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...It's about bikes... and travels... mostly on bikes!
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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.
Skye AKA Bogger's Curse
Title page for a hit-n-miss trip to Skye
Walking, Eating, Drinking, And Riding (The Next Day)
Covering 2 days Bogger manages a little walk, an inordinate amount of dining, some alcohol, and a long ride (once sober). Contrary to Bogger's modus operandi all this is achieved without any disasters. Go figure.
Hot In Honfleur
It's hot, it's busy, and it's all a bit odd. In spite of all this and some confusing food Ren might possibly at risk of almost having an OK day?
From Bad, To Worse, To Awful
Bogger has an almost new SH350. And some friends, mostly on litre plus bikes. And a long ride ahead. There's buffoonery, worries, and finally good old incompetence to ensure Bogger has the best of times.
Acharacle Debacle
Title page for Bogger's curious weekend away in The Highlands
GB350S Or CB125F?
Due to comments on other posts Ren is focusing his thoughts on smaller capacity machinery. There's no right answer, it all depends dunnit.
Finally To The Gite
It's a much less stressful day's ride today. Good weather, a sensible mileage to cover, and no reason to rush. Fear not Ren will find a few things to gripe about.
Struggling Into France
It's time to go to France, alas there's far too much time to go to France. Ren is early, the trains are late, it's hot, and it's disorganised. Oh and Sharon's life flashes before her eyes - or was it a Transit van?
Honda GB350S Test Ride Review
Ren stumbles into a test ride of the Honda GB350S. Can he get his head around a new way of riding? It's all very different in the world of low revs and heavy flywheels.
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Prologue - Skye AKA Bogger's Curse
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
Prologue - Skye AKA Bogger's Curse
Bogger said :-
I'm glad I've come in useful for once.
Bogger
15/09/2026 19:11:44 UTC
Prologue - Skye AKA Bogger's Curse
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
Prologue - Skye AKA Bogger's Curse
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
Prologue - Skye AKA Bogger's Curse
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
Prologue - Skye AKA Bogger's Curse
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
Walking, Eating, Drinking, And Riding (The Next Day)
Bogger said :-
One drink at night. Five in the afternoon.
Bogger
09/09/2026 22:55:55 UTC
Walking, Eating, Drinking, And Riding (The Next Day)
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Anyone who has travelled long enough in wee Jock McSporran Land will have experienced the hatred towards the English. It's just what it is, horrible little skirt wearing jocks with nothing better to do but still wouldn't vote to leave Great Britain because it might cost them a bob or two.
At least that's my opinion, FWIW. Nowt probably.
Bogger, you've disappointed me. One drink! One f'in drink! Lightweight.
And on that note I'm currently sipping Glenlivet looking over Krakow. Must have a look at B tomorrow.
Ta me duck.
Upt.
09/09/2026 22:45:53 UTC
Walking, Eating, Drinking, And Riding (The Next Day)
Bogger said :-
Spam? SPAM?
Coarse Foie Gras, I'll have you know.
Spam, good grief.
We is posh, me an the boys from Longridge is.
Mr Bogger Esq.
09/09/2026 17:27:47 UTC
Walking, Eating, Drinking, And Riding (The Next Day)
nab301 said :-
I got a bit confused with all the trips , English haters , I wonder what part of France they're in ? And what sort of French restaurant serves spam for dinner.. then I realised it was Scotland.
Nigel
09/09/2026 16:53:20 UTC
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nab301 said :-
Ian , I never had an AVO but I remember a biking neighbour back in the 70's had one , or rather his father had which was useful for fault finding on his electric start Yamaha 200 (combined alternator / dynamo electric start)
BTW , I recently purchased a cheap digital meter from Lidl which has a capacitance check feature that works as you describe.
Nigel
08/08/2026 18:08:12 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
I thought there may be some people who remembered AVOs here given the demographics. Sadly mine didn't come with the leather case although does have the original heavy cardboard box together with instruction manual. I've sorted out the overload button which just needed a hard press to reseat it and it now measures voltages correctly. I'll pick up a D battery later today and will order the 15 volt one - there's a seller on ebay.
It's so beautifully made inside and as you say Jeff the rolls-royce of meters and I look forward to using it in earnest.
I too have forsworn kickstarts given my knee issues - saw a physio yesterday who said I was progressing well. Three months with ongoing - although lessening - doesn't feel like good progress to me but heigh-ho.
06/08/2026 14:03:31 UTC
kiwiJeff said :-
Ian your mention of AVO8 certainly bought back memories. Like Glyn I used one through the 70s and early 80s as a radio technician working on communications valve radios. They were the Rolls Royce of multimeters. Using one balanced at the top of an equipment rack was a challenge though, they were heavy! Did the meter come in a stitched leather carry bag with a carry strap? Riding through our winter on the Bandit although while you are overheating in Europe we are having an unusually cold winter? Turned around on one of my favorite roads when I reached a sign that said next 12 kms is ice and grit! We use grit instead of salt on icy roads here which while our vehicles don't rust like yours due to the salt causing rust the grit doesn't melt so becomes a hazard on the bike for some time after the ice is gone! Ren you have my sympathies with your aching hip, my titanium hip aches in the cold my theory is the metal gets cold and affects the surrounding tissue so causing pain. The hip and the arthritic ankle mean I'll never use a kick starter on a bike again! I have to get the missus to help me roll the Bandit onto the centre stand these days! Getting old is a privilege but comes with it's challenges! Ride safe everyone through your summer, we are off to China for a month to have a look at where everything we use these days is made! Regards Jeff
06/08/2026 11:14:26 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
I had to google U2 Battery, apparently it's what I would know as a D Cell? If I recall that's the big 'uns that were in the Ever Ready bicycle lights when I were a lad. Several weeks worth of pocket money for a pack of 2 D cells into the bicycle light that would be bright for 20 minutes, then dim for maybe half an hour, then dead. Today you fit a AAA into an LED light that'll blind drivers for several weeks. Kids these days, don't know how lucky they are(n't).
06/08/2026 08:27:11 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Nostalgia's not what it was.... As Glyn says, the 10A current measuring is a bonus - my digital meter has this but it's a bit of a faff. The AVO is a beautifully made bit of kit. I've found out why it doesn't work - the overload button has been activated and won't stay down It should be a simple repair or if necessary bypass it. When I hold it down it works for voltage (and I assume current). The batteries for measuring resistance have of course disintegrated. One is just an ordinary U2 - the other is special but replacements are available.
One use of an analogue ohm-meter is to check capacitors. Connect one way and the needle should make a slight kick and drop back to zero. Connect the other way and the kick should be repeated. This won't work on a digital meter.
I do have an old analogue job but it won't zero any more so when I get the AVO fixed that will be retired.
05/08/2026 13:08:16 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
I would be Glyn but have a look at Chit-Chat. Due to "unforseen circumstances" I've had to remove the ability to upload images :(
Why do you want the old mulitimeter Ian? Nostalgia I presume.
05/08/2026 12:03:12 UTC
Glyn said :-
I used an Avo8 daily for at least 5 years back in the early 70’s. It was forcibly removed from me and replaced with a Fluke digital which I hated for a while. One of the plus’s of the Avo was the current measurement, even a 10Amp setting if I remember correctly. This was very useful then and would be so today.
The surgeon that repaired my finger may not have done me a favour, it’s been that painful since, I’ve often thought it would have been better to have removed the top. Are you ready for that picture of it now Ed?
903306...
05/08/2026 11:13:01 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Idly browsing my local auction house's offerings I came across a "vintage" Avo Mk 8 multimeter. I rmember using these nearly 60 years ago as an apprentice. A low bid secured it for just over £12. It doesn't work but I'm sure I can fix that. Or can I?
No pic (obviously) but here's the link.
https://www.lilybidsauctionhouse.com/catalogue/lot/482979564e1c213be831d1848eb58...
05/08/2026 09:53:30 UTC
nab301 said :-
Glyn , looking forward to seeing and hopefully hearing the fruits of your labours , will you be stripping the engine?
Nigel
26/06/2026 14:53:36 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Ooooh eeeee ouch! I'm glad you didn't post your gory sliced digit Glyn (Flyn). You can show us when it's healed a little and we can imagine the rest. As for the heat... Enough already but it won't be long until I'm griping about the rain/cold dagnammit. The nights are already drawing in.
26/06/2026 09:57:29 UTC
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Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Blimey! You're getting some miles done sir - I hope you're taking the time to see things inbetween big-ass mile munching. Anyhow the weather here is poop, stay on your trip I suspect it's better there.
16/09/2026 08:43:08 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
And Er'Indoors.
16/09/2026 06:35:35 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Austria came and went Ed, nice but not too much time there. Now in Cheiming, Germany, where we can still see Austria over the Cheimsee lake. Scorchio yesterday, blummin lovely.
On to Freudenstadt today after a hotel breakfast.
Upt.
16/09/2026 06:35:23 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Are you in Austria yet Upt?
15/09/2026 09:18:01 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Forgot to say Ed, had a real bargain today. All the FREE bread and fat I could eat with a burger. The fat tasted very piggy.
Upt and Er'Indoors.
12/09/2026 17:20:27 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Got to Preŝov in Slovakia. There's mountains here!
Two nights here before Austria calls.
Cold today at around 16, but dry thankfully.
Should warm up again tomorrow so a mountain ride will probably occur.
Beer time.
Upt and Er'Indoors.
12/09/2026 17:18:55 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
The only answer is of course to stop eating biscuits and drinking tea. I'm sure Ren would give you a wide berth if you offered him a sprig of broccoli and a cup of matche (whatever that is). Sharon on the other hand.......
12/09/2026 15:25:57 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
That sounds about right Occasional Lurker. So Sharon and I have been sighted in public? This is a clear lapse in our security protocols and part of the risks involved with daytime travel. Fortunately we were en route back to the safety and sanctuary of Fort BAT so we're safe for now.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention Occasional Lurker, we will review our protocols. Oh? The reason for such intense subterfuge? If people know where we're headed they try to hide their biscuits... ROD...
12/09/2026 08:17:23 UTC
ROD¹ said :-
Are you sure?
That means he is heading in my direction.
I better hide the biscuits!!
11/09/2026 21:35:18 UTC
Occasional Lurker said :-
Not a topic usually brought up, but I think I may have "eyeballed" our leader one afternoon this week ... Or could I have been mistaken ..? Our Great Leader, is most certainly one who is .... distinctive.
'Twas just after 3-15 pm, I was returning from my weekly days work in the West Midlands ... M6 northbound, just passing junction 29, I spied two motorcycles on the southbound carriageway ... Ey-Up..!! That's Ren and Sharon, I thought ... Could I be mistaken..? Quick as a flash, I did a double-take, and checked out the lead bike, and saw what I reckon was the "dead-giveaway" ... A pair of hand-guards, each as big as an A4 clip-board ...
C'mon Ren ... Was it you and Sharon ..? Or was I seeing things ..? Regards, Tony
11/09/2026 21:07:52 UTC
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