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Prologue - Skye AKA Bogger's Curse
Leading up to 1 Sep 2026
By Ren Withnell
In the comment's section of Hot In Honfleur Bogger said "The next story from you boyo needs real hardship and suffering please. Bike breakdowns, getting soaked and frozen. We want mental and physical exhaustion. Getting lost, running out of fuel. You get the drift man." I'm sure he meant no harm but his words might have been prophetic.
Apparently this kind of happiness and comfort is not what the readers want...
... this is what readers want.
I have been made redundant. I'd been working at the company for just over 3 years when I was informed my role was "at risk". This translates to "you're for the chop laddy, but we're legally obliged to go through a process of consultation". To be fair the company has been by the book in my time with them and the team I've worked with has been friendly, helpful, and functional.
But guess what? After one of the longest, driest and warmest spells on record my employment ended just as the weather was turning... and just when Sharon and I have a trip to Scotland planned. Talk about bad timing - damn you Bogger!
The original trip was planned to be a 2 week trip around The Outer Hebrides. 2-3 days up to either Oban or Skye, 3-4 nights on The Uists, 3-4 nights on Harris/Lewis, and a few more nights coming back home at a leisurely pace. However life is complicated. Sharon not only has to organise care for her cat which is proving difficult she also has various engagements we can't work around sensibly. For the purpose of this missive I'm blaming Bogger.
We could blame the cat, but it's more fun to blame Bogger.
Sharon has previously expressed a desire to not simply pass through Skye en route to The Outer Hebrides, but to have some time to look around Skye. It's a place she's heard a lot about, and a place she wishes to see for herself. We have been to Skye before. We crossed the bottom of Skye back in 2008, I've ridden the same road several other times with friends too. I've been to Portree once as well back in 2010. Otherwise neither of us has actually explored this much celebrated island.
So rather than a few of The Outer Hebridean isles we're going to have a look around one of The Inner Hebridean isles, Skye. We can do that in the 8 nights 9 days we can muster together. It's 430 miles from Sharon's place to Skye which regulars readers will know is far far far too far for even wild adventure riders such as Sharon and I. After pouring over maps, the internet, and numerous conversations we finally form a most cunningly devious plan. I... I suspect you're going to be impressed.
Ahem. Sharon's to Bruce's Cave campsite, Lockerbie - 145 miles (wow!). Bruce's Cave to Keltie Bridge campsite, Callander - 115 miles (steady on!). Keltie Bridge to Camping Skye, Broadford - 165 miles (WHOA!). 4 nights on Skye, then back to Keltie Bridge, then Bruce's Cave, then home. See - WE ARE really roughty toughty mean bad-ass high miles hardcore 1,000 yard stare adventure types aren't we. Admit it you ARE impressed.
Real HARDCORE adventure type.
Bikes are checked, bags are packed, plans are made, and all systems are go. Sharon has some reservations about the weather but come on, the weather forecast is always pessimistic and the pictures of Skye on the marketing websites clearly show it is perpetually bathed in glorious sunshine. Still, we double check we have the waterproofs with us.
Secretly she just LOVES the rain.
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Prologue - Skye AKA Bogger's Curse
Excuses and complaining... that is all Ren has to offer. A truncated trip, the risk of bad weather, and bad timing. Awww poor poor Ren.
No Rain, Hip Pain, A Train, Rice Grain, Heavy Rain
The Batties are off to Skye! Today though they barely make it to Scotland. Ren expands his culinary expertise, forgets something, and looks happy as always.
Blood And Rain, Finger Pain, Improving Terrain
A short and simple if a little wet ride up to Callander is followed by a (not very) long and tiresome walk into Callander. No pain no gain Ren! There's new friends too.
More Rain, No Butane, Close To Insane
Hey guess what? Ren is having a bad day, alas it's not as bad as most readers will hope. Most of his issues are entirely self inflicted but that won't stop him from blaming Bogger. Don't worry he'll be fine, Sharon is hiding the utensils.
Reader's Comments
nab301 said :-
Ren , sorry about the redundancy , hopefully you'll get sorted..
As for the itinerary , that's a nice relaxing trip , Lockerbie stirs some memories. looking forward to the trip as it unfolds and whether you get to use the washing(drying?) line pictured at the campsite in the prologue!
Nigel
15/09/2026 12:04:25 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Thanks nab301. I wish to retire but alas and alack Sharon is not the wealthy millionaire sugar mommy that I was hoping she would be. I do have a couple of quid saved and with my prudent ways I'll be alright. I'm actually considering a work break, a sabbatical if you will. With the rise of AI middle of the road grunt work developers such as myself will be in less demand and I've been doing it for eons now. I am looking at a possible career change, but there seems little call for post middle aged male supermodels with a growing midriff. Go figure.
We planned a nice relaxing trip - but will we get one? Fear not there's no serious disasters ahead but it's not called "Bogger's Curse" for no reason at all.
15/09/2026 12:49:17 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Commisserations from me too Ren. I've experienced redundancy a couple of times and even though you know it's coming it can still hit you with a force you're not expecting. As yoou say, AI seems to be as good at knocking out code as the average programmer. To think that only a few years ago kids were being taught coding at school to "future proof" them!
You do of course have other strings to your bow - back to rider training? Or was that just too traumatic?
15/09/2026 15:20:27 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Rider training has crossed my mind Ian. The primary objections are - a) mostly weekend work b) been there done that got the t-shirt c) it rather spoiled my enjoyment of motorcycling. I figure I could do it part time for a bit of pin money as and when required.
I have considered being a man of international mystery, but I haven't figured out how you get paid for that.
15/09/2026 16:53:33 UTC
Bogger said :-
I'm glad I've come in useful for once.
Bogger
15/09/2026 19:11:44 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Yup, you're the whipping boy for anything and everything that goes wrong from here-on-in Bogger. I'm finding it refreshingly relaxing not having to take the blame, thanks Bogger, you're a guddun int ya.
15/09/2026 19:49:01 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Buggering, bugger hell, how dare they rid themselves of your genius. Their loss is someone else's gain, probably. Pffffffftttttt.
Skye, you say, busy and wet is what we found in May this year.
We first visited Skye in the 80's, it was all single lane and unmade roads....then the bridge arrived. I understand the need of the locals for a reliable link with the mainland but with regards to Skye magic I fear it is long departed. Departing from the ferry at the Kyle and seeing your first Golden Eagle up close was truly magical, what now remains I fear isn't.
I look forward to your findings.
Whatever went wrong is obviously Boggers fault.
Regarding your mileage travelling up, I think you might have it right. I just worked out we covered 800 miles or so from Monday to Wednesday, although not so many per day going forward now. I can also report that the local vineyard pop up stall in town has the ability to remove all butt pain.
Upt.
17/09/2026 21:27:47 UTC
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