Muirkirk 22 February

Allan, Davie C, Davie Mc, Dougie, Graham, Gus, Hugh, Jimmy, Malcolm

 

The weather was brightening up nicely as we assembled at Kames for our trip up Cairn Table. However, Derval Davie had not fully recovered from his chest infection and indicated that he would not be going up the hill, but would accompany us as far as the Sanquhar Bridge. We all agreed to decide there as to the rest of the day. Having reached the bridge, Davie and Jimmy convinced us that to head over the open ground to the hill would be extremely wet and boggy so we agreed, some more reluctantly than others, to abandon any thoughts of doing the hill in favour of continuing up the path and heading for the Bible Stane.

The walk up the gradient to Bert Bradford’s seat was done at a sensible speed in ever-improving overhead conditions with blue skies breaking through and some warmth being felt. Davie had done this walk a number of weeks earlier and had lost Isla’s lead but, to his delight, there it was hanging over the seat. A wee bit further up the track we cut off down to the Bible Stane noticing as we did that the marker cairn at the side of the track had been knocked down with the stones scattered around. Some folk! Our walk off the track down to the Stane was very wet, backing up what the guys had said earlier, but we were able to find a relatively dry spot for coffee as Jimmy uncovered the bible, unfortunately in a sad state of repair (the bible that is, not Jimmy, mind you…) for all to see.

By this time the weather was spring-like with blue skies and a nice temperature making our walk back down the track a pleasure, What a great day to climb a hill! If only we could have got to it.

Anyway, as we approached Kames we deviated down to Tibbie’s Brig for lunch and sat there being thankful that the dreichness of recent weeks had given way to such a fine afternoon. Rather than head straight back to the cars, Davie suggested adding a wee extra loop to the walk which would bring us back to Tibbie’s Brig and would only take ten minutes. Where have we heard this before? But he was right, and we were soon heading up the slope from the brig and making our way back to the cars. Malcolm’s gizmo said just under eight miles in about three hours and twenty minutes.

FRT was taken at the Black Bull in Mauchline where we were well-received and as we were wondering how many packets of crisps to order, we were presented with a plateful of sausage rolls. Ya beauty! We’ll be back.

A grand day out and Cairn Table will be there for another day.