Day 3 Largs to Irvine - by bus!

As we remain weather bound in Largs,

Sign post in Irvine

  we decided to take the bus to     Irvine. It is just over an hour's   journey by bus and it seemed an   interesting place to visit because it   had been the capital of Scotland in   the past and it houses the Scottish   Maritime Museum. We headed to   the Maritime Museum (after a stop for coffee in a local cafe)   and on asking directions were told that it was through the shopping centre. This turned out to be a large, modern shopping centre on a bridge, it made me think of the old pictures of London Bridge with the shops along both sides.
The Maritime Museum was interesting but deserted, there was only one other couple in there! Josh was ecstatic at the sight of a triple expansion steam engine.

There was one room that I found very interesting. It was narrated by an artist and laid out the history and the culture of the oil rigs and the way of life that emerged from this unique workplace.

Teacup-carrying device made from spare materials by technicians on the Brent Delta Platform.

Walking back from the Museum  through the shopping centre on the bridge Josh spotted a 3G shop. He dived in there to see if he could upgrade his phone and 1 1/2 hours later we emerged (having both bought a new phone!) to a closed and shuttered shopping centre. It was raining again so we found the bus stop and waited for what seemed like ages (it was probably about half an hour) until the bus arrived.
After a change of bus at Ardrossan (because it was late we had to change and get the night bus) and a bag of chips at the bus stop (it was late and I hadn't eaten anything all day apart from a piece of carrot cake!) we arrived back at the boat at nearly 21.00!
The wind had died down but it was chilly and still raining! Nevertheless the Laser dinghy fleet was bravely out on the water having an evening sail, all I can say is they are a hardy breed up here.

Hopefully we can move on to Troon tomorrow ..by water and not by bus!