Menonagainoffagainery; Oh, The Procrastination

As I lingered still at Kilbirnie lochside on Thursday morning, it was lunchtime before I actually got into the 'saddle' again. Only to drive up to the new community centre and cafe... 

The smaller wing this side serves as the rugby club meeting room. I guess there will be changing rooms in there too. The larger part of the building houses an office, excellent toilet facilities and a smashing cafe. How could I resist the homemade Lentil and Sweet Potato soup with brown bloomer bread and a banana and strawberry slushy on the side??!!!

That soup was lush, and I kept half the bread back to have later; so filling it was. Proper stick to the ribs and perfectly seasoned. £3.95 for that and £2.40 for the drink. This equalled the standard of Cafe Autisan back in Whalley. Again, community-run. Excellent work, folks of Kilbirnie and Glengarnock!

In Kilbirnie, I hooked up to a charger for an hour, enough to top up for peace of mind (not really that necessary, but it was there, so why not avail?), and then it was a westwards drive over to Largs. By the Vikingar Centre, I parked again for a proper charge-up. While there, another camper drew up and parked, and the lady in that said they had been coming here for ten years to park, and nobody had ever challenged them. A bit of me was tempted to stay there as it was already late afternoon... but I had set my heart on Lunderston Bay (with a stop off at Sainsbury's for a grocery top-up in Inverkip on the way). I am so glad I stuck to my guns.

Yes, I was parked up facing across the Clyde towards Dunoon! Nice to see the other side for a change. (The Hutch is tucked in behind the strand of trees about a third of the way across from the right of the image.)

It was pretty late when I drove in and already starting to darken - not helped by the shower clouds. It was quite wet overnight, so I wasn't holding out much hope for Friday. But goodness me, it came up trumps! So I decided to linger. I mean, how could I not explore this interesting place that, despite being 'local', I had somehow not really known about?!!

Lunderston Bay is one of the places that, in times past, was a "doon the watter" destination for working-class Glaswegians on their holidays. This info board on one of the plentiful seats provided revealed much.

Now, there is a large swathe of grass to picnic and play upon, with loads of bins and picnic tables provided, toilets at the end of the carpark, and substantial cycle and walking pathways for the coastal route. At the eastern end is a new and quite fabulous children's playground, all made of sand and soft matting, wood and steel. There were various types of swings (not yer average, mate), climbing frames, work activities (measuring and shifting and pulling), and two brilliant pirate ships to 'set sail' in! I wished I had a young un to take in so I could have a play myself!!! (No photos of that, as it was very busy, and I am hot on the privacy of such things.)

The sun not only shone but was actually quite warm, combating the stiff breeze coming up the firth. I abluted, breakfasted, did some photo sorting, unloaded the RRD and set off for a walk around the area. Up past the playground and as far as the path went before it joined the main road again (walking could continue to Gourock, but I wasn't up for that on this day). I turned around and found a sheltered spot by the shore to sit on the trolley and gaze across at Dunoon, Kirn, Hunter's Quay, and beyond that, to Strone and Blairmore on the far shore of Holy Loch and Loch Long entries... that is what you see in the new blog banner. Then, as I trundled back past the playground, I took the urge to attempt walking the beach; the RRD was a little sticky on the softer sand and pebbles, but once down onto the wetter low tide line, we were fine. Thus I walked all the way back to the west end of the beach, passing The Grey on the way...

Although not a particularly long walk, it had been about absorbing the fine day, the smiles and snatched chats along the way, and beachcombing, so I was surprised to discover it was nearly one in the arvo when I returned to the van. As the Ice Cream seller had arrived, it would have been rude not to partake...

Lucky I had a bowl and spoon to hand. That could have been a very messy situation... I did have a picnic lunch after this. Who says you can't have dessert first? Anyway, I could have decided to drive on after this, but no. It was much too pleasant. Thus, it was Saturday morning before I gathered myself to make the move. Gotta admit, I very nearly spent a third night, but mid-arvo, I gave myself a talking to, and we set off for the ferry. 

At first, I thought I would have to park away from the Hutch, but a space opened up not long after I arrived, so I went out again and pulled the van into the spot right below the Hutch's window. 

Thus ended the big Firsts Trip in The Grey. Together we put in just 30 miles shy of 1500 in total. There will be a sort of 'technical round-up' post to complete this series, in which I shall analyse the logistics and costs, as several folk have expressed an interest (behind the scenes, if not directly!) And, as ever, there will be a Me-Now-Views post later this month with the remains of the photos from Lunderston.