At last, something more exciting than pictures of leafs...

Bad weather's somewhat stopped play recently as far a outdoor climbing's concerned- it's been too damp- and I mean that- not neccesarily raining, but too much moisture about. So though the climbing wall's lot's of social fun- and it's even possible to enjoy the climbing, it's not as photogenic, or inspirational. So we climbed Saturday indoors (yet again), but plans were made to try the new trails at Llandegla (our local bike trails about 10 min drive from here). The weather on Sunday was perfect- blue skies and sunshine- no wind to speak of- so after some faffing about on my part (damaged finger putting me off parting in painful activities- sorry Erklinds), I decided to stop being a wuss, and get out there and catch Lee at the start of the trail, as he set off with a colleague from work. I'm so glad I got out- the new trails are brilliant- fast flowing singletrack- mountain biker heaven. Here's a taste of what they're like (and no- I don't get quite that much air on my jumps ;¬)

Chester....

Is where I work on Mondays and Tuesdays- it's an unusually attractive British City, with a medieval bridge and wier, Roman walls and amphitheatre, and the usual mix of early timber framed buildings, right through to Georgian, Victorian, and even some modern architecture.

Sculpture commissioned in 1992

Autumn colours

914, eat, drink, sleep, drive....

Great footage of a 914 belting 'round Laguna Seca in the States- watch out for the corkscrew corner.. Overtakes Lotus Elise, M3 Beemer, S2000 Honda, Ferrari, I loose track! Flat 6 motor wailing within an inch of it's life. For petrolheads only - automotive heaven:



I want a bigger engine and uprated suspension- NOW!

Sunday

couldn't have been more different. A day at the local sport crag Dinbren. Lee got onto his 8a project Elite Syncopations. He's been working this route for..... well, quite a while- but Sunday saw the best progress he's ever made- and I caught it on camera :¬)



My day was spent in the same place, but mainly in the company of my Spanish friends- David, Olga and Ricard. Our day revolved around working Climb High my 1st hard route (7a) from earlier this year, and my current project Technicolour Yawn (7a+). Though only a grade harder than Climb High, it's a completely different route: steep and powerful- not my style at all. So for me it's a real epic climb, right on the edge of what I can do. When I 1st tried it, I couldn't manage more than 1 move at a time, and only on a top rope. Today saw me lead it for the 1st time with a rest in the middle, and then my 1st ground to top clean ascent on a top rope. My red point attempt is nearly there. ( the video is longer, and less exciting than the one above I'm afraid- and no, I shouldn't have worn grey)



We finished the day with delicious pints and food at The Rose and Crown- really social- perfect :¬)

GOGARTH

is the name of one of the best known sea cliffs in the UK- it has quite a reputation- very big, very serious routes. It's trad- so no comfort of bolts- just a precarious abseil down to the crashing waves, and then the climb back up. Very commiting. The weather was perfect- blue skies and sunshine were not deemed serious enough- so brooding clouds and churning black water were served up. Some of the best climbing since my trip to Cornwall- the whole experience totally vivid. Days like this make you feel utterly alive.

View from the top of the cliff on the tip of Anglesy towards the Llyn peninsula

How's that for a way to start the climb?

End of the first pitch- half way up - Lee sits comfortably on the edge of a 100ft drop.

This shot's not faked- I am 180ft up a cliff standing on ledge the depth of a matchbox.

Just in case it wasn't feeling serious enough- there was a rescue of a canoeist about 6oo metres away.

After the climb we mooched around the corner to the main cliff- it made ours look quite small...

Go on, enlarge the photo and see if you can spot the climbers that Lee's pointing at...

Driving home in the RS4

last week

Sarah trims Hector- I saw him on my 1st day out with Sarah a year ago. That 1st visit he was going to be shot, as he was so lame and in so much pain- conventional shoeing had no more options left. He's been barefoot since that day. Now he's returned to his hunting yard, and has gone hunting this weekend- it's experiences like these that give me total belief in the practise of barefoot trimming.