Menonday...Yes, Really, A Me-Non-Day

Having departed the rather heavenly stop at Sanquhar, I moved fifty miles further north and a tad more west to a little spot by more water. Kilbirnie Loch and Lochshore Park are nestled nicely between the villages of Kilbirnie and Glengarnock. The 'park' is still in development, part of a North Ayrshire Council and Scottish Enterprise initiative aimed at creating a 'destination focus', and they are making a fine fist of getting the place set up. It is already attracting a lot of local walkers and cyclists; there is fishing by permit and watersports (yes, there was some jet ski noise, but only for a short time). The local rugby ground is just behind, and a brand new community building with a cafe, toilets and rentable space for various functions is recently opened. There is some plane noise, being under a flight path from Glasgow, but infrequent. The Glasgow trains are regular but distant enough to not be annoying. Mostly, it is just pure peace.

I did park at the farthest end of the parking track, noting there was a decent amount of fairly level spaces to use. I didn't stop at that higher point, though, as it felt a tad exposed for me. Dropping down just back around the corner and facing the side door to the water felt more comfortable. Let's call it Van-Shui!

I chose this lumpy gravelled spot over the tiled hard-standing over the other side because I felt that the other was a bit sloped, and with a bit of to and fro, I was able to settle The Grey as level as he's been almost this entire trip! However, a couple of large French motorhomes turned up in the evening and didn't need their levellers on that other pitch, so that might have been okay. (And, yes, the make-do fly screen is working grand!)

Ample rubbish bins are provided, and I am pleased to report that I didn't witness any litter, so proper use is being made of them. I slept well again and rose to find the sun well over the loch at 7am. I decided there and then that I would spend the day doing very little other than absorbing the tranquillity. A non-day, if you will. Delaying tactics... for the next part of the trip from here would be back to the Hutch. I did want to see my sticks and bricks home again, to get stuck into what needs doing... but golly, van life is properly taking hold of me by this stop and stop is exactly what I didn't want to do! This month will be about getting the Hutch sorted as much as possible, and The Grey fitted out a bit more (if not totally), and then it will be back on the road for the YAMster!!!

Anyway, I truly revelled in my non-day, enjoying brekky on the step and having a yarn with a lady and her dogs, who was intrigued by (and, I think, a little envious of) my plans. A couple more dog walkers nodded and acknowledged the fine morning that had dawned after the overnight rain. At lunchtime, an older fellow and his wee Cocker Spaniel, Poppy, stopped for a blether; he had been studying the back door and wondered if the "E" before the Transit meant it was electric. Spot on, that man! He'd been watching a programme the night before about electric vehicles and was clearly very interested and wondering if it would suit him. He only needs it for local stuff. My response was to think of a little e-car as a glorified mobility scooter, for he would find driving it much the same! He liked that idea. I may have started something!

I will close with a vid clip from that morning - crank up the sound, and you will hear exactly what I heard... true!