Dates for your Diary.

 The group in the Black Bull today called for another curry. The date agreed was the 7th June. The old rule has been discarded , Rex will have reached 78 and Johnny will have celebrated hit 73, both highly significant birthdays. I will provisionally book for 16 places and can adjust numbers nearer the time of the event. If you wish to attend please let me know as soon as possible.

Arrangements for Wed 26th April

 Meet in the bottom car park Croy  shore at 9.50.a.m.( ready to go by 10.00.) The walk will be along the beach to Culzean and further to Maidens. Lunch in Maidens and the same route back to Croy.

Carrick Hills 12 April

Some images and video of the walk up the Carrick Hills from Fisherton featuring Alan, Alan McQ, Davie C, Dougie, Graham, Gus, Hugh, Malcolm, Rex, Robert

Today's starting lineup

Approaching the site of an old aircraft lookout post and underground nuclear bunker

Old graveyard of Kirkbride, a church believed to date from the late 12th century

Approaching the summit of Brown Carrick Hill

View from the summit towards Ayr

Quick photo stop before a brief shower of hail prompted a hasty retreat

Sheltered spot beside the Snipe Loch

Star jelly!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_jelly

A sunny end to a 5 mile saunter in the Carrick Hills above Fisherton

Dougie was crowned this year's pool champion after a thrilling final against Robert

Arrangements for Wed 19th April.

 Meet in New Cumnock station car park at 9.50.a.m. The proposed walk is Corsencon which has been on our list several times and the weather has not been suitable. As a result we have checked the BBC forecast which appears to be excellent at the moment. Hopefully the forecast will be accurate. Jimmy may take us down an alternative route if suitable.

MInishant to Maybole 5 April

Alan, Alan McQ, Allan, Davie C, Dougie, Graham, Gus, Hugh, Malcolm, Robert

Last July we did this walk for the first time, and it rained for most of the day. Today was different. It rained all day!

 

We met at the café in the Main Stret in Maybole for a coffee before we got on the 10.26am bus to Minishant and, whilst in the café, Robert was presented with a bunny he had won in the Dundonald Castle raffle. Since he had his own selection of soft toys at home - don’t ask! -  he ‘kindly’ donated this one to Davie for his granddaughter, allegedly. Anyway, soon thereafter we were huddled in the bus shelter waiting on the bus which rapidly took us to Minishant. for a 10.40 start.

Walking up the road behind the village, we soon turned up towards Knockdon and then on to Garryhorn Farm where we stopped very briefly. There was some thought of having coffee but since the weather was so miserable we decided to walk on and get finished as soon as we could. Although not classified as a hill walk, there was plenty of ups and downs today meaning that many of us were soaking from the inside out as well as through the waterproofs. The group today were well spread out for almost all of the walk, with the faster being a good distance in front of the sensible, who themselves were well ahead of those taking their time.

Before too long though, we were turning down to Maybole, well, up and down to Maybole, and we eventually crossed over the new road and went straight down past Gardenrose School and back to the cars. Ironically, the rain eased as we reached the cars allowing us to get changed and have our pieces in the  relative dry. As we made our way in dribs and drabs into the Greenside for FRT, the rain returned with a vengeance, but we were now very comfortably ensconced inside to enjoy a pizza and pint day.

Although the walk was just over six and a half miles and was timed at two hours and twenty minutes, the frequent climbs had sorted the group out, so the recovery time was well enjoyed. The hour and a bit spent in the Greenside, despite the cost of a pint, was the best bit of the day.

Third time lucky for this walk? Let’s hope so.