Pimping our ride!

Fred is now sporting an enhanced arse, and we no longer have multiple pairs of boots getting in our way. We have bought a Fiamma Ultra-Box!
Well actually, this is Mk II.

Despite following all instructions on how to mount the damn thing onto the bike rack, our first attempt to get this box onto Fred was not successful – we had only drilled and bolted on the top bolts when a massive crack appeared in the bottom. We don't know why it cracked, but cracked it did and cracked it was and so back to the shop for a new one … Thankfully the shop assistant was as surprised as we were, and the exchange was no problem.
Having this space does make life in a van full of climbing gear much more manageable. We now know that a T4 is not that big, when you have a hobby like climbing in four seasons.

Leaving the Dam

The party was epic.

The packing is hell.

But tomorrow, we're on our way. Well - hopefully.

A United Kingdom Reconaissance

To celebrate the recent unemployment of Mark, we decided a brief sojourn to England and Wales (with the trad rack, of course!) was necessary.

Sadly, we didn't have much time - so it was merely a day or so, here and there, chasing the sunny weather so we could get out climbing as much as possible. Two days at Tremadog, then another two at Gogarth, before popping up and across to the Lakes and finally heading down to Stanage. All washed down with pints of bitter and fish and chips for tea!

A History Lesson

What the Lakes didn't offer in terms of great weather and dry rock. it made up for in abundance with history.

Seeing a plaque by the side of the narrow, winding road we were on, we pulled up to discover a Roman fort ...


Apparently this place used to be home for up to 500 soldiers, and had a granary, offices and a fancy home for the bigwigs. It was surrounded by a stone wall (with four gateways, and a tower on each corner), and just outside it - there was a bathhouse! Complete with sauna, too.

And then later in the day (after our soaking, as discussed in Optimism), we came across a variety of stone circles. Why did they need several of them, all so close to each other?!

Although she's posing here, Jen did let the team down, as she could not be convinced to dance around them naked.

Optimism

Def: Carrying two ropes and a full trad rack, with the aim of climbing at a crag 6km away with 600m in elevation to gain, when you're in the Lakes, the weather is "changeable" and it's already after lunch ...

Shortly after this photo was taken, the heavens opened and the wind became a gale. We were soon soaked.

The wind and rain didn't last long, but by the time it stopped, our desire to keep hiking uphill to find these climbs had somewhat diminished.

Lighthouse Arete

The view from the top

Rappelling down

First pitch, traversing out

Green but not slippery!

Up we come ...

A day at Holyhead Mountain

It had rained in the morning, so we decided against a sea cliff - and there was a crag on the nearby mountain with a selection of fun (and easily accessible and escapeable!) things to climb. This was the view - looking out over the ocean.

Jen is still learning to lead on trad (after how many years?!), but Mark had placed the gear on this route, so she lead it whilst placing a few more bits of her own. A little scary, but Jen got to the top in the end.

Jen then dramatically dropped the grade and lead another route ... placing the gear herself (and lots and lots of it - just for practice, of course!). No dramas there - maybe trad leading isn't as scary as she thought?

Evening was approaching, but there was time for one more ... Mark's lead this time. And a great route, too!

Just in time for sunset from the top.