Kiltwalk Training starts with the first, wet, step

Happy New Year to all our Kiltwalkers and Blipfoto followers and may 2013 be blister free and all you wish it to be.

Today's picture was taken on Largs seafront, the venue for our first Kiltwalk training walk of the year and it ended with two drookit souls taking refuge in the famous Nardinis café :-)

It started so well as Jan and I stepped out along the promenade for what was to be an hour's worth of walking along the seafront and surrounding streets of Largs. It was cold but dry overhead and when Jan said "I think it's going to come doon in a plunk" or rain heavily to anyone outside of Scotland reading this, I of course immediately disagreed and said "no chance".

Fifteen minutes in and with our stride at its optimum pace i.e. me striding and Jan claiming I was making her run, the rain started. At first it was light, which I didn't even notice as I was prepared for all conditions, unlike Jan, however within a few minutes the rain was driving hard into our faces as it whipped in off the Firth of Clyde. At one point we took cover from the rain in the bus shelter like a couple of canoodling teenagers, which ended when the Largs to Glasgow pulled up to let us on!!

It was at that point Jan declared she had "had enough" so it was about turn as we headed back to the car. As we struggled along the seafront with hoods and scarves pulled down over our face we saw in the distance the shimmer and sparkle of lights.

Was it an oasis? Or like that famous VW Herbie had our car come to our rescue?

Turns out it was neither and was in fact Nardini's café where we headed to seek refuge, warmth and ice cream!! On arrival we had to wait a few moments for a table, which we assumed was due to like minded people taking shelter from the brewing storm, however as we surveyed the scene we realised we were slap bang in the middle of the "early" fish tea menu and the 'older' residents of Largs had clearly turned out in full force. I have to say it did look a bit special and a mental note was taken to plan another training walk in Largs sooner rather than later.

I hope all your training is going to plan because by my reckoning the first Kiltwalk of the year is only 15 weeks away, or 104 sleeps.

I'm having a catch up with Carey early this week as we have 'Haggis tasting' for our Burns Supper Awards night to attend to, it's a hard life but someone has to do it. Talking of the Awards night then I'm beginning to get a bit nervous about what's still to plan, however Carey assures me it's all in hand as he's done this many times before!!

I won't share it with you, however you should see the Award Night 'to do' list Carey sent me about an hour after we spoke. It's long, it's full of if buts and maybe's, but I'm sure it will be "All right on the Night".

If you fancy coming along on the 25th January, then limited tickets are available at £75 per head, which cover the drinks reception, three course meal and dancing into the wee small hours then contact Carey at carey@thekiltwalk.co.uk