Bootiful Burgundy

Classic climbing at Remigny.

Our path northwards towards the UK passed Colin's as he headed south to Spain so we decided to hook up for a week in Burgundy.
With it being July it was as hot as expected but we managed to climb every day bar one - we had the Sunday that was Bastille Day off just to stay away from busy roads and crowded cliffs.
We called into the area back in December when it cold (-4C) and foggy - this time it was a lot better. Thirty one routes, four new cliffs and everywhere pretty quite.
Tomorrow we head for Zeebrugge and the ferry to Hull whilst Colin is away into the hots lands of northern Spain.

Butterflies in Burgundy

It will be eleven months less one day since we left when we arrive back in Hull. Once home we will allow ourselves a month to get the multitudinous list of jobs out of the way - and then I think we will do it all over again.

Weaving a Way North

Warming up near Bourg Saint Maurice

I had to check the diary - almost five weeks since we left Chez Arran and we have had a pleasant perambulation though destinations old and new.
We started in Orpierre which was nice and quiet for a change, then onwards to Briançon. After 10 days there we move over the Maurienne valley for a week or so. Another set of passes got us to Bourg Saint Maurice and a new set of cliffs to go at.
Currently we are in another new area - the Bauge mountains in the grip of a heatwave, 32C today made the climbing hard work. 

Apprentice Grimpeurs 2 (5c) - Falaise de Croe

Three weeks left before we have to catch the ferry, should be able to squeeze in a few more venues. We are meeting Colin for a week south of Dijon - that will doubtless be hard work - but the usual fun.
After that it is back to Blighty to get all the usual jobs done - the dentists and the opticians are already booked!

Homeward Bound - Slowly.

The campsite at Orpierre - surrounded by cliffs

Almost a month since I last blogged - we have been on the move is my only excuse. Marmaris, Kalymnos, Manchester, Ariege, Orpierre and now Briançon - no wonder I occasionally get confused as to where we are when I wake up in the morning.
We have 10 days in Briançon then a week in the Maurienne, and after that, a blank slate with a rough plan to be back in the UK by mid-July, just before the schools break up and everywhere starts getting busy. The aim there is to get trained up in drone flying, and to help Alan (James) with the next Peak Limestone guidebook.

Turkey Time

Amphitheatre at Aphrodisias

Sunset near Ephesus

After continuous climbing for two and a half weeks with Colin the Peleponnes and another then another 10 days on Kalymnos I felt a bit 'climbed out' so we decided to visit Turkey on the way to Sherri's mums in Marmaris and on the way back to collect the car in France.

Crowds at Pamukkale

Poppies and mountains

Touristing isn't something we do much of but we thought we would try a few of the famous sites of 'Asia Minor'. In the event it was an interesting experience but not one we will be rushing to repeat. The places and spectacular and thought provoking but two of the sites - the Roman remains Ephesus, and the Travertine springs at Pamukkale were packed with almost unimaginable number of tourists pouring through all day long. The exception was the magnificent Aphodisias - a huge site of spectacular remains and completely deserted - touristing for agoraphobics!

Deep South

The highest peak in the Peleponnes - Mt Taygetus 8778'

After the success of the autumn trip to mainland Greece we decided to do something similar only heading down into the Peleponnes rather than northwards and make the trip a little longer so we weren't under any pressure of time.
Apart from one wet and windy day that affected the whole of Greece conditions have been superb, warm days, cool nights and the fresh greens of spring everywhere. As last year the crags have been high quality with great climbs and apart from a Sunday when there were a couple of teams at Solomos we haven't seen another climber anywhere.

Day Four or was it Five - a tough 6a at Nedousa

The accommodation has been varied and interesting, from posh apartments to old renovated seaside cottages and, as ever, the locals are super friendly and so keen to please.

Day One: Solomos above the olive groves

 The scenery has been stunning throughout, high snowy peaks, deep wooded valleys with tumbing streams and golden beaches stretching off into the distant blue. Plus there is the awesome sense of history stretching back at least 5000 years - in some senses this where it all began.

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.