Meet at 7.00 p.m. in the Jewel (in the Crown) on Wed 27 th October. The list of members attending are as follows:-
Dougie ,Robert,David C, David McM, Billy, Alan St,Allan Sim, Johnny, Rex, Ian B, Ian D, Malcolm, Jimmy, Gus, Kenny R, Alan McQ , Hugh .
Can’t make it, Kenny T , Paul , Jim D , Peter. Peter might get there if his son is at home.
Any changes to the list attending please let me know ASAP. before the 27th.
Alan McQ, Allan, Davie C, Dougie, Gus, Jim, Jimmy, Johnny,
Malcolm, Peter, Paul, Rex, Robert
It was grand to see Peter with us again for a walk from Catrine to Sorn on an overcast morning. He led us past his house to the steps up to the war memorial and then on a path through the woods to join the road down towards Sorn. On the way, the inquisitive amongst us went down into an adjoining field to explore a wee building which we assumed to be an icehouse but later found out it covered an old spring or fountain. Whilst in Sorn, we stopped (we had quite a few stops today) and chatted to a fellow who was standing beside a newly erected standing stone in the community garden at the old mill, now the church hall. He explained how they had got it there and then had a blether about the covenanters, a topic not lost on the Ooters.
The next leg was via the River Ayr Way back to Catrine where
we decided to stop in the square for lunch as it was nearly twelve by this time
and we had not had a coffee break. In keeping with the rest of the day we took
our time before heading for the viaduct, although Jim departed for home at this
point. Having passed under the Howford Bridge we noticed an ambulance beside
the old bridge and noted the crew trying to pull up a woman on their trolley
from the wee beach. Some of us went down to see if we could lend a hand but,
thankfully, we were not needed due to the efforts of the paramedics and the
design of their trolley. It looked as though the woman, who had a friend with
her, had fallen and hurt herself and hopefully would soon be on the mend.
In another fifteen minutes we were at the viaduct, a
masterpiece of Victorian, not Georgian, architecture but were a bit dismayed to
notice the amount of vegetation growing from its mortar joints, and ultimately
weakening them. A job surely for Network Rail! We didn’t delay here but set off
back to Catrine with some taking the time to view the Fishers’ Tryst and the
Cup and Rings.
We were back at the cars just after two having covered eight
miles in total. We wished Peter well as he returned home and hope it will not
be too long before he can join us again.
FRT was taken at the Black Bull in Mauchline where we just
about stayed dry in the beer garden as by this time the rain had started. The
conversation, as always, was lively and varied with the highlight being when
Robert, the artist and well-versed in the technique known as frottage,
demonstrated it on Davie. Robert seemed to rub Davie up the wrong way, but both
ended up with satisfied smiles on their faces. At the other end of the table, the
group got themselves into a bit of a lather by discussing the advantages of
soap versus shower gel and then reminisced about various soaps e.g. Palmolive,
Imperial Leather, Lifebuoy, Pear’s, Coal Tar, Knights Castile. The conversation
reached a crescendo when it was disclosed there was a book about soap erotica
entitled ‘The Camay Sutra’. Boom! Boom!
Time for home!
Wed 20th,
Meet in the car park on the right beside Knockroon on the approach to Cumnock. Meet at 9.30.a.m . to decide whether the weather is suitable to continue to Durisdeer or walk locally.
Wed 27th,
Meet at Malcolm’s place at 9.30a.m. for bacon rolls. The walk will be the Smugglers Trail to Troon. This is a relatively short walk to allow plenty of time to freshen up before attending the curry celebration for Dougie’s 70ieth birthday in the Jewel in the Crown. ( 7p.m. For 7.30.p.m.)
Peter confirmed tonight that he is willing to join us on our outing to Catrine. Meet in Catrine square at ten o’clock for the walk to Sorn and return. We can have a coffee/ tea break on our return to the square before extending the walk towards the Mauchline gorge and the viaduct. FRT can be accessed in the Black Bull , Mauchline.
Note for your diary . I have booked the Jewel in the Crown for 7.p.m. on the 27th October to celebrate Dougie’s 70th birthday. Let me know before the 27th if you intend to be present.
Alan, Allan, Davie C, Dougie, Jim, Jimmy, Johnny, Kenny R,
Kenny T, Malcolm, Paul, Rex, Robert
It was good to have Alan, Jim, and Kenny T (complete with Freya) back with us for the first time in a while for a walk which we guaranteed would not be too taxing. The weather did us proud again as we had blue skies above and a cool temperature making for excellent walking conditions.
Davie led us up through Dean Park before we found the tarmac road taking us up towards Craufurdland. Following the signs for the Castle View Trail we passed the castle and soon were at the Laird’s Table for our coffee stop. Some went down to a bench beside the loch for their break whilst others, searching for warmer, sunnier spots, found tree trunks to sit on. We were also treated to a piece of Malcolm’s tasty birthday dumpling as we enjoyed the autumn sun.
It was almost half-past eleven when we arrived, given the
leisurely pace, and after another twenty minutes it was decided that we would
all simply retrace our steps rather than some of us extending the walk. The
return was a tad quicker meaning that we were back at the cars by ten to one
having covered nearly six miles.
Most of us then made our way to Wetherspoon’s for FRT and
lunch where we were joined by Billy, still recovering from his foot injury.
Davie treated us to the first round to celebrate his 65th and 66th
birthdays. Thanks Davie. A very pleasant two hours were spent before it was
time to head for home.
N.B. It was provisionally agreed that we would have a curry
night on Wednesday 27th October in honour of Dougie’s 70th.
This will be confirmed in due course.
