Climbing hopes gone..

Well after training indoors on the plastic I finally got to feed the rat as it was..

I hired a car got hold of some gear and Jose and me headed to the Grampians..
We were psyched for some proper climbing.. we had a full rack some hangers. Two ropes.

It was hot. Its been a heatwave but after China we were sure we could cope with the heat and find somewhare in the shade to climb..

We arrived in the Grampians on wednesday night and got to Mt Stapylton campsite where we had been advised their were some good areas with quality sports and trad routes so we could ease back into being on the sharp end again..

It was still baking as the sun was setting and while pitching the tent and sorting out gear we got a bit of information from a few other climbers at the site before scouting out the path to our chosen crag..Sentinel Cave.
The topo looked awsome. It painted a picture of steep overhung jug pulling on solid sandstone and friendly bolts.. non of this having to place hangers then draws.. we were in for a real treat..

The next day after an early breakfast we set off to the chorus of a low buzzing...
the sound got louder as the 15-20 minute walk in continued and reached fever pich as we passed / climbed over a wasps nest on route to the crag... still not deterred and happy to find the crag in the morning shade we put down our sacks and started to stare in wonder at the routes..

Then it all went wrong.. a swarm of flys decended upon us and the relentless onslagught of these pestilent creatures drove us insane.. we used every trick at our disposal.. even the breeze did nothing to restrain them and killing them by the dozen's made no impact on the overwhelming numbers of our tenacious foe.

With no options remaining we fled to the car, packed up and retreated to Arapiles but to our dismay this was subject to the full force of the sun and the flys were still in defense of the crag repelling all would be suitors of these magnificent and stunning walls of now polished rock.

Why no mention of this fiendish foe was fortold or advised in the guide we can only guess.. but its just not cricket.

After our failure on rock we salvaged what we could and ran to the cost in search of waves and salvation from the days woes. Despite not finding the free campsite we sorted suitable accomodation and food, and enjoyed a session of surfing on friday morning before a drive back to Melbourn and a 3.5hr session of climbing at cliffhanger, the indoor wall.

My arms are spent. I'm sun burnt again.. and I still have no job.. but the idea of becoming a surf bum is formulating in the back of my mind.. at least until it becomes cold enough to drive the defending flys away, so as battle can be done upon the rock of Victoria..

Year of the Ox

Well we are no into the year of the Ox.

I have settled into a form of normality and am just coming to the end of two months work with PWC. Hopefully I find another contract soon so as I’m not out of work too long and can try to save some money..

I went away over the weekend 24-25 Jan. no not to the rock but to the beach for a spot of surfing which was refreshing and enjoyable given the recent heat, and with the mercury hovering around 40 degrees of late it promises to make this coming weekend a sizzler as well.

Unfortunately Maria.. (the friend who I went surfing with) ended up falling over and making a mess of her self so the weekend was cut short a bit and a return to work following the bank holiday Monday has been welcomed due to the wonderful delights of air con…

I have also bumped into someone who I knew when back in china.. Jose Molina who has access to a car so with luck I can start to get out on the rock and see just how weak I have become after two months of work... although I hope the frequent trips to the climbing wall and cycling around has prevented a total deterioration.

I have also booked my flights back to the UK.. I have a ticket getting me into Manchester on the 28th of April so now I just need a couple more month of work to keep the coffers from running dry and enable me to enjoy life in the sun before my return to the UK.

Will see you all in the summer.