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Travel Stories5 Fools In South West Scotland
5 Fools For Kilmarnock - Prologue
Build Up Date - 7 months leading up to 7 June 2025
By Ren Withnell
I must admit I have my concerns.
This trip features the same bunch of pals who brought you "Northern Ireland Under Grey Skies", "Downtime In Devon", and "Scotland, And A Little Rain". They're a good bunch and we're all reaching that age where our delicate egos are softening. We're more inclined to seek laughter and conversation rather than drunken fights, we prefer a nice meal rather than a night club. Gaining age is not without its issues but there are good things too.
We are no longer scary yoofs, more like bumbling buffoons.
My concern is that 7 nights in Ayrshire might be too many. Not too many nights with our friends, rather 7 nights in one location may mean we'll see all we want to see in a few days and then be struggling to find things to do and places to go. However the accommodation Sharon has found only offers 7 nights.
All but Mark would go camping but alas Mark's deteriorating health (the downside of aging) means camping more than one night is totally off the cards. It actually seems more and more likely Mark might lose his licence sooner or later and it would be most cruel to exclude Mark now due to his health. As such we need at least a proper bed and Sharon has found what appears to be a lovely Bungalow just west of Kilmarnock. It ain't cheap, but between the 5 of us (there may be more we'll have to wait and see) it's more than affordable.
Mark and I camped up to Ullapool once (Ullapool ABR Rally 2015)
Seven nights? Well I guess we could ride south to The Galloway Forest Park, there are some fantastic roads through there. Perhaps get across to Arran? Hopefully there's something interesting at The Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park? Hmmmm. I'm struggling here. I'd have said 3-4 nights in Ayrshire and maybe 3-4 nights in The Borders or Northumbria. We do consider our options but things get real complicated real quick. I'm glad we settled on Ayrshire because anything is better than confusion, or nothing.
I peruse the maps, I pin various cafes, castles, interesting roads and anything else we could use as an excuse to ride there. I look at ferries to Arron, even that's complex as Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) have screwed up their ship repairs/replacements for this route. They seem quite good at screwing things up at the moment and there's NO competition to force their hand. Hmmmm - I have my concerns.
On a more positive note... Sharon's bike is OK - the Z500 only has about 1500 miles on it so it's fine. My bike's brakes have been giving me grief but presently they are functional. Heck - even the tyres are good for the ride much to my surprise. There's a catch, there's got to be a catch, there's always a catch. Surely.
Even Sharon's luggage is FINALLY functional.
Of course there is a catch. The blummin' forecast is horrible. Oh - so we've had the driest May on record? Global warming? Crops failing? The Apocalypse is upon us surely. Nope - just get a handful of riders all looking forward to a week's riding and sure enough your local friendly neighbourhood weatherfolk will warn you of floods and bad driving conditions. Great. 7 days sat in a nice bungalow staring at the rain, only venturing out for food. Maybe at the ripe old age of 53 I should take up drinking alcohol and looking for fights.
Of course there is another catch. It's Friday, the last day of work before we set off tomorrow and Sharon messages me. She's gotten a sore leg. It could, possibly, maybe, perhaps be a blood clot. Oh FFS!!! I can see us not going. I'm gutted. I, we have been looking forward to this FOR AGES and now we're not going to make it. Please insert a list of suitable expletives to express extreme frustration and disappointment.
We know how much Sharon LOVES the rain!
"Go to the pharmacist" Yeah like they can help. They can't, obviously. "Go to the Walk In". They can do a D-Dimer test which comes back negative which is good. But because it's negative they can't do an ultrasound scan to CONFIRM for sure there's no clot. "Go to A&E, minimum 48hr wait for ultrasound". Stuff that, we're going on holiday. Sharon's words, not mine.
Good. Well, as long as she doesn't die while we're away. There's a hospital with A&E just 2.1 miles from the bungalow, I plan to run her up there by throwing her over the back seat dead cowboy style if she takes a turn for the worse. If the rain is really bad and she starts moaning too much I might run her to A&E her even if she's fine. Right, finish your packing Ren, Sharon's place tonight for tomorrow WE RIDE!
By Sharon Parker
I am so looking forward to Scotland. Do you know I adore Scotland, of course you do I am always saying it. I always need my holidays, a break from routine and work. A time that is just about enjoying life and as on this trip sometimes also spending time with friends.
Look! See! Scotland!!
I have had the usual stresses in my life. My sister is currently battling pancreatic cancer and it's affected me deeply. I am so sad seeing her struggling and I don't want to lose her. She is my only link to my childhood, I have no other siblings, no surviving parents. My mum died of lung cancer at 59 after being diagnosed at 56. My sister is 58, I am 55. You know where I am going with this, I am acutely aware of my own mortality.
My eldest daughter recently gave birth to her son, that event, though now joyous, almost cost her her life. She went into major organ failure and it was touch and go for 48 hours if she would survive and then another week in a high dependency unit with uncertainty how well her organs would recover.
Lovely Luke, our new addition to the family
Add in my recent motorcycle accident and I know all too well that life is fragile. I could spiral into despair, I do have moments, or I can take all this as a reminder to be as happy as you can in the time that is afforded to you.
I have had some counselling sessions that has helped with my feelings of guilt and helpless of not being able to control life and save my sister from all that is happening to her. But I am now more aware due to the counselling that I myself am allowed to take time just for me. To better balance the needs of others with my own needs. It is ok to go on holiday and enjoy myself, to be happy and live, love and laugh even if someone you love dearly is struggling.
I packed for this trip a week early. I'm usually the night before kind of girl but I wanted to be sure everything would fit on the bike as this will be it's first test as a tourer. Although we are booked into a bungalow we are taking the camping equipment in case we decide to do a night away on one of the islands.
All ready and checked in good time.
Sadly the two other ladies who were supposed to be coming on this trip have both picked up last minutes injuries and will not now be coming along. This is a disappointment as I was looking forward to some girly companionship. So I guess I will have to put up with all the boy jokes by myself then.
Ren has already explained about the possible blood clot in my leg. I think I was more worried than usual because my sister and my daughter both recently had clots and the sudden bruise with no known knock and then the sudden pain so severe I couldn't put weight on my leg without feeling sick did get me concerned enough to go and try to get checked out.
However I was damned if I was going to miss the trip and stay at home waiting for a scan. I took some aspirin and just hoped for the best. The pain had eased and besides if it got worse maybe Scotland's A&E department are not as overloaded as England's. Hopefully I don't get to find out but it was kind of reassuring to know Ren had checked out the nearest one to the bungalow.
I am so ready for this trip, I can even hear those wild haggis calling me home.
Advertise here - contact ren@bikesandtravels.com
5 Fools For Kilmarnock - Prologue
The tales of mishap and trepidation leading up to this adventure is not for the faint hearted. Gird your loins we're only at the planning stage so far...
Reader's Comments
Upt'North ¹ said :-
SW wee bonny McJockland. Gotta love it.
Which reminds me....why haven't we blummin been lately.
Nice pictures please.
Upt and Er'Indoors.
25/06/2025 23:16:28 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
"Upt and Er'Indoors." - are you telling me Er'Indoors is a reader of this 'ere digital website? I am struggling to imagine her excitedly awaiting an update from Glyn regarding the TZR250 or being thrilled to learn about how bad motorcycle brakes are.
We might possibly have a few nice images for you (both?). We might also have endured a total washout and spent the entire week inside the bungalow. You'll just have to wait and see. How'd you keep an idiot in suspense? I'll tell ya laters.
26/06/2025 07:54:58 UTC
Upt'North ¹ said :-
I resemble that remark!
26/06/2025 09:40:36 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
Can we take the suspense? Here's hoping Sharon's leg improves and you don't spend your week in the local A&E.
26/06/2025 11:50:16 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Well I will spoil one thing - Sharon does make it through alive... as you can probably tell.
26/06/2025 20:01:00 UTC
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Travel Stories5 Fools In South West Scotland