As hinted earlier there was a faint drizzle for most of the time with the odd dry spell giving false hope. Having passed Craigengillan, we stopped at the start of the Ness Glen as Paul, who was nursing a sair knee, and Davie C, decided to give this part of the walk a miss and continue over the bridge and head back to the cars. 

Twenty-five minutes later, having negotiated the glen walk successfully, we were overlooking Loch Doon and, as it had dried up, it was decided to go down to the rocks on the shoreline for lunch. No sooner had we set off than the rain stared again, so we took shelter in the arches of the dam. However, we didn’t wait too long as the midges were out in force here. See what we’ve missed for all these weeks! Taking the high road back to the footbridge we then followed the path and tarmac road back to the cars taking just under four hours for the whole walk, and, as usual, just as we needed it to be dry to get changed int to fresh clothes, the drizzle returned.

For most of us this had been the furthest and hilliest walk we had done in a long time and it felt like it. Nonetheless, it was good to have the band back on the road again. The only thing missing was FRT and the accompanying banter. We live in hope!
P.S. Well done to Davie for doing his first walk back with the Ooters without Holly. He misses her big time, as we all do.