Galloway Hills, Scotland – Micro-METHS – Tuesday 29th November, 1994.
Ian
(AXEMAN) Mason
Jack (MIDNIGHT) Bannister
& Jim Leckey
METHS stories of the Galloway Hills inspired Midnight to pay a late-year visit to the Axeman. At short notice, a MICRO-METHS was organised, on what turned out to be a mild and sunny day. Midnight, Axeman and Jim Leckey drove out to Glen Trool to commence a mini 3-peaker from Bruce’s Stone, in an area known as “The Awful Hand.” The first peak, BENYELLARY 2,360’ was easily achieved, but the ridge-walk to the high point on MERRICK 2,766’ required many breakfast-kippery belches, to urge Midnight on, as the temperature dropped. Lunch on Merrick was a quick sandwich and beer affair as the windchill dropped the temperature to zero; only the descent to the LITTLE SPEAR 2,577’ and subsequent climb back to MERRICK summit, restored the circulation for the homeward run. It is interesting to record that on a winter’s day, we still met a party of 1 (Ken Andrews – an expert and an author on the Galloway Hills) and a large party from the AYR Retired Persons’ Club, who made us feel young again. The views were terrific and Axeman pointed out the Hills of Arran, Ben Lomond, Cross Fell, the Pennines, and the Lakeland Hills in England, all visible above the distant cloud. Near at hand were the 5 Lochs – “you only see 4 really because one doesn’t count as the real one is out of sight” said Jim Leckey – … Jim is Irish!
We clocked 10.5 miles in 5 hours without the aid of a spinnaker run, since Midnight left his umbrella in the car!
Thank you, Ian & Sadie, for your hospitality and a memorable stay, made all the better by the sharing of a few beers with the Belldoons* at the Crown Hotel.
JACK BANNISTER
* BELDON, Edwina & Gordon, founder members – rejoined the club in 2018.
© WDYFO, 2020