Swooping Through

Sherri above Ax-les-Thermes

The Blanca was great, Spain has developed a lot over the 30+ years that we have been visiting. We had a productive five weeks in the area, briefly meeting up the a big UKC/Rockfax team who were out for 'jolly' and who well impressed with the weather and the climbing available. Then we returned to the Ariege via very pleasant stop over at the Ebro Delta for a bit of birding. Glossy Ibis and Crested Lark were two new ticks for me - always nice to catch something you have never seen before.

Back to the glorious granite of Auzat.

Then it was back to Chez Arran for a short (9 day) break in the snowy Pyrenees for the usual easy going mix of climbing, hiking and chilling. Next it is back on the road - Greece here we come. Last autumn's tour of the Mainland was so good we have decided to do something similar again. Colin is flying into Athens for two and a half weeks - no fixed plans, lets see where the mood takes us.

Spring in Spain and memories of Dave Gregory

Spain - Spring - Sweet

It is time to start thinking about the Costa Blanca guidebook rewrite even though it is at least a couple of years away so we packed up at Chez Arran, said goodbye to the cats and headed south. We stopped at Castelleon la Plana on the way down for a few days - a pleasant part of the world but very windy for much of the time.
It is seven long years since we have been in the Costa Blanca and being back has been great - 10 days so far and has been exceptional, especially notable has been the fantastic weather.
There are lots of climbers around and plenty of copies of the current book on view - an update is going to be a massive task which is why we have started early.

Sherri and the mighty Penōn

Back in the UK Dave Gregory's family had a wake for him after his death last month - there was no funeral as he donated his body to medical research. Apparently it was  a very moving occasion with over 200 folks turning up to celebrate his life. We would have like to be there but Dave would have understood - there are rocks to climb and books to write.
Rest easy old fellow, it was a privilege to share a rope with you over so many years and on so many great routes.

In seach of the Sun

Plateau de Beille - magical

Our six weeks at Chez Arran have passed a pleasantly as ever, though for the past couple of weeks the weather has been about as unsettled as we have ever known it with a lot of snow, rain and cloud. Colin called in for a week on his way back to the UK, and in the event we only got one day's climbing in which was a disappointment. We kept busy with hiking, caving, snowshoeing etc but I missed the chance for him to tow me up a few good routes.

The forecast remain very unsettled so we have made a decision to bring out trip down to the Costa Blanca forward a couple of weeks. There is so much snow in the mountains we are probably going to have to go 'the long way round' but needs must.

2019 INCOMING

2018 gone, 2019 just over the horizon, lets hope it is another one filled with travel, climbing, good friends, sunshine and adventures. Best wishes to friends far and wide and anyone who has bought one of my books this year - we couldn't do it without you.

Greece to France (via the UK)

Don't go - stay with us- pleeease

We sent Colin heading back to Manchester and nearly flew back into Kalymnos. In the event the plane turned back just short and several hours later we arrive in Kos courtesy of a rescheduled Sky Express flight and via two visits to their Executive Lounge.
We had another two weeks in Kaly, everything was very quiet - the weather was less good than we have come to expect down the years - though MUCH better than the UK. We climbed, wandered, socialised and looked after a host of cats - times are getting harder for them now all the tourists have left.
Then it was time to head back to the UK, in four days we picked up the car, now fixed, visited my mother, had a day at the climbing wall, packed the car and made it to Hull for the evening ferry.

Belle Burgundy

The crossing was a bit 'lumpy' as the Captain called it (Beaufort Severe Gale Force 9) then headed to Burgundy for a look at an area I have never climbed - the event the weather has been a bit crap - I know it is December but really!
Ariege next with plans to head down to the Costa Blanca to start a rewrite on my best selling guidebook to the area - no rest for the busy!

Greece - off the Beaten Track

Varasova - seaside fun

Don't get me wrong, I love Kalymnos, but it does get a bit busy (OK very busy) at times. Last year we decided to escape to Leonidio in the peak late October season - and it turned out that was just as bad with 50 cars parked under Mad Rock some days - bah, humbug!

Fyrgani - Day 1, Crag 1

So this year I thought we could try something a little different, I picked five crags with a selection of easier routes in central and northern Greece, Colin flew into Athens for a fortnight, and off we headed in search of quiet cliffs and new adventures.

Meteora - pebble-tastic

Frygani, Kalogria, Varasova, Mytikas and Meteora? I'm guessing that like me you have never heard of them, well except for the last in the list, which is well known as a UNESCO world heritage site.
12 days and around 50 routes later I can report that there are great cliffs in Greece where you won't see another climber, let alone have to queue to get on your chosen route. Accommodation was sorted through Booking.com and AirBnB and in most cases was inexpensive and close to the climbing.
Frygani is a conglomerate crag 30 miles west of Corinth, east facing with 40 routes and five minutes from the road. It has huge potential for new routes.
Kalogria is a set of cliffs above a big lagoon which is an internationally important bird reserve. 100+ routes across a variety of cliffs. Mozzies can be a problem because of the lagoon but there is some great climbing on offer.

Mytikas - peaceful perfection

Varasova is an old school venue, much used by Athens climbers over the years. Right by the sea, and a selection of restaurants there are 90 routes to go at, from short and sharp right up to 18 pitches.
Mytikas - and idyllic crag with 30 routes, only seconds from the road. It overlooks the bay and town of the same name and gets afternoon shade.
Meteora - a huge and fascinating area with who knows how many routes. There are single and muti-pitch on a host of towers and the bolting can be a little (or very) spaced, especially on the the older routes. The rock is a very solid conglomerate, billions of rounded pebbles from acorn-sized to huge - bring your stiff boots.

Greece - Islands and Mainlands

A private Boeing 737 - that will do nicely

 Autumn well under way so it must be time to head east - Kalymnos Calling. To be totally honest I wasn't 100% keen on going because of the ill will our new book had apparently generated in a few disgruntled souls. But Sherri wanted to see her cats and we both wanted to see out long-term Greek friends so we booked flights from Carcassonne to Stansted to Kos. The second leg was with Jet2 and we had the plane to ourselves which was a novel experience. It was headed down to bring the package holiday people home so would be full on the return journey.

Pocket Wall - form an orderly queue

Kalmnos was very busy, especially considering it is late October - possibly the busiest season ever according to sources on the island - may the new book had a positive effect after all.

Our personal tax-boat on the way

As ever we cast around to find quiet crags, there is nearly always somewhere available. Christian Lemrich's new crag at Palinisos fitted the bill perfectly - reached by a 5 minute boat ride, north-facing and 14 routes from 5a to 5c, up to 30m long and like the plane, we had it to ourselves.
At the weekend we fly up to Athens to meet Colin for a couple of weeks exploring some of the Mainland crags in the centre and the north of the country, hopefully including the mythical Meteora - looking forward to it a lot.