50 Not Out

Almost another week rolls buy, the cliffs are still busy and the weather is still sunny. We have had one 10 minute shower (it didn't half come down - the early scooterists got well wetted) and it has been windy on and off, but I have climbed almost every day.

Two days ago we had a rest and visited 'Nicholas the Sponge Diver' and had a drink at his 'paradise taverna' on the remote north east coast of Kalymnos; Turkey looked no distance away at all across the water.

Yesterday we visited Dolphin Bay, a beside-the-seaside crag with a great ambience. We bumped into the FRCC contingent yet again (not sure who is following who) and the whole atmosphere was very convivial. They are all off home in two days - when we said we had over two weeks left mutterings of 'jammy beggars' were heard! Then it was back to Kastelli - uncharacturistically deserted this time to knock of five more routes to bring up my tally so far to 50!

Rock On Tommy!

A few of days later and we have the car (a bright yellow Fiat) and I have done a bit of climbing, 18 routes so far up to 6a. A quick storm has freshened things up nicely so climbing in the sun is a pleasure rather then a chore.

First thoughts, grades a bit soft and quality ratings a bit generous, we will soon see if they are representative - still a great spot though!

It has been real treat, can't remember that last time I went on a pure climbing holiday - and wasn't scurrying around checking stuff.

Today is Sherri's birthday so we went snorking, a novel experience and all a bit spooky, not sure what's lurking down there!

Kalymnos

Well that was easy! The flight only took just over 3.5 hours, a brisk tail-wind meant we were covering the ground at at over 600 mph. Two taxi-rides and ferry and were were there. A meal and a beer on the terrace overlooking the Agean (Greek Salad, Moussaka and Dolmades) and it really felt like we had arrived.

Next morning we took a walk out to the headland to the north just to get a look at the area.

First thoughts:

1) Hot - a shade temperature of 28 C is to hot to climb - for me at least!

2) Busy - the crags look like they are heaving - I counted 50+ climbers on up on Oddessy

3) Scruffy - the amount of litter scattered in the hedgerows looks like Spain did 20 years ago.

4) Very friendly locals.

5) Lovely unspoiled spot (always excepting the litter!).

The scooter culture looks a bit dodgy - we might hire a car instead!

Brrrrmmmm brrrmmmm

We were travelling back home from Ariege on the day of my birthday, Sherri gave me my present - but the bag seemed rather small! In fact it contained a Subaru World Rally team cap - and a voucher for driving an Ariel Atom at Elvinton air base near York.
Suffice to say the expereince was both breathtaking and exhausting! The cockpit was a tight fit for a 6' 3" hulk and apparently the pedals are set for size 8 feet. That is my excuse for over-cooking a couple of the bends and flattening several of the marker cones!

Later I did some extra laps in an Impreza STI - though a lot less of a beast than the Atom it was also a lot more driveable. On my final lap I overtook two Lamborghinis and a Ferrari - Italian supercars - pah!

What a Difference a Week Makes!

What a pleasant week - and that makes a change. We have done some climbing, both granite and limestone, some hill-walking (up to '5550) and a enjoyed a bit of down-time in the sun. 

It sounds like it has been OK in the UK too, but at least being over here in the Pyrenees has given me a good reason for not going up Kinder again!

Mind you, we'll be back home on Wednesday - a week to unpack, launder, repack and then head for Kalymnos - that should be somewhere a little different - can't wait! Oh - and I might have to nip up the big 'K' in the mean time!

That's Better!

Six hours from home to Ariege where it was cool and cloudy, so not that different from home really - hey ho! We checked in at Graham and Christine's place, and had a walk round the neighbourhood to shake out the Kinder cramps and collect some berries for breakfast - all very rural!

Monday was better though, sunshine, blue skies and off to the gorgeous granite at Auzat, a great change from grizzly, drizzly Peak gritstone. 

The crag was nice and quiet so myself and Graham did five routes that I hadn't done before doing a bit of exploration/checking up and down the valley. Then it was shopping and home for tea - a great start!

Enough is enough!

Attempting to get the last few crag shots for Western Grit has become a bit off a war of attrition and the weather has finally won. It is the first summer we have spent in the UK for 20 years and I am not sure we will be doing it again! We have made steady progress by picking our days carefully, but the weather has turned from unsettled to just plain crap! The final straw was driving over to Hayfield on the promise of a better day, and sitting the car, in the rain, for 30 minutes before we turned round and came back home. It is less than a month till we go to Kalymnos, but we have decided to nip out to Ariege for 10 days - we need some sunshine!