Sponsored Walk 2001

Best Legs forward
A personal experience by Jim Paterson

The sponsored walk on June 30^th had everyone wondering what to wear. Brilliant sunshine at 7.00am turned to torrential rain by 8.00am. By time we gathered at the Church at just after 10.00am the sun was trying hard to return. By then we had everything from full “top of the Eiger” wind and waterproofs to Pam’s shorts….  I had turned up with everything bar the kitchen sink, but decided that if Pam could wear shorts, then so would I! After all your legs dry quicker than trousers, and it wasn’t too cold. Did someone say summer?

We gathered at Gullane Bents, with Bob Jarmson joining from his holiday caravan at North Berwick. He too came dressed in his shorts, so we were building quite a hardy little group. We had gone only 20 or so yards when we hit the first dilemma. Do we turn left to the beach or straight on? The “straight on’s” won and soon we were on the golden sands, heading west for Aberlady. The sky was blue and the clouds nice and white, which was more than could be said for the view back to the Pentlands. Grey dark clouds surrounded Carnethy with Penicuik covered in a rain cloud. So what’s new in that I hear you ask! The seasoned walkers amongst us were quick to point out that the wind was moving the cloud in our direction! Well, it might swing off to one side, or melt away even…. Les “Crocodile Dundee” Tweedale (after the hat he chose) raced on ahead, quite a sight if you haven’t seen Les in full flight. Why? To get in front for a photograph before we all got soaked, that’s why.

Still dry as we approached our second dilemma. When Pam did the recce it was a beach walk all the way, however it was high tide today and a rocky promontory cut off the beach route. Time for the crampons as we scrabbled over the rocks. Bill Irving was heard to be mumbling something about organising a fish supper! With all safely over the ridge we met dilemma number three, well it was for those with shorts. Nettles – hundreds of them, lining the path back to the beach. Anyone got Antisan? With tingling legs I made it back on to the sand. Not a soul in front of us, probably because that cloud had not veered off or melted away, it had successfully aimed straight for us. On with the Kagools and any other waterproofs in the backpack. “Aha” I cried, “This is where the shorts win through”. True, my legs got wet, but who cares, however with the rain came a stiffer breeze, which started a mini sandstorm! Ever had your legs sandblasted? I can show you a good spot if you’d like to try. “Head for the dunes” was the cry, as we searched for some non existent shelter. Bill then decided to take the coastal route rather than the beach. I’m sure it had nothing to do with the golf course, and the possibility of finding a few lost balls! Len Cox last saw him with an upturned shell crying “alms for the poor!” With most people running for shelter his cry’s, I fear, were in vain!

But this is Scotland. If you don’t like the weather, wait 5 minutes and it’s sure to change, which it did. We were soon dry and putting the waterproofs away as the sun returned to lift our spirits. By now we had drifted into 3 groups, the super fit Gazelles stepping out in front, the mildly fit following, and the chatty Cathy’s pulling up the rear, spending more time gassing than walking! I was with Len in the second group as he extolled the marching pace of the RAF (don’t mention army!). We should be keeping up 100 – 120 paces a minute, each pace 30 inches. If we were light infantry that would be 180 paces per minute. Personally I thought the Foreign Legion pace of 80 was more than ample thank you. After all we had been on the beach.

The final push took us back to Gullane where we enjoyed the afternoon sun while waiting for the stragglers to arrive. Longniddry Inn provided the refreshing drinks and an opportunity to swap stories before heading home to gather that well earned sponsorship money.

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