Day 76 of the End to End had me heading for Kilmarnock. We left our lovely lodgings at Sanquhar for the last time. The weather was completely different from yesterday: overcast all day with Thunder later.
I set off from Mauchline, not far from the Burns National Memorial. On the first section of the walk I also passed the place where he used to farm. Any Burns link around here is noted on a plaque or a monument.
The hedgerows are changing again. Some old favourites continue like Red Campion and Ragged Robin. But the meadow sweet is now coming out and it has a strong sweet scent.
I attracted attention from several groups of young cattle but little else. I managed to miss the morning rain making it to the car for lunch just before it started.
With only three or so miles to go in the afternoon a few drops of rain where hardly noticed. However, the Thunder was! At times it was like walking through a hot house with the sprinklers on.
I crossed the by pass into Kilmarnock and walked up to Riccarton Parish church where the walk ended for the day.
We then moved onto the Kilmarnock Travelodge at the services between the A71 and A76. We stayed here two years ago on our way to Kintyre so this was a return visit. We also revisited the award winning fish and chip shop nearby.
The wild flowers meadows at the services play host to a world of wildlife. I ate my ice cream and enjoyed the diversity, especially of course, the orchids.
It may be a small place in Scotland but it was a good place to be.
From Psalm 29
God’s voice is heard in all its might and majesty: it breaks the cedars, even the cedars of Lebanon and makes the mountains of Lebanon jump like calves.
It’s not surprising the Psalmist likened God’s voice to Thunder. It is a glorious sound. Trees are broken: I saw a large beech tree damaged by an earlier storm. Groups of young cattle run up and down, clouds swirl overhead: it’s quite a display. In the meadows the wildflowers continue to bloom. When the storm is over the rabbits come out to see what all the fuss was about.
God grant now a quiet night and a peaceful end.
JAL 29.06.2019
Day 76 of the End to End, Mauchline to Kilmarnock.