Prestwick to Troon and return 21 April

 

Allan, Billy, Davie C, Davie Mc, Dougie, Gus, Hugh, Ian, Jimmy, Johnny, Malcolm, Paul, Rex, Robert

Decision time on the beach

On a glorious April morning the Ooters got together again for the first time as restrictions were eased after the latest Covid lockdown. It was good to see the guys once more and we hoped that this would be the start of better times ahead. Assembling at the car park at the old swimming pool in Prestwick, our walk today (in smallish groups and socially distanced) was to be the familiar journey to Troon and back, a relatively straightforward and not too taxing return to our group’s activities. Jimmy, however, had tweaked his back doing some decorating and indicated that he would not be joining us on the walk. It was good to see him though and we wished him well as he departed.

The walk along the beach to Troon was very pleasant and by quarter past eleven we had reached our usual stopping point at the ice cream kiosk. It was busy today, so we had to decide on an alternative. By this time Gus had turned back and returned to his car meaning that the twelve remaining discussed the options. The favoured option was to forego coffee and walk to Fullarton House for lunch at the picnic benches, so we left the beach and walked up to Royal Troon’s clubhouse before following Crosbie Road and on to the path that took us to the bridge over the railway line. Having got there, we re-assessed our situation and decided just to have lunch on the grass just beyond the bridge. An extremely relaxing twenty minutes were spent soaking up the rays and having a blether.

Following the cycle track we made it to the main road before cutting in again over the railway and taking to the path through and across the Old Prestwick course before reaching our cars again at one o’clock. Seven and a half miles in three hours were today’s numbers.

A satisfying start to our Wednesday walks in superb walking conditions. Let’s hope that there are no more enforced layoffs in the future.

Arrangements for Wed 28th April

 Meet beside the football ground in Dalmellington for the Ness Glen walk. Meet at 10.00.a.m. and bring a packed lunch.

14 April - Fisherton

 South Ayrshire contingent.

We started our walk from Fisherton in a rare west coast haar. 

Alan led the walk which first of all took in the site of the ROC bunker and then the remains of Kirkbride Church, abandoned in the 17th century, but with some later gravestones.  We had to proceed cautiously in order to avoid alarming a lamb which had become separated from its mother. After some pitiful bleating they were re-united.  

The mist was now burning off as we headed up a farm track to take in a view of Blacktop Loch and then through partially felled forestry to an absolute jewel of a loch - unnamed on maps - where we chose to have an early lunch in glorious sunshine. 

There was no hurry to depart, but eventually we continued along a path which could clearly be pretty boggy in wet weather, but not today. Soon we were out on the open moorland with the masts on Brown Carrick in the distance. We were approaching the trig point from the opposite direction from normal. As we closed in on the top the view was stupendous with the haar still lying over the water and Arran and Ailsa Craig rising above it.  Most of us made use of the photo opportunity. 

After gazing in awe at the view we retraced our footsteps (mostly) descending down the farm track to the cars.

It was a short walk - just over 5 miles - but was packed with interest. Many thanks to Alan for a new walk. 

Some photos from Alan and Dougie. 

Arrangements for Wed 21st April.

 Meet beside the old swimming pool in Prestwick at 10.00.a.m. Walk in socially distanced groups of up to 6 people. The proposed walk is along the beach to Troon and return. Bring a packed lunch.

Possible walks Wed 28th April.

 Starter walk which is not over ambitious, relatively flat and fairly convenient for most members,

Prestwick to Troon and return.

Annbank to Auchincruive and return

Kilmarnock ( Halford’s car park) along the river to Gatehead and return.

Stewarton woods circular walk.

Ayr Greenan Castle car park.Walk  along the shore and then up Brown Carrick and return. ( not too flat )

And any other suggestions!

Max 15 in the group and maintain social distancing. Most of us will have had at least one vaccination, some may have had their second jab. Some members may feel that walking with a large group is still not sensible but the Ayr group of 7 have been walking and the Killie group of 4/6 have been meeting up and walking together. Obviously car sharing has not been approved yet which means one person per car. I also think that pub visits even if an outside area is available will be out for the foreseeable future. Meeting as a group will allow everyone to enjoy some male repartee and banter even though we will have little to talk about because we have not been able to do much for months now. I look forward to getting some feedback and some semblance of my old life back.