I went into an alehouse I used to frequent...

It is hard to describe the anticipation both Howard and I felt on the train to Dumfries - a town both of us lived in at the end of the last century. Sadly, however, as Tracey was the only other one there at the time, Howard's lecture (provisionally entitled "Great Planning Decisions of Our Times") went undelivered.

There should have been more people on the train - inexplicably, Hector, Marg, Dr Stan, Robin and David all decided to get a later train, thus missing out on 2 hours of Dumfries pubs...

The purpose of this particular excursion was the Dumfries Real Ale Foot Festival - a festival hosted jointly by 10 real ale pubs in various parts of the town.

On arrival, the advanced party visited a new (to us) pub - the Granary. I suspect it will be our first and last visit... Drawing a veil over this, we then visited the local Wetherspoons -Robert the Bruce - for a pint or 2 and lunch, whilst waiting for the others.

Next came the New Bazaar - a pub that in former days was my local. It is still worth visiting - shown by the fact that Dr Stan had taken the latecomers straight there from the station!

From there to the Cavens Arms - a pub that has recently been monopolising the local pub of the year award. I can't argue - the Jaipur IPA was magnificent! It would have been far too easy to spend the rest of the day there... In retrospect, this would have been a mistake! Having said this, in typical Glasgow CAMRA fashion, Dr Stan, Hector, Marg and Robin then went their own way, leaving David with the original 3.

We then proceeded to Broons - the most recent real ale bar in the festival. Having bought a drink and taken our seats, someone noticed a barrel on the bar containing Madcap Triple Madness - a Belgian style bier at 9% abv. As we couldn't keep this to ourselves, we advised the others, who did not take long to arrive!

Sadly, the beer was not matched by the folk singer. I'll refrain from further comment!

By now, time was pressing. Howard and Tracey had to visit his former local, The Ship. I had to visit the Tam O'Shanter. Dr Stan had to try a pint of Madcap. Hector and Marg had to eat. David and Robin had to go home...

After the Tam, there was time for a rendezvous for one last pint at the Waverley Bar (just beside the train station), before getting the last train to Glasgow Central...