Been busy

Well it's been nearly 2 months since I wrote anything on here, but in my defense, I have been very busy, I spent most of July working in the Lake District. Lots of scrambling, navigation training, paddling on Windermere, climbing and abseiling. I even managed to get out for some personal climbing with friends at the Roaches (Staffordshire), Slipstones (Yorkshire) and in the Lakes too. I did manage to get up to Scafell Crag for the first time and solo the classic Botterill's Slab (VS). I'm now back in Cornwall and one of the first things I did was to go and jump in the ocean for a surf! Have been Coasteering today for Salt Air Adventures. Had a great time swimming, scrambling along/up cliffs and then jumping back into the sea from various heights. Summer is nice down this way, but the surf is generally weak/small. Went climbing too. Just a couple of hours at Roche Rock, which is a great little crag to stop off at if you are passing through. Unusal as there the remains of a chapel on top!

Evenings soloing

Nipped out in the sunshine this evening to try and find some of the climbs up at Butterhole, near Padstow. I've been searching for this crag, on and off, for a couple of years and tonight I hit the jackpot! A seam of pillow lava, just southwest of the entrance to the Camel Estuary sports some fab looking lines and some solid rock (almost unheard of in this part of Cornwall)! As time was getting on, I soloed up 'Little Robert', an absolutely brilliant VS, worth of 2 stars, at least! I'll be going back there soon to do some more!

More Crowd Control 7-9 June

Back at Adventure Okehampton for 3 days of kayaking and high roping. The kids loved it and many overcame their fear of water and heights. Also tried to get up to Blackchurch in North Devon one evening to do some personal climbing but it was raining hard when we pulled up in the car park. Oh well, maybe next time!

Out with the Girls 06 June

Had a fun day out with Fay and Karen of Salt Air Adventures, down at Carn Barra and Hella Point. The sun shone, tea was drunk and climbs were climbed! It wasn't work, just some mates hanging out and having a fun time, just how climbing should be!

Lizard Kings 05 June

Was invited by Dave Hope to help him with the Lizard section of the new climbing guide to West Cornwall. Dave's been doing lots of research and spending a lot of time down from his hometown of Bath to ensure he gets everything right. Its a complex area and very interesting geologically. His mate, Dave Issitt, came along too and before the end of the day, we had climbed 11 new routes graded Diff to E1! You'll have to wait for the guide to come out to get the details, and no, I'm not going to let on where the crag is, no matter how much you try and bribe me!

Early Morning Perfection 04 June

Up at 5 to surf at Crantock. Couldn't believe how sunny and warm it was at that time of day. Just me and my mate Jez catching glassy 2-3 footers. The wind had calmed down from the night before, making it a joy to surf. My arms were aching after the session the evening before and I missed the 'wave of the day' because of it. Doh! Note to self - get in the water more!

Surfs Up (again) 03 June

Jumped in the sea at Watergate Bay in the evening. There was a good swell creating 4-5 foot waves, but the wind was strong cross-shore making it lumpy. Still the sun was out, I was in a summer wetsuit, without booties and the after surf drinks at The Phoenix pub were great!