24 April 2024 - Cumbrae

 Jimmy, Davie M, Davie C, Allan, Johnny, Malcolm, Paul, Dougie, Gus, Hugh

Ten Ooters assembled in Largs on a sunny but cool morning for the 10.15 crossing to Cumbrae.   Allan and Johnny were warmly welcomed back after their absence.

We set off in a clockwise direction. At the junction of Ferry Road and the road to the Glaid Stone, Johnny, Allan and Malcolm chose to continue directly to Millport while the rest took the longer and higher route to the Glaid Stone.  To quote Davie M, the view from the Glaid Stone was "fabulous".  Blue sea, blue sky, with every peak on Arran standing out. Jimmy was able to name the line of mountains visible to the north of us in the direction of the Arrochar Alps and Ben Lomond.  

By now it had warmed up considerably, with layers of clothing gradually coming off. As we descended to Millport, Jimmy had to head back to the Glaid Stone for one of his discarded items of clothing. The remaining Ooters, in caring mode, slowed the pace and he was soon back in the fold.

As we entered Millport we met up with the other three who had already lunched at the Garrison and were about to head back to the ferry.  They weren't going to the pub in Largs so we bade them a fond farewell.

We had lunch in the gardens in front of the Garrison.  Everyone apart from Dougie had brought packed lunches so he popped inside and emerged with a tuna and sweetcorn roll.  Sadly for Dougie there was no evidence of any sweetcorn in the roll but no doubt he can sue them for damages under the Trades Descriptions Act.

There is a major construction project going on in Millport with the building of a new sea wall.  We had to deviate a little from our usual route but managed to strike up a conversation with a workman. Sadly for him, Robert wasn't there to offer him advice.

Hugh and Dougie steamed ahead on the west side of the island leaving the rest of us in their wake.  The prospect of ice creams at Fintry Bay was mooted and the treasurer was consulted.  The treasurer said "Yes" but paled a little when it came to settling the bill.  £14 for 5 ice creams! Hugh and Dougie could not be tempted to join us.

The Native American Rock was located, many greylags were spotted on the coastline and soon we approached the building close to the north end which had been used until recently as an Outdoor Centre.  Davie M challenged us to name it and of course no one had a clue. But the name was on a gatepost - "Hush Hush".  Our next challenge was to explain the name but before we could, Jo, who was working on the site with her partner Les, came to speak to us.  They had been gradually renovating the whole place and converting it into a dwelling over a period of nine years and they had made good progress since we last passed by.  Jimmy's "Scottish Athletics" sweatshirt impressed Jo since she had worked with the Scottish Athletics team during the Commonwealth Games.  She explained how the buildings had been a secret listening post for submarines during WWII, hence the name.

Having spent another pleasant 10 minutes chatting we were well behind Hugh and Dougie.  They eventually phoned us from the ferry terminal and said they would wait for us, even though they could have caught an earlier ferry back to the mainland.

As we approached the terminal things, didn't look quite right on the ferry front.  We had spotted one ferry manoeuvring off Largs before heading back in.  Another one was on its way to Largs.  Eventually a ferry did arrive and its cargo was unloaded but the crew weren't happy with the ramp.  Something (WD40 was suggested) was sprayed around the pistons and then a hammer was sent for.  But all to no avail.  Meanwhile the other ferry arrived and took up its place alongside the stricken one.  It was unloaded and loaded successfully and off we went leaving behind a very long line of waiting vehicles and the clapped out ferry.  No doubt it was the SNP's fault.

It must have been well past 3.30 by the time we got to the Drouthy Neebors, where a pleasant hour was spent in the beer garden, with the sun still beating down!  Another great day out even if the day's kitty only yielded a surplus of £2!