Time to relax

Steve happy to finally get on the water at the beginning! of Saturday (1pm lol)
The male Swan (Cob) - was NOT happy that we were paddling past this nest..

There was some frantic paddling on the Thames - not us though lol

Steve chilling out again

So for the Bank holiday, Andy Walton, Steve Walton and I headed to the Thames near the source. We SLOWLY paddled 21km on Sat and 7km (even more slowly) on Sunday - in their blow up canoes! Got to be the most chilled paddling I've done ever...

Hot On The Wye

Another hot day paddling down the Wye. Not just paddling, lol, swimming, jumping, capsizing...

999

Bouldering at Penallta

Abseiling


The fire getting bigger and very close now

Big and closer - SuT's have already been evacuated

We had to call the Fire Service

From a safe distance - fire hopefully under control now

So we went to Penallta... For a normal climbing day.

I was working with Claire today. The day started normally. But towards the end a bush fire started. We had to declare an emergency, and evacuate the site. We called 999, and moved away for them to do their job.

NOT A NORMAL DAY !!!!

Evening Deep? Water Solo

We had a plan to go solo 'Avoid Meeting The Portuguese Man Of War' - down at Rhossili, Gower

This is me on the first 'pitch' - 4a

Ed on the first 'pitch'

Ed on the first pitch



I'm on Year Of The Snail - VS 4b * (24m) .
The route starts just above the sea and goes up the middle of this wall.


Another Gower sunset

So the plan was to go with Ed Abbley to solo 'Avoid Meeting The Portuguese Man Of War', 40m, VS 4a, 4c, - **. So what went wrong - we got there about 2 hours after high tide (bad planning) - so we couldn't do it safely as a deep water solo, and the wind had picked up through the day, and the sea was no longer glassy calm. I did the route a couple of years ago with Dave Youren, and it was classic, traverse a wall, get past an incut corner, go through a cave, traverse a 4c wall, jump in the sea, swim a zawn, climb a final wall. High tide and soling is essential - but we missed the high tide :(

We did half of the route anyway where the landing (sea) would be safe (deep), and I also found 'Year Of The Snail' on the higher wall (where you don't fall off !).

A great night - we'll get the tides right next time ...

Box Bay

Abseil down into Box Bay

Bottom Roping

One of the more tricky climbs

Get across the gap however you can

Land in the water?

Fear?

We had a good day down at Box Bay. I was working alongside Leila, and the SuT's had various challenges to try and challenge their core values..

Busy On The Wye

Several Army groups getting ready to get on the river

Practicing T rescues

Practicing rescues

Chris and Helen enjoying a day on the river

Smile for the photo

We had a good day on the Wye with the Army Suts today. I then randomly bumped into a couple of friends - Chris and Helen. Chris used to work at Loch Eil, and Helen still does. Chris now lives down here... Hope they had fun - the river was very low !

Monday Night - Bolted Limestone

I'm on Pwll Du Crack F5+

I'm on Destination Brynmawr F6a

Destination Brynmawr

Jules on Destination Brynmawr

Emma on Destination Brynmawr

I'm on Tea Leaves F6b

Tea Leaves

Jules on Tea Leaves

Emma on Tea Leaves

I'm on Battle of the Bulge F6c

Jules on Battle of the Bulge

After work at Sennybridge, I headed to Crag X, on Gilwern Hill, with Jules and Emma. My first time climbing bolted limestone. We climbed as the sun set. Emma had an exciting night as she fell several metres - twice ! Fun - but I still love trad climbing...

Sunday - Black Spring, Dinas Mot

Alex on the first 5a pitch

Alex on the first 5a pitch

The belay for the first 5a pitch was directly under the crux of the second 5a pitch. This is my attempt of taking a photo of Alex. Just held camera out - hoping he'd be in it lol - don't fall off now !!


Dinas Mot, and every mountain crag is very dry, so we went for a route, that is not normally dry - a good opportunity to climb Black Spring (HVS -,5a, 5a, 4a, 4c, -).

Saturday - Continuation Crack And Grey Arete

I'm seconding Alex up Grey Arete

Beginning of Grey Arete

We then moved onto Continuation Wall and Alex led smoothly up Continuation Crack (HVS 5a). We went even higher then to find Grey Arete (HVS 4c, 4c, 5a), in the Grey Group. Alex led Smoothly again. An awesome day out. Tired now...

Saturday - Rampart Corner On Holly Tree Wall

I'm starting up Rampart Corner - suddenly it's steep

It's well protected

I'm working on the first crux

On the first hard section before the rest ledge

Now starting the second hard section after the ledge

I'm committed and moving up to the thank god jugs - sort of jugs !

We decided to move onto Rampart Corner (E1 5c) - I wanted to give it a go. It was awesome. There were definitely 2 crux sections as the book said - one before the ledge and one after.