Wednesday 27 November 2013

Hanging Around

Two weeks since I blogged - where does the time go? Well; a bit of climbing, walking, chilling, working on Eastern Grit when it has been unsettled - which hasn't been very often - and generally taking it easy.
I had a day climbing with Claude Idoux who has put up over 350 routes on Kalymnos, an amazing tally really - especially when you consider the amount of work involved in cleaning the routes prior to bolting them.
Only about 10 days left now, then it will be a quick visit to the UK to load the car up, book a ferry and head off to the Ariège. Apparently they have already had a major snow fall there - they will certainly be different!

Tuesday 12 November 2013

Top of the Island

Two and a bit weeks in,  and we are pretty settled. We have had a couple of half-damp days, done 40+ routes and eased back into Island Life. The majority of the climbers have left now - I guess there maybe around 50 left, and Babis Bar has gone very 'quiet' as we are the only residents now. Evenings usually revolve around a  beer in the bar and a bit of wifi with Babis, tonight there are a just a couple of locals and a very loud TV showing some ancient and very shouty Greek film - they appear to find it funny!
Two days ago was clear and cool so we did something we have been meaning to do for years, has  a walk up to the highest point on the island - Prophitis Elias - a pleasant walk and a fantastic 360 degree viewpoint.
Tomorrow Babis has invited us for an afternoon lunch of salad, fresh fish, calamares and retsina - that's one reason why we come in the winter. Might try and get a few route in 1st though!

And it Continues

Exploring the coast north of Altea February in the Costa Blanca Three weeks on and we are still seeing slow improvements in my stamina, bala...