Maybole 21 July

 

At the war memorial

Alan McQ, Allan, Davie C, Dougie, Gus, Hugh, Paul, Rex, Robert

 STOP PRESS : Ooters make sensible decision

 It was to be a blistering hot summer’s day so there was little dissent when we decided that eleven miles and three hills would not be appropriate today. Alan was asked if he could amend the walk accordingly, so we set off heading for Kildoon Hill, making a wee detour up to the War Memorial adjacent to the nine-hole golf course. Halfway up the path to Kildoon Hill we stopped to take on fluids, the first of many stops today, before reaching the top and then making our way across to the Fergusson Monument where coffee/water/exploding juice (see Robert for details) was taken.

There was a nice wee breeze here, but it was time to move on and so we made our way down the far side of the hill and across a grassy field until tarmac was reached. Turning left and then right at Lower Burncrooks we then followed the road up to Lochspouts where Alan found us a nice, shaded area for lunch.

We then retraced our steps towards Lower Burncrooks, but on the way there Alan met up with his pal, a farmer, who was driving a large tractor delivering topsoil to one of his fields and stopped to chat to him. The next thing we knew was that Alan was getting a hurl in the tractor back down the road, before eventually getting off. A quick meeting of the committee decided that this constituted a breach of our regulations and that he would not be credited for doing the whole walk. As further punishment he was condemned to return to work next month!

At Lower Burncrooks we took a right and followed the road round Kildoon Hill rather than climbing over it again, but just beyond Spring Garden farm and cottage we made a wee detour off the road down to a shaded area next to a mini waterfall at the burn. We stopped for ten minutes or so before rejoining the road for the last leg back to the cars in Maybole. About eight miles in three hours forty minutes were today’s numbers.

Whilst getting changed, Rex proclaimed that he had lost his phone on the walk and was not a happy chappy. He certainly didn’t get any volunteers to join him in retracing his steps. Just as he was getting resigned to its loss, eagle-eyed Davie said, ‘What’s that on the roof of your car, Rex?’ A delighted Rex would have kissed Davie had it not been for social distancing, say no more! Rex had put the phone there whilst getting ready for the walk and had not taken it on the walk at all, and was lucky that it was still there when he got back. Mind you the colour of his phone cover matched his car so that it was difficult to notice.

FRT was taken at the refurbished Greenside, and what a transformation! A lot of money has been spent both inside and outside turning this into a very desirable bar/restaurant. A most enjoyable hour was spent in the suntrap which was the outdoor area.

At the Greenside

Lochspouts

Lunch

Mochrum Hill in the background

At the Fergusson Monument