Summer's Almost Here

Two weeks ago it felt like spring was on the way, now it feels like summer is just around the corner. It has been a hot and sweaty fortnight, with a wind from the south, the odd thunderstorm (with very red and sandy rain) and an almost continuous cloud cap on Telendos, with the moisture squeezed out by the rising air providing for some great sunsets.

Left: Telendos with its cloud cap

Today the wind swung to the north, freshening things up beautifully - the Meltemi has arrived. The climbers have arrived too - in their hoards - with 100+ scooters today scattered along the road from Arhi to Arginonda.
Long time friend Tony Welsh (aka Welsh Tony) has had his 1st week on Kalymnos, suffice to say he is impressed with the island, the climbing, the weather, the locals - pretty much everything in fact - so no surprises there then!
80 routes so far, including quite a batch I haven't done before which is always good. Tuesday sees us heading back to the peace and quiet of the Ariège - via a night in the UK - the Stansted Radison and a bath - that will be novel!

Spring's Sprung

Three week in, 50 routes ticked, a couple of showery days - but as ever Kalymnos has been superb. We met up with long time mate Andy Nicholson (he was a lodger of mine a thousand years ago) and he dragged me up a few climbs I hadn't done before which was great.
As forecast the place has become pretty busy but hopefully by the weekend a lot of the 'tourists' (as we like to call them) will have had their Easter break and will be headed back north.

The Easter Celebrations in Pothia were spectacular and very noisy - we had to move away from the main 'dynamite throwing' area with ears ringing - crazy!
It has been very hot - 26C one day - but it is supposed to cool down over the next few days which would be great - having said that a bit of heat and humidity is probably good practice for Singapore and Darwin!

Back to Kalymnos - easy as pie!

We flew Carcassonne to Stansted (€20 each) - a night in the Raddison (posh!) then an evening flight from Stansted to Kos (£20 each).  That left us time for a beer in a bar in Mastichari before catching the late night ferry across to the island. Sitting outside on the upper deck was my (dopy) idea, the soaring starry sky was great but we arrived wind blasted and chilled; as ever it was great to be back. Spring is well established and at the moment things are pretty quiet. Doubtless the hoards will begin to arrive over the next 10 days - lets hope it doesn't get too busy.

Kalymnos Calling

100 days we have been in Ariège now - how time flies! It has been a much milder winter than last year with hardly any snow falling down at Chez Arran, which once again has proved a fantastically quiet place to spend time.
I have made huge progress with the next version on Eastern Grit which means I can ease back a bit and get some more climbing done.
I can almost feel the crinkly sharp Kalymnos limestone on my fingers, and the hot Greek sun on my back. Looking forward to sunsets on the terrace, Mythos and Metaxa in the bar - hooking up with old friends and easing back into island life.
The plan had been to return to the UK before we headed East, but Sherri found flights from Carcassonne to Stansted for €20 and Stansted to Kos for £20 - so one night in the UK (the Raddison!!) and onwards - can't wait!

Spring is Springing

Three quiet months since we rolled up to Chez Arran and suddenly there is a change in the air, the days are drawing out, the whole place has become busy (French Winter Holidays?) and suddenly it has turned warm sunny and dry - with a great forecast.

Photo right: a wander up a small hill behind Foix

Three weeks left - and then off to Kalymnos for a couple of months, looking forward to it already. We visited last spring, and it was great - warm, quiet and amazingly green. We are not too sure how we are going to get there - we have a flight booked from Stansted to Kos  (one of RyanAir's amazing £20 each deals) on April 1st, but whether we

go home 1st, or fly from here is still up for discussion.


Photo right: one more day on snow-shoes 

When the weather has been unsettled I have been proofing the new RockFax Peak Bouldering guide - it looks superb and big too at over 500 pages - I'll need to ensure that Peak Grit East 3 is up to the same standard - something to keep me occupied in Australia maybe?  :-)

A Flier

My father's 90th birthday and vague hope of getting some of the missing crag shots for Eastern Grit III persuaded us 'home' for a quick week - though I'm not sure Sherri was totally convinced. We said a sad farewell to the cats and just a few hours later were in a wet and cold Liverpool. Friday was a half-decent (for February) day so it was Curbar with Graham and Steve - in the event I got all the shots I wanted and we even got a couple of routes done. Saturday was an early start, a surprise for my parents (who thought we were in France) and a big get-together for the Craggs/Ramsey Clan and then onward to Sherri's mum in Saltburn for yet more food and more being talked at.
Sunday was back to Sheffield, a damp day so a chance for a bit of getting organised. The three days we had left, had a half-decent forecast and in the event I photographed some of Baslow and Gardoms, as well all of Chatsworth, Agden and Cratcliffe - turns out it was the driest spell for over two months.


Of course the big news is that we have booked flights to Singapore for June as part of planning a trip to Australia - only a 1st step as the whole idea is a bit scary/daunting - but all journeys have to start somewhere and just booking part of it gives us the option of changing our minds!

Winter Wanderings

Almost eight weeks have passed since we rolled up to Chez Arran in the wonderful Ariège, already the days are starting to lengthen and the 1st signs of Spring are on the way. We had our 1st visitors in the shape of long-time friends Steve and Sue Warwick. They were very pleased to leave the grotty weather of the UK (the wettest winter for centuries if the hype is to be believed) and do some snow-shoeing, climbing and walking in the mountains.

Top: Chouila snow-shoeing

Bottom: Mas d'Azil Cave

Before they arrived we visited the amazing Mas d'Azil cave to the north-east of Foix. The area has been inhabited for more than 30,000 years and the scale of the cave - with its road running right through it - is amazing.

I have cracked on with Eastern Grit 3 - looks like I might finish it several months early - so with that being the case, I'll be looking for a new project quite soon!