Alan, Allan, Davie C, Davie Mc, Dougie, Gus, Hugh, Jimmy, Johnny, Malcolm, Rex, Robert
It was an overcast morning with a bit of a drizzle as we met at the bowling club in Annbank for our familiar circuit. Eleven were in attendance (at the time) and, as some had ants in their pants and were anxious to get started, the group set off a couple of minutes before ten going in the anti-clockwise direction. Progress was rapid and our coffee spot, the Wallace and Burns monument, was reached in forty-five minutes. The drizzle had come and gone a couple of times but, in truth, conditions were better than expected and we were more in danger from getting wet from the inside out rather than the other way round.
On setting off on the longer return leg, most took to the higher track from the gate opposite the monument whilst Davie Darling and Robert took the lower riverside path. The two paths joined up after about twenty minutes walking, and having got there first, the larger group thought, briefly, very briefly, about waiting for the other two. They walked on but within a couple of minutes Isla came tearing past us indicating the twosome were close behind.
A few minutes later a figure was spotted walking towards us. It was Jimmy. He had arrived bang on ten o’clock (this needs to be verified though), had assumed we had walked in the other direction, and would easily catch us up. No matter, he must have been going a fair rate of knots to meet us where he did. After exchanging a few pleasantries and discussing the difference between a meet-at time and a set-off time, the dozen of us continued back to Annbank. The usual muddy sections were muddy, but we’ve encountered them far worse, and overhead was mainly dry, making progress good. Lunch was taken in two of the fishermen’s shelters, we couldn’t all fit into one, before making our way to Privick Mill and up the brae, the killer brae, and back in to Annbank for the walk to the cars. No matter how we do this walk it ends with a hill and, indeed, the return leg had provided us with a few wee steep climbs, much steeper than they used to be!
Three hours and five minutes for seven and a bit miles were today’s numbers. FRT was taken in the Tap o’ the Brae where the discussions were lively. Given the date i.e. the shortest day, Gus introduced us to the day’s new word by confessing that he was feeling ‘solstical’. No, this isn’t Robert’s nickname, and Robert wasn’t smiling. Some suggested he could get tablets to clear it up.
Wishing each other ‘A Merry Christmas’, we eventually took our leave.
A grand day out!
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