Muirkirk 12 July

 

Alan, Alan McQ, Allan, Davie C, Davie M, Davie Mc, Dougie, Graham, Gus, Jimmy, Malcolm, Paul, Rex

We couldn’t even see Cairn table, never mind climb it, when we arrived at Kames on a very wet morning. Given the overhead conditions and the probable poor underfoot ones, we quickly agreed that the hill was out of the question, and we would simply walk to the boardwalk just before the Cumnock road and back again. Dougie and brought his son, Davie, with him, who quickly entered into the spirit of things as though he had been with us for years. There were no fences to climb today so we don’t know if Dougie’s expertise has been passed on, but he was level-headed, friendly and compassionate, traits no doubt passed down to him by his mother!

Anyway, back to the walk. By the time we reached Tibby’s Brig the rain had abated and those with brollies had taken them down, but by the time we made the old railway track the rain was back on again. Although there were some large puddles on the path underfoot conditions were not that bad given the amount of rain that had fallen recently. We stopped very briefly at the Covenanter’s stone before moving on, in improving conditions, to our coffee/lunch stop at the boardwalk.

Twenty minutes later we were retracing our steps and with the weather seemingly set fair, and with a warm temperature, jackets could finally be removed. The cars were reached two hours and fifty minutes after having set off and with a distance of just over six and a half miles covered. This was not the first time recently we had got a soaking on a walk but, by the time we had ended it, we were treated to bright and sunny weather.

FRT was taken in the sitooterie at the Black Bull in Mauchline where, as always, we were well received and were treated to sausage rolls. Thanks again to the bar staff for the gesture.

We wish Davie and his wife a safe journey back to China. Mind you, it seems rather drastic action to take to avoid the Ooters’ banter again.