Celebration

In the year 2000, two friends met at the Arts Centre in East Kilbride for coffee and discussed how they would love to go walking with a group, but all the groups in our town walked on the weekends, which they could not do for personal reasons.  So they decided to try to set up a midweek group, even though they had no real knowledge.  The HG heard of it and got involved, and with their enthusiasm and his knowledge the Midweek Walking Group was formed.  

Now there are 65 members and a long waitng list to join.  Last year was the 20th anniversary and we had big plans to celebrate but Covid 19 got in the way.  

Yesterday we had our celebration.  We took two coachloads of members and past members on the ferry from Wemyss Bay to the Island of Bute.  One coachload walked from Kilchattan Bay to the ruins of St. Blanes and back, a very pleasant walk mostly along the coast.  

The other group were treated to a tour of Mount Stuart House, a very historic large stately home on the island.  

Later in the day we all met up and had time in Rothesay for wandering, window shopping, ice cream, and coffee if wanted, before boarding the ferry once more for the mainland.  It is a 40 minute ferry trip, and we were able to watch seals and porpoises following the boat, which was lovely.

On our way home a celebratory meal was booked at a very nice hotel in Gourock, and we had a very lively time.  It was a lovely two course meal with choices.  Short speeches were made, the cake (complete with lots of little figures of walkers)  was cut, and two members were honoured with life membership.

It was great!