At the fulcrum

The last full moon of our visit (and the night of the lunar eclipse too) persuaded us to head out to the Cabo St Anonio to watch it rise out of the Mediterranean. We were not disappointed, the sun sank slowly behind the Montgo lighting the clouds from below in a spectacular fashion. Exactly as the sun set, the moon appeared out of the haze hovering above the sea. A warm wind blew from the west and the whole experience had a magical feel about it. We popped over to the other side of the headland to take a few shots of Xabia as the lights came on all around the bay and the western sky still held the afterglow. By the time we got back to the car, the lighthouse's beam was tracking out an arc across the water, the moon hovered silver in a black sky and the sun had disappeared far below the horizon.

Old dog, new tricks

For years I have been meaning to have a look at the miles of impressive cliffs that run north from Moraira. Alan James sent me a chapter of the new Deep Water Soloing guide, and one of the cliffs is only 12 miles from where we are stopping it seemed like the time was right.
We tootled over to the urbanisation Cumbre de Sol then followed the road down to super-impressive Cala Moraig.
Poking around found a wonderland of deep water, steep rock and old fishermen's ladders and little concrete ledges. I spent a happy (gripping!) hour down near seal level. When I got back and checked the manuscript two of the routes I had done weren't even described - fame at last!

Guadalest and an Accidental Tourist

I have climbed at Guadalest a lot over the past 14 months - but this time Sherri wanted to show me the 'other-side' of the place. Two and half hours of wandering around the shops, cafes, museum, old houses, castle ramparts, the cemetery - and I have to admit it wasn't an unpleasant experience. It must have been an amazingly isolated place to live back in the days of horse drawn transport and I bet the 1644 earthquake rattled the windows, that was when the huge blocks we climb on the west side of town were formed.
Quite a spot and busy for the middle of the week in the middle of winter - I bet the hoards who are bussed in from Bendorm enjoy it! Oddly when you are climbing here there is no indication of the melee on the hill top!

Gone fishin'

Had another walk along the never ending beaches to the north of Denia, as exhilarating as ever, there was even a small surf up. We returned just in time to catch the fishing fleet arriving home so called in for a look. There was quite a buzz on the quay as the 20 or so boats arrived in quick succession, and we joined the milling crowd of people out get their tea and interested tourists. There were a few bigger fish amongst the catch, but they were few and far between, the vast majority would best be described as tiddlers - quite a sad sight really. Maybe the Mediterranean and the North Sea have already gone the same way, though I suppose that as long as a living can be scraped, they will keep going out.

Peace descends!

The crowds have gone, and we have slipped easily into a working regime (always keeping half an eye on RockTalk), interspersed with walks in the local area. Mind you Colin arrives back tomorrow!
Lovely warm days and cool nights - perfect!
Knocking Brimham into RockFax format has been interesting - but its getting there!

Older Timers

Dave Gregory arrived on time, as did the sunshine, Toixes West and East, as well as Font d'Axia, were the first three venues, pleasant routes (with one notable exception), a bit of checking and of course good company. Getting behind with the guidebook work but there will be time to catch up.
And its snowing in Sheffield!
Montesa was as good as ever, if a bit windy and busy, with it being the weekend. A bemused local came over to Dave and asked in Spanish - "How old are you?" to which he dutifully replied (also in Spanish) "I'm 72 - and have been clmbing since 1949" - the guy was well tickled!

Montesa and Toix

Last full day for Team UKC so we had a ride over to the great little crag at Montesa, as with the rest of the week, the weather was best described as mild (and a bit damp)! Not to be off-put we made the most of the gritty texture of the rock, and Alan cracked off the three driest routes including storming the classic of Sense titol 6c+. Myself and Mick dangled. Oddly there were no locals to be seen anywhere - and back in Denia the sun shone!
Sunday was 'airport-day' so the lads set off early to Toix East. A recent report of closed roads and rotted bolts proved
unfounded, so they did a quick three routes before the inevitable (!) rain started. They headed for the plane we returned home to sort the place out before the next arrival - Dave Gregory on Tuesday.