Hurlford to Galston 02022022

Alan, Allan, Davie C, Davie Mc, Dougie, Gus, Hugh, Jim, Jimmy, Johnny, Kenny T, Rex, Robert

It was another dreich morning as we assembled at Hurlford Bowling Club for our walk to Galston. There was a persistent smir, but it was unseasonably mild as we took to the Grougar Path emerging on to Milton Road. Some of the guys were in favour of taking the path along the river but, finding the path fenced off, they decided to join the rest who were sticking to tarmac. Normally a fence wouldn’t have stopped them, but it would have been mucky. Loudoun Kirk was reached after an hour and a quarter and coffee/lunch was taken as the smir became a drizzle.

Jim and Kenny turned back at this point whereas most took the tarmac road up to the entrance to Loudoun Castle and then down in to Galston to find the start of the Chris Hoy Way beyond Grant’s factory. Derval Davie, Hugh, Jimmy, and Robert took the alternative, shorter route following the track from the Kirk into Galston and going up through the scheme to meet the cycle track where they had to wait a good fifteen minutes for the rest to join them. Changed days indeed as, in the past, the motto would have been employed!

The bridge over the Cessnock Water was reached at ten to one and a stop was called for to have a drink and to finish what was left of our pieces. The walk back to the cars didn’t take long meaning that the nine miles or so had taken three and a half hours in total. Mind you the full distance was only covered by those who didn’t take the shortcut to the cycle path! There had been some discussion about where to have FRT but eventually we decided on First Edition in Bank Street, Kilmarnock, and a very acceptable howff this proved to be. The banter was lively and, in some instances, unrepeatable!

Look what I've been missing all these weeks!

 Snowdrop time