But the Fire Is So Delightful

ABC of Troon -   C is also for Coast, and Corrie. 

The coast is my big love. I adore the sea, I think I may have mentioned that.  I could sit quite happily (with enough clothes) on the beach all day. 

We have a lot of coast around here - Troon itself has two beaches _ South Beach and North Shore.  Nothing if not predictable in naming.  The South Beach runs (south of course) towards Prestwick which runs into Ayr, and then onto the rocky coast line of Heads of Ayr, Culzean, and Dunure; North - Gailes, Irvine, Saltcoats and Stevenston up to Ardrossan and Largs, by which time you are stretching your fingers towards the highlands, as the ground starts to rise and the mountainous features of Scotland recognisable from postcards and calendars all over the world appear before you. 

Here in Troon, on a relatively flat piece of land, sheltered in the East by Dundonald Hill, looks directly across the water, (the Firth of Clyde - yet another C), to Arran. 

Arran is sometimes referred to as Scotland in minature. It too has flat lands, and beaches, golf courses and distilleries, and of course, glacial landscapes. 

I can look over to Arran, some days of course are better than others depending on the atmospherics.... but every feature can be easily picked out.  My thumbnail is a Corrie - the edges of Goatfell - Aretes; Glen Rosa - Not visible from this side of the water, is a beautiful example of a trough.   I adore Arran. 

Today, Arran is under siege though.  Claudia, (ANOTHER C)  of the Famous Claudia's Cafe in Church Street (AKA The Poppy Rooms), is over there for the weekend to celebrate her 49, 44  42 birthday.    Hillwalkers, Fear not; there will be no trekking the troughs, or careering the corries, or ascending the aretes... Claudia's best idea of a weekend in Arran involves Spa Days and Wine By the Bucket.   

Happy Birthday Clauds!