Roll Round the Years

 

Another year rolls around and we find ourselves back in the the Ariège  - after a busy 12 months visiting a variety of destinations including, Western Scotland, Chamonix, Kalymnos, Sicily, Locarno and of course the French Pyrenees as well as finding time to rephotographing much of Peak Gritstone. My main aim for the winter is to get Eastern Grit into a suitable shape for publication towards the end of 2014 - I could have done it back in Sheffield but it much pleasant being based in the mountains.

Season Greetings and all the best for next year to anyone who has visited my blog or bought one of my books in the past 12 months.

Island Getaway

Six weeks gone in the blink of an eye.
We decided to get across to Kos a day early as the forecast is for gales tomorrow - judging by the way the shutters are banging and booming now, it was a good call.

Left: That's the fabled Kalymnos over there

The crossing was bumpy - the travel sickness pills did the trick - then we went for an exhilarating beach walk and had a meal in a deserted harbour front taverna - traveling out of season has some great perks.
The UK air traffic control system has been bust today - that, and a very short transfer at Athens might snafu our onward travel plans - lets see how far we get.
We hope to be in Ariège in a week's time - maybe, maybe not?

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!

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!

There and Back - Kalytastic

We are back again and it was as easy as ever. Train to Manchester (£7) and 3.45hr flight to Kos, we booked into a small guesthouse at Mastichari. A beer at a beachfront bar sorted us out as the lights from Kalymnos glittered across the water.
Sunday we got the 11:00 ferry, collected the hire-car, booked into Babi Bar and popped out for a quick five routes.

We usually arrive around the start of October, but it normally hot and busy so we decided to leave it until the end of the month this year, especially with the Climbing Festival organised for the busiest week of the year. It turned out to be a good call and already the place is cooling down and emptying on a daily basis. Some of the shops/bars in Masouri have already closed as the season draws to a close.

The climbing is as good as ever of course - a gentle start is needed, to grow some finger skin and get fit - a steady 30 routes so far up to 6b has started the ball rolling nicely!

Mountain High

 The flights down cost £14:95 each - it would have been rude not to! Ariège has been the same as ever; peaceful and with great weather. I know we are never here in the high season, but the tranquility of the place is always quite remarkable.
We had one cold wet evening which dumped snow on the higher hills so we had a plodge around the Plateau de Beille before it all melted away. There will be loads more where that came from once we are back here at Christmas time.

Left: Autumn Crocus at the Col de Agnes- 5200'

We had news that the Ariège guide won a "Highly Commended" at the Outdoor Writers and Photographers annual bash - recognition is always nice.
The climbing has been excellent, everything is very dry and in good condition. I had a hope of getting up on the Dent d'Orlu and doing one of the longer routes there but Colin is still hors de combat - maybe next time?


Right: Plateau de Beille- 6500'

One more day then a quick visit back to the UK to repack before heading for our Autumn Break in Kalymnos. We will be arriving about 4 weeks late than normal; Octobers have always proved hot and crowded and with the Festival this year sounds worse than normal. Hopefully by next week they will all have gone home!

Say Hello - Wave Goodbye

Chamonix was great, and the journey home was very steady, the Zeebrugge to Hull crossing was calm and another complimentary upgrade came our way - which made it all the sweeter.

Then it was four days in the UK and off again. There was the usual rush round to do jobs, pay bills, sort stuff, see friends, pack the bags, book hotels, car-hire etc - and away.

Left: White Cat saying "Can I be your friend, please?" ("of course" is the answer)

A couple of days on the grit were as pleasant as ever, good company, great routes and even feeling like I was climbing moderately well - the 70+ last month in France/Switzerland must have done the trick.

So it is off the Ariége for 10 days, then home for a week then back to Kalymnos for the rest of the autumn.

Cats are waiting and they won't wait for ever!