Durisdeer 14 July 2010

Ooter #1 'Where are we going this week?'
Ooter #2 'Durisdeer'
Ooter #1 'Thanks darling, but where is Duris?'

The names of the those involved have been deleted to protect the guilty.

Jimmy hadn't made last week's walk as he was on duty at an athletics meet so it must have come as a surprise to him that we decided to assemble at his house for this week's trip to Durisdeer. Jimmy is never fazed by any of these walks, but it still was a surprise to see how laid back he was about today's trip when he opened the door in his slippers - a funny place to have a door admittedly, but apparently all the rage in Cumnock. The explanation was soon forthcoming in that Jimmy had hurt his back pulling out a weed and that he would be resting up today. However, even though he got little sympathy (whatever happened to compassion?) it was good of him to see to it that we had a coffee before starting off - thanks, Elizabeth.
So it was that 5 Ooters plus the junior member set off on the familiar route and arrived at the starting point at 10.30. The weather forecast had not been encouraging following a lot of overnight rain but, despite overcast conditions, it was warm enough for the climb up the path to the bothy to be accompanied by jackets coming off and shirts being soaken with sweat. Coffee was taken in the well-kept bothy and as Peter added an entry to the comments book the rest of us left. He did catch up with us and we did try to reassure him that there was no deliberate ploy for us to abandon him in this neck of the woods, but parallels were drawn to the last time we were here when Davie and Jimmy drove off without him. By this time the sun had come out and we were in shirt sleeves and the walk over the hill was made all the better by having a stunning view - a first for most of us on this walk. As we descended we were able, possibly for the first time, to clearly see the reservoir below us on our right hand side and across the countryside towards Thornhill. Before long tarmac was reached and we progressed along the road before turning off at the farm and heading towards Morton Castle which again could be seen clearly in the distance. It was whilst going along the road that Davie spotted hares in the adjacent fields, no doubt looking for their lunky hole - see last week! Further up the road the apprentice ornithologist identified the big burd that was flying above us as a red kite. The burd, which had a speech impediment, went hame to tell his mammy that he saw six kites walking along the road.
Lunch was taken at Morton Castle, but unfortunately this coincided with the only shower of the day. The rain lasted long enough for us to decide to put waterproofs on, and then went off by the time we had got them out and struggled into them. So it was back to shirt sleeves as we set off on the road back to Durisdeer. Johnny, however, was regretting the dress code as he was nursing some cleg bites by this time. Crossroads were reached by which point we could see Drumlanrig Castle in the distance and there was a moment's hesitation as we decided whether to go straight on on turn right. Nobody could remember but Davie's sense of direction (is this an oxymoron?) prevailed and we turned right and continued up the road until some familiar landmarks were spotted. It was here that Robert made the comment that we were about to approach a farm with a really funny name. Well, haud us back, we couldnae wait. When we got to it the name was revealed to be Gateslack. Johnny laughed and roared and Davie Clunie almost stopped talking, such was the hilarity of the name - a touch of sarcasm here, folks. Robert walked on with his tail between his legs whilst the rest of us composed ourselves for the last mile or so. Another attempt was made to detach Peter as he stopped to gather raspberries at the roadside but he had caught up by the time we had reached the cars. It had taken us about 4 hours and 15 minutes and, though it started to spit as we changed, we really had won a watch with the weather.
Before setting off on the return journey we made a quick visit to the church, as we do, to show Davie Jnr the marbles and the enscription relating to the Marquis of Queensberry. Peter, though, stayed by Davie's car.
FRT was taken at the Crown in Sanquhar, our usual haunt when in this part of the country.