Annbank to Ayr 6 June

Allan, Davie C, Davie Mc, Dougie, Gus, Ian, Jimmy, Malcolm, Peter, Paul, Robert

The fantastic spell of weather continued as we met at Annbank for our pre-curry walk. Those who thought that they would be heading down towards Auchincruive and then on to Ayr were outmanoeuvred when the majority started moving down Annbank’s main street heading for the longer riverside walk.

The underfoot conditions were very dry making the difficult stretches easily passable, but as might be expected, parts of the path were starting to be overgrown. Nonetheless, excellent progress was made before stopping, as we normally do, at the fishermen’s hut for coffee. This was an idyllic spot today.
Moving on, we crossed the road bridge and continued on the opposite bank heading towards the Wallace and Burns monument. Even the normally muddy sections of this track had dried out. What a difference to what we normally encounter!
The monument was reached about two hours after having set off and a leisurely twenty minutes was spent enjoying our sandwiches. There then followed a discussion about what to do next. Having taken the long route to our lunch spot, some assumed we would just return to the cars on the shorter, Auchincruive side of the river, whereas the majority were in favour of walking in to Ayr.
And so, there was a split, with Allan, Jimmy, Malcolm and Peter returning to the cars as the rest headed for the stepping stones, and Ayr.
The four had covered just over seven miles and the walk had taken three and a quarter hours. Enough, for them, on a very warm day!  Since they were meeting up at night to celebrate Kenny T’s 60^th, they decided to forego FRT, something that doesn’t happen too often. When the seven returned, the Tap o’ the Brae was their choice for a refreshment.

In the evening, the eleven above were joined by Alan, Jim, Johnny and, of course, Kenny T, for a curry at the Jewel in the Crown. A great night was had! Kenny thanked us for his meal and his book voucher and showed his appreciation by buying the first round in Wetherspoon’s.

Enjoy the weather whilst it lasts!

Coffee stop

Some welcome shade

From the bridge at the monument

Lochranza to sannox - Even more photos

Lochranza-Sannox. More photos

Lochranza to Sannox 30 May

Allan, Davie C, Davie Mc, Dougie, Ian, Johnny, Kenny R, Malcolm, Paul

The pronged great spell of weather continued for today’s familiar walk from Lochranza to Sannox via Laggan Cottage. Most of us had not seen the new ferry terminal in Brodick and were impressed by its structure, but we didn’t delay as we made our way quickly for the No 324 bus which would take us to our starting point. The bus was standing room only when we eventually left and stopped constantly to pick up more passengers as we made our way out of Brodick. It was 11.45 by the time we got off in Lochranza, so we wasted no time in getting underway. Given the extremely dry conditions, the driest Davie Mc had ever seen on this walk, the going was easy as we made our way up the hill stopping at the top, after about an hour or so, to take in some fluids. Davie the Younger was escorted down to Laggan Cottage by his minders and within another half an hour we were enjoying lunch in the shade of the building. We had met and passed a succession of other walkers and, at the cottage, we were joined by three ladies who were to walk on to the Cock of Arran. Johnny couldn’t temp them with a wine gum, his chat-up lines were rubbish anyway! Maybe he should have offered a cool glass of Prosecco, that might have won the day.

Mindful of the bus timetable, we left Laggan at 1.45, and made our way down the coast, dreaming of that ‘Ice Cold in Alex’ moment. The front runners got to North Sannox and decided to cross the burn by using the stepping stones, or just wading through in some cases, and got to the bus stop just after 3.25, plenty of time to change shirts and chill. The back markers, Davie Mc, Paul, and Kenny, imagine that, who had gone up the side of the burn, crossed over and had come back down the other side, arrived at 3.45. There was a debate about how long the walk had been, with estimates ranging from seven and a half to ten miles. Next time we'll take a trundle wheel! (Your scribe's uneducated guess would be eight and a half.)
The bus was busy when it arrived, five minutes late at four o'clock, and was choc-a-bloc by the time the terminal was reached, with no time to spare for us to board. We were just on when the boat moved off.
Much needed FRT was taken onboard. If the crossing had been longer it would have been a tpd!
A splendid day out!
Footnote.It apparently was Bobby Collins, Celtic, Everton and Leeds, who was known as ‘wee barra’.
 

Taking stock

Onwards and upwards

A glorious place for a break

Yes! Just glorious!

Who needs the Med?

Obligatory picture of Laggan Cottage

Nearly there!

Wednesday 30 May

Confirmation that the walk will be ARRAN.