tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338405582024-03-06T02:41:25.848+00:00RockratrobinsonWelcome to the blog of a young outdoor enthusiast from the North-West of England. Follow me, Iain Robinson, as I juggle fatherhood, a full time job and a passion for the outdoors.rockratrobinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07494165885958477802noreply@blogger.comBlogger487125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33840558.post-49900345906505847672012-04-16T16:57:00.005+00:002012-04-16T19:14:42.163+00:00Another weekend off..<div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I've just returned to work after another short holiday, because on Sunday it was Phoebe's first birthday. We had made plans to head down to Stanage for a couple of days of climbing and camping fun. However, a combination of a poor weather forecast and some looming changes at work put an end to that. Instead we stayed at home and enjoyed what Cumbria has to offer.</span></span><br style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><br style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/309982_10150685865136313_691936312_9361535_242966455_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/309982_10150685865136313_691936312_9361535_242966455_n.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Phoebe triking along the disused railway between Keswick and Threlkeld.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-style: italic;"></span></div><br style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">On the first day we headed over to Keswick to make use of the </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keswick_railway" target="blank">disused railway</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">, which makes for excellent triking. The following day we headed a couple of miles east to </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.walbyfarmpark.co.uk/" target="blank">Walby Farm Park</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> to see the baby lambs, watch racing ferrets and piglets suckling.</span></span><br style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><br style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/524168_10150685871621313_691936312_9361568_1915606916_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/524168_10150685871621313_691936312_9361568_1915606916_n.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Phoebe opening her presents on her first birthday.</span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-style: italic;"></span></div><br style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">On the final day of my short holiday, the day Phoebe turned one, we headed to the Bowderstone, late in the morning so we could have a Teddy Bear's picnic at the base of The Stone, whilst enjoying the sun and occasionally pulling on some holds in the hope of making upward progress.</span></span><br style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><br style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/480235_10150685872786313_691936312_9361577_312707605_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/480235_10150685872786313_691936312_9361577_312707605_n.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Phoebe having a Teddy Bear's Picnic for her birthday whilst Daddy sets off on The Crack (V4).</span></span></span></span><br style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"></div><br style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Upward progress was successful on the usual problems and I managed a repeat of Picnic Sarcastic Sit Start Right Hand (V8) before looking at some other problems I've never attempted before. I looked at Power Pinch (V6) and had little success once the power pinch had been latched, I also considered Bloodsucker (V8) and Impropa Opera (V8), but had to sack it off due to the skin on on the finger's of my right hand deteriorating rapidly.</span></span><br style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><br style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">More pictures of the three days can be found </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150685864016313.396589.691936312&type=1&l=af69729e07" target="blank">here</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">.</span></span><br /></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Viner Hand ITC;"><span style="color:#000000;"><i>Good lines, stay safe and see you on the wet stuff...<br />Iain</i></span></span></div></div></div><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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That in itself is impressive, but what is even more impressive was the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Cumbrian</span> weather; it was perfect.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#000000;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/534078_10150649622791313_691936312_9226261_145544676_n.jpg" border="0" /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Phoebe stood above Great Langdale Beck with the Langdale Pikes in the background.</span></span><br /></div><br />On the first day we went for a walk around the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Langdales</span> with my mum (Phoebe's <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Nanna</span>) and my brother (Phoebe's Uncle Dan). We started out from <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Elterwater</span> and headed up the valley, and returned along the banks of Great <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Langdale</span> Beck. Once back at <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Elterwater</span> we continued on down to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Skelwith</span> Bridge before retracing our steps.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/542578_10150649625601313_691936312_9226278_121859017_n.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-family:trebuchet ms;">The tent pitched and Phoebe exploring.</span></span></span></div></div> <div><div><div><div><div style="text-align: justify; font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />The following day was a late start, but that was because we had a lot to pack; we were going to spend the night under canvas in the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Eskdale</span> Valley. The <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Eskdale</span> Valley, in my opinion, is too far to drive in one day, from <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">Carlisle</span>, meaning I have never visited the valley. However, an overnight stay makes the long drive around the west coast of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">Cumbria</span> more worthwhile.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"></span><div><span style="font-size:100%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/292118_10150649626986313_691936312_9226285_1792008438_n.jpg" border="0" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Sat enjoying the spray being blown from Stanley Force.</span><br /></div><br />We arrived at the <a href="http://www.fishergroundcampsite.co.uk/" target="blank"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">Fisherground</span> Campsite</a> at mid-day, and after pitching the tent and lunching we headed out for a walk, which took in Stanley <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">Ghyll</span>, and ended at <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">Dalegarth</span>. This meant we could return to the campsite by the <a href="http://www.ravenglass-railway.co.uk/" target="blank">narrow gauge train</a>, which runs up and down the valley. In the evening, I went for a boulder at <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-error">Eskdale</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-error">Fisherground's</span> Diamond Area, which was twenty minutes from the tent.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/534348_10150649632636313_691936312_9226316_436586279_n.jpg" border="0" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Trying to get established on the slab of Problem 7 (V2, 6a), Animal Boulder.</span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify; font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />The following day, after a cold start, we headed up to the Animal Boulder, which was only ten minutes walk from the tent, for an early morning boulder before packing up and headed further up the valley for a short walk around <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-error">Hardknott</span> Fort.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify; font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/548998_10150649634696313_691936312_9226330_1412891255_n.jpg" border="0" /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify; font-family:trebuchet ms;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Phoebe having a walk around Hardknott Fort with the Scafell Range behind.</span><br /></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />The final day of the four day mountain adventure saw me having an early start; the plan was to tick off a couple of routes on <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-error">Esk</span> Buttress. We walked in to the crag, which lies on the flanks of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" class="blsp-spelling-error">Scafell</span> Pike and sits high up in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_20" class="blsp-spelling-error">Eskdale</span>, from <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_21" class="blsp-spelling-error">Seathwaite</span> Farm in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_22" class="blsp-spelling-error">Borrowdale</span> so we had a fair few miles and meters of ascent to cover. We managed to get it done in two, long, tiring and sweaty hours and were climbing the first pitches of Square Chimney by 10am.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify; font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/547615_10150649636486313_691936312_9226340_1102204248_n.jpg" border="0" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;">Seconding the first pitch of Square Chimney (VS).</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify; font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />After ticking the first four pitches of Square Chimney we stepped across onto Medusa Wall and finished up that route's final two pitches. This gave us six pitches of stunning climbing, on some perfect <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borrowdale_Volcanic_Group" target="blank"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_23" class="blsp-spelling-error">Borrowdale</span> Volcanics</a>, on what has to be one of the remotest, and most beautiful crags in the Lake District.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify; font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/525263_10150649638141313_691936312_9226348_1830977788_n.jpg" border="0" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic; font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Upper Eskdale as the sun sinks behind the Scafell Range.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify; font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />More pictures of the four days can be found <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150649621391313.391627.691936312&type=1&l=244c6572ef" target="blank">here</a>.</span></div><span style="font-family:Viner Hand ITC;"><span style="color:#000000;"><i></i></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:Viner Hand ITC;"><span style="color:#000000;"><i>Good lines, stay safe and see you on the wet stuff...<br />Iain</i></span></span> </div></div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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We headed to White <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Ghyll</span>, which is close to the road, but still far enough away to get some solitude, peace and quiet.</span></span><br style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwu6Eyo-XW7R0iy_-7z66oy1iUu9dzH64HuDRnD5e_kiqj5nCoIJY1_qV-a-NtwVWATxRa4Q71Wiik__POVORDcJ84E2NkE-0wGxKmipzo_cU59Kwdnj0Udn5mr63lzE-Eeiwe4Q/s1600/P3190130.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 209px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwu6Eyo-XW7R0iy_-7z66oy1iUu9dzH64HuDRnD5e_kiqj5nCoIJY1_qV-a-NtwVWATxRa4Q71Wiik__POVORDcJ84E2NkE-0wGxKmipzo_cU59Kwdnj0Udn5mr63lzE-Eeiwe4Q/s320/P3190130.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721711669219235314" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Looking down on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Stickle</span> Barn.</span><br style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-style: italic;"></span></span></div><br style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We started out on Slip Knot (VS, 4b), before moving on to Laugh Not (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">HVS</span>, 5b), which is an unrelenting climb that just keeps going. It's been a while since I've been on a rope, let alone on a rope outside, and to be honest you could tell. I didn't move across the rock with any elegance and climbing with double ropes added to the confusion.</span></span><br style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaCPxVkX5h76s-tGaSjlWEnmwBjc1GEtiVtcQ27qeVMzCpd-3i_gS_v9cyLVHZiZAH4c3RDPKvKMfx67XqI7Bp0VWXRJbG6MZ2tS-PSBiAZbspjdZtq6LDTDdoIRNn0Wz8Dl4sNQ/s1600/P3190123.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaCPxVkX5h76s-tGaSjlWEnmwBjc1GEtiVtcQ27qeVMzCpd-3i_gS_v9cyLVHZiZAH4c3RDPKvKMfx67XqI7Bp0VWXRJbG6MZ2tS-PSBiAZbspjdZtq6LDTDdoIRNn0Wz8Dl4sNQ/s320/P3190123.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721711710771988898" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Starting out on Slip Knot (VS, 4b).</span></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-style: italic;"></span></div><br style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">However, it was nice to be out on the Lake District rock and it would be nice to be out with the rack and ropes more often. It's just a shame that it is so hard to do that, with everything else that has to be done, in order to live from day to day.</span></span><br style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivXNAhTCtwexpXGhDoAjSodglBztq0Empb2Uj_ryypkYdhYAMAXowfV_pgBSHpn5RcRqEwxz1nptA5suKwrTta-CbDQ93vsbJyR92pCLt0btmVfHXcPcMJRGqtmWqSeOGiUjF0zA/s1600/P3190131.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 282px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivXNAhTCtwexpXGhDoAjSodglBztq0Empb2Uj_ryypkYdhYAMAXowfV_pgBSHpn5RcRqEwxz1nptA5suKwrTta-CbDQ93vsbJyR92pCLt0btmVfHXcPcMJRGqtmWqSeOGiUjF0zA/s320/P3190131.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721711636340106802" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Nearly at the end of Laugh Not (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">HVS</span>, 5b).</span></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br style="font-style: italic;"></span></div></div><br /><span style="font-family:Viner Hand ITC;"><span style="color:#000000;"><i>Good lines, stay safe and see you on the wet stuff...<br />Iain</i></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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Firstly <a href="http://starbucks.co.uk/" target="blank">Starbucks</a> were giving away free <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Latte's</span> all morning so I was able to get one of those, but more importantly, the sun was shining. We therefore headed east into The County (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Northumberland</span>) for a spot of bouldering at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Shaftoe</span>.</span></span><br style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span></span><br style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/423797_10150622973856313_691936312_9131687_1762267567_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/423797_10150622973856313_691936312_9131687_1762267567_n.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >About to be spat off Mini Power (Font 6c).</span></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-style: italic;"></span></div><br style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Shaftoe</span> is an amazing bouldering venue with well over 300 problems graded from Font 3 through to Font 8b and is also perfect for my entourage and their accompanying vehicles. We headed over to the Pudding Stone and then worked our way south down to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Arete</span> Land, which isn't far at all, but still, there are twenty four problems in this section and I ticked just under 50% of them.</span></span><br style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/427697_10150622974641313_691936312_9131692_1746133612_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/427697_10150622974641313_691936312_9131692_1746133612_n.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Starting out on Slapper (Font 7a).</span></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-style: italic;"></span></div><br style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I feel that I should have ticked more, but I seem to struggle on The County's sandstone and have to make a real effort just to get up the low graded problems. However, I did tick a Font 7a today, the first time I have done this in The County, and despite this, I still got spat off a couple of easier problems.<br /><br />On reflection I think the height of the problems subconsciously discourages me in trying really hard; instead of using momentum to get me through moves I try them statically, and at times, this approach does not work. The County top-outs also put me off some of the higher problems, as one wrong slip means gravity will take effect, resulting in some degree of pain; it is inevitable that I would land on my back, which is something I do not cherish, especially as I tend to boulder with out any spotters.</span></span><br style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/416775_10150622975271313_691936312_9131700_1009302998_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/416775_10150622975271313_691936312_9131700_1009302998_n.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Phoebe exploring her cave.</span></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-style: italic;"></span></div><br style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This may seem strange as I tend to visit crags these days with my two girls in tow. I suppose one of them is eleven months old (tomorrow) and the other is too busy entertaining the former. However, we struck lucky today. We found a friendly cave at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Arete</span> Land, where we could attach some of Phoebe's toys and what followed was something to behold; Phoebe clambered up, down and around the cave so she could get at her toys.</span></span><br style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/425972_10150622976301313_691936312_9131717_1911170386_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/425972_10150622976301313_691936312_9131717_1911170386_n.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Topping out on Classic <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Arete</span> (Font 6a)</span><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span><br style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-style: italic;"></span></span></div><br style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Back to work tomorrow.</span></span><br style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">More <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">pcitures</span> can be found </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150622971916313.387814.691936312&type=1&l=cfb1478d47" target="blank">here</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">.</span></span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family:Viner Hand ITC;"><span style="color:#000000;"><i>Good lines, stay safe and see you on the wet stuff...<br />Iain</i></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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However, I have been racking up the hours on the </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.beastmaker.co.uk/" target="blank"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Beastmaker</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> so I had some confidence in my finger strength, but was still concerned; The Stone isn't the friendliest of venues for someone out of climbing shape.</span></span><br style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXAvhuG0OdaN4N0Zm85Ztk1qS_vlP6OCtrDaFj0D3zs6dv22hKjREPet_95A6t_QLd9UdtdERmHd_yIqPdXA3u1gOSGCR1EA9jBh4NvlH7VjSGtAD4sOnp6xL-qhTIb9TBbA72Ng/s1600/P3100200.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXAvhuG0OdaN4N0Zm85Ztk1qS_vlP6OCtrDaFj0D3zs6dv22hKjREPet_95A6t_QLd9UdtdERmHd_yIqPdXA3u1gOSGCR1EA9jBh4NvlH7VjSGtAD4sOnp6xL-qhTIb9TBbA72Ng/s320/P3100200.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718376725372958098" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipEicpFxtF5WfXmPaGe1L7W4hsE5DgQz1JEo09rYyJq5Na37M7bD_Xbsy3xSVHTr6Qsj0WFWMWIvuH0gNTswzLb92pNeBVZffQZ7pGzDk1Rt6TEKScaPkhIKUX9f8jPAIM7tXy_g/s1600/P3100201.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipEicpFxtF5WfXmPaGe1L7W4hsE5DgQz1JEo09rYyJq5Na37M7bD_Xbsy3xSVHTr6Qsj0WFWMWIvuH0gNTswzLb92pNeBVZffQZ7pGzDk1Rt6TEKScaPkhIKUX9f8jPAIM7tXy_g/s320/P3100201.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718377779412071522" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_W3D3wK2aVO0VE5C6-BIEIfNdcawkCsRk0sODhMHomSnYo7mAvWN6D3NMxwZAFsYrWvLJwxyZ4P7PMfz2nzezMRimkrA3nqd3YrtUCyHrn-xZC1D3Tx4eUydqctkGUvPXQrEiWg/s1600/P3100205.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_W3D3wK2aVO0VE5C6-BIEIfNdcawkCsRk0sODhMHomSnYo7mAvWN6D3NMxwZAFsYrWvLJwxyZ4P7PMfz2nzezMRimkrA3nqd3YrtUCyHrn-xZC1D3Tx4eUydqctkGUvPXQrEiWg/s320/P3100205.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718376716722037170" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Phoebe exploring the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Bowderstone</span> and it's surroundings.</span></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-style: italic;"></span></div><br style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Phoebe came with us, so the walk-in from the small <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">lay-by,</span> off the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Borrowdale</span> road, was fairly brutal. The </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.mountainbuggy.com/" target="blank">Mountain Buggy</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> doesn't cope that well with bedrock steps and microwave size boulders so we had to carry Phoebe (in her pushchair), Phoebe's accessories, my rock shoes and bouldering mats the five hundred meters or so to the base of The Stone. I suppose we were lucky that we could also carry the </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.vtechuk.com/vtech-baby/VtechBaby/First_Steps_Baby_Walker/" target="blank">V-Tech</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> so Phoebe could be kept entertained for the two hour session, by exploring the base of The Stone, whilst pushing it along.</span></span><br style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6lMQwbv9522mz2PGLqRk9rejujisyZM9SLq7TvND-25kEVyCKy7tXhyphenhyphenYI2dm8dNGEqJPmQeokE0E8tcnL3J_bYUbf_hKffseFQQQUj7KwADuVMZ5DuayoFAttzX6c6UDUQYGy-A/s1600/P3100212.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6lMQwbv9522mz2PGLqRk9rejujisyZM9SLq7TvND-25kEVyCKy7tXhyphenhyphenYI2dm8dNGEqJPmQeokE0E8tcnL3J_bYUbf_hKffseFQQQUj7KwADuVMZ5DuayoFAttzX6c6UDUQYGy-A/s320/P3100212.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718376706571181090" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Phoebe is looking at the ladder to the top of The Stone whilst Daddy climbs <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Statstick</span> (V6). She's probably thinking the ladder would be an easier way to get to the top.</span></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-style: italic;"></span></div><br style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1kydMMa66dKhNa4kwWLPuNMf3G9myFOQNLZ0v6y3dseBWNlu6sBNLLHr4miCArT8CTJvMcgDdMLfrh_ezOZgqy3zQ9FY-DwJNEBrxpoSEj4nruENvCWOjt7F-EoYW2FtDD7acQ/s1600/P3100214.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1kydMMa66dKhNa4kwWLPuNMf3G9myFOQNLZ0v6y3dseBWNlu6sBNLLHr4miCArT8CTJvMcgDdMLfrh_ezOZgqy3zQ9FY-DwJNEBrxpoSEj4nruENvCWOjt7F-EoYW2FtDD7acQ/s320/P3100214.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718376704143992290" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVLYMq6QlDSJp8xl0CB1R7RdNuLENwbjOj7WPqsRFZJ5wouIaWtybxqPnn4SWq6w5MEgihJ8-CA4jcPraWTHaiM9AM93xLqtlXFtbAc7Xl56El6Uh6m5nOJny-_vhJmFulrhNzpw/s1600/P3100216.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVLYMq6QlDSJp8xl0CB1R7RdNuLENwbjOj7WPqsRFZJ5wouIaWtybxqPnn4SWq6w5MEgihJ8-CA4jcPraWTHaiM9AM93xLqtlXFtbAc7Xl56El6Uh6m5nOJny-_vhJmFulrhNzpw/s320/P3100216.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718376700085895554" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >At the start and on the second to last move of Picnic Sarcastic Sit Start Right Hand (V8).</span></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br style="font-family: trebuchet ms; font-style: italic;"></span></div><br style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I did however <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">surprise</span> myself, despite all my apprehensions. I ticked, what were my five warm-up problems a year ago, on my first attempts and then got <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Statstick</span> (V6) on the third or fourth go. This problem had previously taken me countless attempts over several sessions to tick. I then moved onto Picnic Sarcastic (V7), which I got on the first go, again, a problem that took me several sessions to get, and then the tour <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">de</span> force was ticking Picnic Sarcastic Sit Start Right Hand (V8) on my first go. I did get on this problem during my last couple of visits, and probably only had ten attempts at the line, but had little success.</span></span><br style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I certainly surprised myself, and perhaps I should have a bit more confidence in my abilities. I suppose the countless sessions on the fingerboard, has been the key to maintaining a base level of strength, so I can make the most of those small windows of opportunity to try something that requires you to pull hard on small holds.</span></span><br style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Tomorrow I'm back to work and who knows when I'll be back out on the rock.</span></span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family:Viner Hand ITC;"><span style="color:#000000;"><i>Good lines, stay safe and see you on the wet stuff...<br />Iain</i></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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We had originally started making plans to head for the Isle of Skye, even though the Aurora Borealis had been witnessed as far south as North Yorkshire, which is extremely unusual. However, as the week progressed, the idea of heading to the Isle of Skye, for three days, in the hope of seeing an unpredictable natural event seemed slightly optimistic.</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/422677_10150526103206313_691936312_8834210_965068152_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/422677_10150526103206313_691936312_8834210_965068152_n.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Looking across the Loch from Rowardennan.</span><br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">However, we still wanted to head north so we settled on a hotel in a small village called Drymen, under the premise that we may still see the Northern Lights, but if we didn't at least we hadn't wasted hours upon hours of a short break driving on a whim. We ended up spending our time exploring the shores of Loch Lomond with Phoebe, either in her pushchair, or on my back, and didn't once see a glimmer of the Aurora Borealis.</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/404957_10150526104156313_691936312_8834217_436268275_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/404957_10150526104156313_691936312_8834217_436268275_n.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Looking down on Loch Lomond some where near Toll a' Bhruit.</span><br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/417669_10150526105061313_691936312_8834226_1001636106_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/417669_10150526105061313_691936312_8834226_1001636106_n.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Ben Vorlich.</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/397231_10150526105226313_691936312_8834228_725993683_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/397231_10150526105226313_691936312_8834228_725993683_n.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Phoebe all snugly and warm with a chilling Ben Vorlich behind.</span><br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">More pictures of the short break can be seen </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150526096991313.375136.691936312&type=1&l=4d238d31f3" target="blank">here</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Viner Hand ITC;"><span style="color:#000000;"><i>Good lines, stay safe and see you on the wet stuff...<br />Iain</i></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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This week there wasn't a cloud in the sky. However, there was the slightest of breezes but when in the sun, it was pleasantly warm, meaning the three of us headed to the hills once again.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlmulQ01HBjJT74woQECPtnrGbJ-Lb7nhTFPLSIfJZ4fUcx0GlvYYWMM0_F4YnOqBosWmamAYIHqTUdhxeWN1KUZfUNg1lN8qwd4BH0IMHgzGpmY8DRoH1w6mcX-hGFZj-XIIL3g/s1600/P1140953.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlmulQ01HBjJT74woQECPtnrGbJ-Lb7nhTFPLSIfJZ4fUcx0GlvYYWMM0_F4YnOqBosWmamAYIHqTUdhxeWN1KUZfUNg1lN8qwd4BH0IMHgzGpmY8DRoH1w6mcX-hGFZj-XIIL3g/s320/P1140953.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697592505066856610" border="0" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Having a wee nap.</span><br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">On this occasion, we ventured slightly higher up the fells in the hope </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">of having some nice scenery to admire and we weren't disappointed; the crystal clear blue skies allowed us to admire the many peaks of the Lake District's western fells.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHNQSa_7AvyaiwYg4cL29YmF0ssXCrV2M5ca2-_ryryA8r8Qbv2vLgtmJ0CzD4YzQj02_r86dBUyJnKzz6V2rIBfepSKKliIX-Qzcium2JtXV7A89KCha09tUShXEsY2zZ4zUifw/s1600/P1140960.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 307px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHNQSa_7AvyaiwYg4cL29YmF0ssXCrV2M5ca2-_ryryA8r8Qbv2vLgtmJ0CzD4YzQj02_r86dBUyJnKzz6V2rIBfepSKKliIX-Qzcium2JtXV7A89KCha09tUShXEsY2zZ4zUifw/s320/P1140960.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697592501407078786" border="0" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Having a bread stick to keep my energy up.</span><br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">However, we did cheat slightly as our walk started from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Watendlath</span> Tarn, meaning the majority of our height was gained whilst sat in a car. Our walk took in Dock Tarn and then, after retracing our steps, headed up <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Joppelty</span> How allowing us to admire a high ball project that was climbed last year by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Carlisle</span> resident Pete <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Gunn</span>.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsQhd7HedkfTVnY9augfqi7-Bjg2LQjxUmwKb-i0Ng5jy6AuAG3oNcn9oZIAS0tKDWvuktrMkFGabnNfpfeepSr2maZssFR5yzypSzvXTK6VvRQJv9p1zUKIexYWEK4ziTQ7TCfQ/s1600/P1140951.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 169px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsQhd7HedkfTVnY9augfqi7-Bjg2LQjxUmwKb-i0Ng5jy6AuAG3oNcn9oZIAS0tKDWvuktrMkFGabnNfpfeepSr2maZssFR5yzypSzvXTK6VvRQJv9p1zUKIexYWEK4ziTQ7TCfQ/s320/P1140951.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697592498513471650" border="0" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Looking down to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Watendlath</span>, with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Skiddaw</span> in the distance.</span><br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It's back to work tomorrow, but I'm off on Monday and supposedly this spell of weather is set to last a little longer so we may be able to get out and about sooner rather than later.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhykeh97mURZeMW7c3Z1EZmRIKQz-PA0ZG5PxKdP1d8JbrExo2GpDGgqVe98ee08uUcM8zSQF_XqgvUa_Trnrhk8OKjyM2RzTOvM0JjHMVyS4O0U_kk6jvZQKGicMMRPk6v7J0OCg/s1600/P1140949.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhykeh97mURZeMW7c3Z1EZmRIKQz-PA0ZG5PxKdP1d8JbrExo2GpDGgqVe98ee08uUcM8zSQF_XqgvUa_Trnrhk8OKjyM2RzTOvM0JjHMVyS4O0U_kk6jvZQKGicMMRPk6v7J0OCg/s320/P1140949.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5697592529606405698" border="0" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">My mummy, daddy and me, obviously.</span><br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-family:Viner Hand ITC;"><span style="color:#000000;"><i>Good lines, stay safe and see you on the wet stuff...<br />Iain</i></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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This afternoon we visited <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Thirlstane</span> in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Dumfries</span> and Galloway for an afternoon on the beach and a session in the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">sandstone</span> tidal borehole.</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjciqU_3XYsBstf30kyjNsQil3KHcJ5Ti14W6oNFA-iPppLrvaKHBCs13r1tZa8LNokhLWE5R3U_6CQM9_Wq_J_4YFKXwBUHHlQFLN1Xmi8dUHVzMEEPophJzNvFmDDgbKUPa69mA/s1600/P7040312.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjciqU_3XYsBstf30kyjNsQil3KHcJ5Ti14W6oNFA-iPppLrvaKHBCs13r1tZa8LNokhLWE5R3U_6CQM9_Wq_J_4YFKXwBUHHlQFLN1Xmi8dUHVzMEEPophJzNvFmDDgbKUPa69mA/s320/P7040312.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625594342917795874" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Topping out on The Groove (Font 5).</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It's an impressive spot, with some highly graded problems, which is a shame as the long absence from the rock has affected my footwork and strength meaning I wasn't pulling at my best. However, I ticked a fair few problems, with the hardest being in the Font 6c region. I also held the crux move, for a couple of seconds, on a Font 7a, and got up to the crux on a Font 7b on the first go.</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2T0DhlmR9MboYuTox9jauYk1rYkrJfXJIMfNw6FD9MWy2upUO3srP0_LIjTP5wAlQJO6pqEjGtzWiz5INPX95tng2MPx4I5_sMaG2-iUEP6_gMFsn-z3mYQ2cZHJZRNTgr8LKVg/s1600/P7040314.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2T0DhlmR9MboYuTox9jauYk1rYkrJfXJIMfNw6FD9MWy2upUO3srP0_LIjTP5wAlQJO6pqEjGtzWiz5INPX95tng2MPx4I5_sMaG2-iUEP6_gMFsn-z3mYQ2cZHJZRNTgr8LKVg/s320/P7040314.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625594332282551058" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Topping out on Bad Sneakers (Font 6a).</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It was nice to be out on the rock again, and even nicer to be at the crag with Phoebe, however it was also disheartening at how a short absence from</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> the rock has such an affect on your climbing.</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxG993QeEY3t0tJO4k8A352NQ12E6zguZMU1CDc33rKWDNpPyh9T5Dsqt1N3Nwm2A5ckYBuzAwqFjzNlsX38tuuCm2QjKcQZgoZ8GtfxsihPcsOcix3FD-0_DeGcxwqjdukf1MZg/s1600/P7040321+%25282%2529.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxG993QeEY3t0tJO4k8A352NQ12E6zguZMU1CDc33rKWDNpPyh9T5Dsqt1N3Nwm2A5ckYBuzAwqFjzNlsX38tuuCm2QjKcQZgoZ8GtfxsihPcsOcix3FD-0_DeGcxwqjdukf1MZg/s320/P7040321+%25282%2529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626707352985496978" border="0" /></a></span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Reaching for the pocket on Jihad (Font 7a).</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It's back to the daily grind tomorrow with work and such like, but having just checked my emails I've discovered I graduated with a First Class Honours in Outdoor Leadership.</span></span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family:Viner Hand ITC;"><span style="color:#000000;"><i>Good lines, stay safe and see you on the wet stuff...<br />Iain</i></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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However, The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Bowderstone</span> is the most pushchair friendly venue in the North Lakes and it allowed us to call in on </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.toychestonline.co.uk/" target="blank">The Toy Chest</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> so that Phoebe could enjoy some retail therapy.</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/221858_10150185093206313_691936312_6814696_7873745_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/221858_10150185093206313_691936312_6814696_7873745_n.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Daddy and me heading to The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Bowderstone</span>.</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Despite my reservations about my bouldering strength I quickly ticked off The Rib (V3), The Crack (V4), The Ramp (V4), The Crack Direct (V5) and The Crack <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Super Direct</span> (V6) before having a rest despite feeling strong on all five problems.</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/221675_10150185093791313_691936312_6814718_6688004_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/221675_10150185093791313_691936312_6814718_6688004_n.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Daddy starting up The Crack (V4).</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/224388_10150185093536313_691936312_6814710_1825125_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/224388_10150185093536313_691936312_6814710_1825125_n.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Daddy on The Crack Super Direct (V6), which I think looks very similar to The Crack and The Crack Direct, but he says it's a different problem.</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Once I felt suitably rested and had played around with Phoebe for a while I set to working <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Statstick</span> (V6) once again. I got to my previous high point, positioned my feet and popped for the finishing hold, touched it and then as my foot swung off gravity took over and I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">plummeted</span> to the ground.</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYC8RLoh1Nwb3cNAGK58g0TFbl93tL9fAznb-2WVaIPBUJj2pHekp5d2oFMg-dMkY-IKDtTNkTXumKH8uwjZuH8FTrh5PklbPEp4OnoJ6n5zPMsiII4u-UEK-wWGaZ6uvyoIt83A/s1600/P5020256.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYC8RLoh1Nwb3cNAGK58g0TFbl93tL9fAznb-2WVaIPBUJj2pHekp5d2oFMg-dMkY-IKDtTNkTXumKH8uwjZuH8FTrh5PklbPEp4OnoJ6n5zPMsiII4u-UEK-wWGaZ6uvyoIt83A/s320/P5020256.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602208346493513010" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Daddy trying <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Statstick</span> (V6) once again.</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This is how it went for about three or four attempts. Between each attempt I messed around with Phoebe, which allowed me to rest properly, meaning I could put all my effort into every single attempt. On what could have been my fifth attempt of the session I popped for the finishing hold, touched it and then as my foot swung off and gravity started to take over, I tensed what could have been every single muscle in my body, which allowed me to stick the hold, then after rearranging my feet I matched that final hole.</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrIXs77OXpfjmpsuIV-htdKD6WYhGDJAOzfl2-5E5eYklx730RKvrY38lBvuBaVekvpZV5zBkz8Pw182Kr4Hhx4bykfJv8s121eApVSyoeVtqU4La31XQLCUO5GlWBCQlu8bBXpA/s1600/P5020259.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrIXs77OXpfjmpsuIV-htdKD6WYhGDJAOzfl2-5E5eYklx730RKvrY38lBvuBaVekvpZV5zBkz8Pw182Kr4Hhx4bykfJv8s121eApVSyoeVtqU4La31XQLCUO5GlWBCQlu8bBXpA/s320/P5020259.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602208369701798354" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Daddy seemed quite happy when he matched the final hold on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Statstick</span> (V6).</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">After ticking the problem I took another good rest and started working Picnic Sarcastic (V7) once again, which I don't think I have tried for nearly a year. I got to my high point on my first attempt and didn't get any further in the session.</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdRVnSpAdpQmRbdD-a19Idgkzv9yjzbk7eW0IFX2PIXyZcKK4BcoF9Ms6FYAIbV0rpINV0BxWtcnEiTvM1zbYFrAoZRTT-vKRMYTKEDvWDNf8bZG4zEG2Pkzwz-pvpi4PbMwdx1Q/s1600/P5020267.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 272px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdRVnSpAdpQmRbdD-a19Idgkzv9yjzbk7eW0IFX2PIXyZcKK4BcoF9Ms6FYAIbV0rpINV0BxWtcnEiTvM1zbYFrAoZRTT-vKRMYTKEDvWDNf8bZG4zEG2Pkzwz-pvpi4PbMwdx1Q/s320/P5020267.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602208357458602610" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Daddy trying the moves on Picnic Sarcastic (V7) with little success, which probably means I'll have to go back and sit around waiting until he finally does it.</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Some more pictures of Phoebe at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Bowderstone</span> are </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/fbx/?set=a.10150171192231313.290280.691936312&l=63af2eaa2b" target="blank">here</a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">.</span></span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family:Viner Hand ITC;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><i>Good lines, stay safe and see you on the wet stuff...<br />Iain</i></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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The venue was the Castle Rock of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Triermain</span> and we were blessed with cloudless skies, bone dry rock and the slightest of breezes, which provided a slight chill when the sun went behind a cloud.</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLkdVYJv_p1-I_ZIY2_5K7Hvtgq3DmFBxpKPIO-N57JU09bjPGDODkOOCiMO4BA6V6UVaHSRLQRgem-jQJGdN_PJVAEsA7nZgOyVuLqBLGHbmWhlQwJfCmsc9NDYh6mxOlQo4x_Q/s1600/P4070042.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 310px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLkdVYJv_p1-I_ZIY2_5K7Hvtgq3DmFBxpKPIO-N57JU09bjPGDODkOOCiMO4BA6V6UVaHSRLQRgem-jQJGdN_PJVAEsA7nZgOyVuLqBLGHbmWhlQwJfCmsc9NDYh6mxOlQo4x_Q/s320/P4070042.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592930611882556818" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">An unknown climber on Direct Route (VS, 4b).</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I got a lead up the slightly bold Gazebo (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">HVS</span>, 5a) before seconding <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Kleinne</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Rinne</span> (VS, 4b) and Gangway Climb (VD). All three were really enjoyable and were made even better by the quality of the rock, but at times the protection was hard to arrange.</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGImOxGR-vYHW3mzS7vjYkzefkZUd0Cbo7oIdoh3lWLuhFpRaGmrnByHM9NKcEFjfGrZ3w0-2atiTZtLv7AI-igvAXpZSZFn46fTi6MboiH3XerOFx5TTdIaB1yVs97BZ5uuWpQ/s1600/P4070045.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGImOxGR-vYHW3mzS7vjYkzefkZUd0Cbo7oIdoh3lWLuhFpRaGmrnByHM9NKcEFjfGrZ3w0-2atiTZtLv7AI-igvAXpZSZFn46fTi6MboiH3XerOFx5TTdIaB1yVs97BZ5uuWpQ/s320/P4070045.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592930608453388546" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">The final difficulties on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Kleine</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Rinne</span> (VS, 4b).</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPEHS4ymZlQQnwsrzK5kcFiVu2FTiB6FY2YF-hqMt_elphot9QdS57r33mk11qVcOU7_OPePhrYYGCcW_O1ro7KtmI6SrOi7gaY26ykGgfGsiUcooAj0gKNnENr6dSiGzJh2Y2sA/s1600/P4070053.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 288px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPEHS4ymZlQQnwsrzK5kcFiVu2FTiB6FY2YF-hqMt_elphot9QdS57r33mk11qVcOU7_OPePhrYYGCcW_O1ro7KtmI6SrOi7gaY26ykGgfGsiUcooAj0gKNnENr6dSiGzJh2Y2sA/s320/P4070053.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592930597825063154" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Looking across to the exit slab on the Castle Rock of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Triermain's</span> South Crag whilst a climber <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">approaches</span> the top of Gangway Climb (VD).</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmTHFDrVqZdMqjyR2hTv7c7NonBd1rgFdsjB3WElChcoglv81lWa0kTAzJcd6xR2Q_MsmN7Er6FyI168E0FGWUqEMM8bxFQru3GKJqFjsKQ6lTPouBfOJF3YdSM1JaROiN8thGPw/s1600/P4070055.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmTHFDrVqZdMqjyR2hTv7c7NonBd1rgFdsjB3WElChcoglv81lWa0kTAzJcd6xR2Q_MsmN7Er6FyI168E0FGWUqEMM8bxFQru3GKJqFjsKQ6lTPouBfOJF3YdSM1JaROiN8thGPw/s320/P4070055.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592930593533372978" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">The gangway on the Gangway Climb (VD).</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">It looks like this spell of weather is going to hold so evening <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">cragging</span> is certainly on the cards for the next couple of days.</span></span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family:Viner Hand ITC;"><span style="color:#000000;"><i>Good lines, stay safe and see you on the wet stuff...<br />Iain</i></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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Today that changed; I went down to the banks of the River Eden intent on ticking off some of the routes.</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-caNRo2QDNv4g-Y7fpspAvpdsZHt8jdtu65KYsrw3Idao0IbuuiqVk38_cUDZosP2JPF8SOXcByNp8IORczn34T9bvJf26Q8AqWpVomgM7bXqCD76EPsFXhWi_iXAvKFxvwmJXw/s1600/P4030031.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-caNRo2QDNv4g-Y7fpspAvpdsZHt8jdtu65KYsrw3Idao0IbuuiqVk38_cUDZosP2JPF8SOXcByNp8IORczn34T9bvJf26Q8AqWpVomgM7bXqCD76EPsFXhWi_iXAvKFxvwmJXw/s320/P4030031.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591463622715063250" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Setting out on Cally Crack (E3, 5b/c).</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We started out on the three star classic, Flasherman (VS, 4c), where I was able to get used to the intricacies of leading on soft sandstone; a lot of thought has to be given to the quality of rock the protection is placed in and this is what had put me off leading at Armathwaite in the past. However, with a renewed confidence, and having dispatched Flasherman, we set out to climb Cally Crack (E3, 5b/c).</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyGWVAX1yPuOk8p3vwHiq2oGZhP9kXkVAXSXGGK49qXmmM-7uyVH-JgzU2rEiVdqND2i7mayKhJ3dKDvVfq9ln9_EQJj68EeDerM99AY-CUgddmTdD7YxpfI5yvJa1go7pL6eDJg/s1600/P4030036.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 259px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyGWVAX1yPuOk8p3vwHiq2oGZhP9kXkVAXSXGGK49qXmmM-7uyVH-JgzU2rEiVdqND2i7mayKhJ3dKDvVfq9ln9_EQJj68EeDerM99AY-CUgddmTdD7YxpfI5yvJa1go7pL6eDJg/s320/P4030036.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591463614532452322" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Getting a rest after placing the gear to protect the crux.</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_E7kS2kbR3_ts66JjNgi-zDDUdYsTDzuRdrpDlwFEG2taimCwFR1G6qr2K23GgdOq1y3dRR4b7x-sDqyhMYhoG0qxryZmKqZB71z96ZTkvQQk0C5puYQkZ-LYN_AcbmF5WHQfhA/s1600/P4030035.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_E7kS2kbR3_ts66JjNgi-zDDUdYsTDzuRdrpDlwFEG2taimCwFR1G6qr2K23GgdOq1y3dRR4b7x-sDqyhMYhoG0qxryZmKqZB71z96ZTkvQQk0C5puYQkZ-LYN_AcbmF5WHQfhA/s320/P4030035.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591463606388821090" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Going for it.</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It was a nice route, which was reasonably well protected, but was incredibly tiring; it was past vertical for a short period of time before it relented and you could run it out to the top. Following this we headed upstream to the final buttress to sample Jelly Terror (E1, 5b) and the extremely delicate Barnacle Bill (E1, 5b), before heading for home.</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMfKuwvx-V2sB4Cy2vSUsEmsdjmsJyiu3zmPosUQ0tfB3x2wacG7jqRyus04iqPuQsxu2qfDqnApYYDMeGNgaNb5eAwsks2gFH7NvaQTce3Me4pv1eQuC0DlDjzUwB1tGK8Gr5kA/s1600/P4030039.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMfKuwvx-V2sB4Cy2vSUsEmsdjmsJyiu3zmPosUQ0tfB3x2wacG7jqRyus04iqPuQsxu2qfDqnApYYDMeGNgaNb5eAwsks2gFH7NvaQTce3Me4pv1eQuC0DlDjzUwB1tGK8Gr5kA/s320/P4030039.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591463601914635474" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Making delicate moves around the overhang of Barnacle Bill (E1, 5b).</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It's back to work tomorrow.</span></span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family:Viner Hand ITC;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><i>Good lines, stay safe and see you on the wet stuff...<br />Iain</i></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit3xVPbuI9Qd1uHc8QrwyDfVNe7gjkaww0fROl14u74MR2CsiiB70FKetAxVKsW95k4EgOcLpO8In2D04CPezB6H1_uw1wyz9Y2FRSFYtzzt1zJ_z92iIzj0r_TCKgCt_j6EzVWQ/s320/P1000480.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591460844663729218" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Approaching the crux.</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRkoIHPVpjYP_7l_a0Li_aRwU8y4R3qAzBELotxBHgSOLy_MErvdZ9uewZgs0SJxWhs1YgMV9hVcWjcuBPpawTqdpBZApKyFa41I20cdQjr7yRm9TH1YBzXtZnaZ-DJrv2V0Ljng/s1600/P1000485.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 190px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRkoIHPVpjYP_7l_a0Li_aRwU8y4R3qAzBELotxBHgSOLy_MErvdZ9uewZgs0SJxWhs1YgMV9hVcWjcuBPpawTqdpBZApKyFa41I20cdQjr7yRm9TH1YBzXtZnaZ-DJrv2V0Ljng/s320/P1000485.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591460836998486354" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Fiddling in some micro-wires before committing to the crux.</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOeSOQTf3xHksK00NTznGAaoqNWOZb4vulH61eje7i6tgkfASHqWAh1W5WoI1L76fYBTfKR6W3ICz24pEoBzBeGBBmsvHQC5a5bh99BZncQS-_4tqGrozthDwGCX6cCzz-zz54hQ/s1600/P1000494.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 264px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOeSOQTf3xHksK00NTznGAaoqNWOZb4vulH61eje7i6tgkfASHqWAh1W5WoI1L76fYBTfKR6W3ICz24pEoBzBeGBBmsvHQC5a5bh99BZncQS-_4tqGrozthDwGCX6cCzz-zz54hQ/s320/P1000494.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591460832290285666" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Working out the sequence through the crux.</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIinw3DL8HyETd5FSrgH5w1qoBZTW_ue6YBTrS3o7ksDxn_J34PDksIaUR-WcsRNousKc7SYz2HFLNdZrG0knkUZgnrmkycdmIlyMUkmsB5Rpj2Bd3HLgJJ65klmTXjXKx9k_cPA/s1600/P1000502.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 314px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIinw3DL8HyETd5FSrgH5w1qoBZTW_ue6YBTrS3o7ksDxn_J34PDksIaUR-WcsRNousKc7SYz2HFLNdZrG0knkUZgnrmkycdmIlyMUkmsB5Rpj2Bd3HLgJJ65klmTXjXKx9k_cPA/s320/P1000502.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591460822730808386" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Half way through the crux.</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfxMFvbZKLbZtCqEugSxS6_VSXEOlGOw4qROMciw6us10G1rYBj87oW9g-xQ6ge0jUGJIJnhvGaihlUqXGUmHS_V28-3z3REEzbC3Vlx3yg_WdOGNLRsgPPNjL3DNbS80R23CKeA/s1600/P1000499.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 215px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfxMFvbZKLbZtCqEugSxS6_VSXEOlGOw4qROMciw6us10G1rYBj87oW9g-xQ6ge0jUGJIJnhvGaihlUqXGUmHS_V28-3z3REEzbC3Vlx3yg_WdOGNLRsgPPNjL3DNbS80R23CKeA/s320/P1000499.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591460814212109538" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Nearly through the crux.</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div></div><br /><span style="font-family:Viner Hand ITC;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><i>Good lines, stay safe and see you on the wet stuff...<br />Iain</i></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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Caving was probably the only activity that would have provided any sort of enjoyment considering today's weather; it was blowing a gale and raining as well.</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHMEEGdwSiRkwsXCfuxImsyX-jxE0lQ5nTpIoXb3jafjNOp0EUguBGZ8tpnCn4ZO0PT6uAtZaTcb_wRzV4nbRGAbmZEL_uUY5D766NgskHgxiTp3Ze4O_UIBWUHcGiGiJXssDuGw/s1600/P3310019.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHMEEGdwSiRkwsXCfuxImsyX-jxE0lQ5nTpIoXb3jafjNOp0EUguBGZ8tpnCn4ZO0PT6uAtZaTcb_wRzV4nbRGAbmZEL_uUY5D766NgskHgxiTp3Ze4O_UIBWUHcGiGiJXssDuGw/s320/P3310019.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590303615740941362" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Abseiling down the Wet Entrance of Sell Gill Holes.</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We headed over to the Sell Gill Holes network, which is above Horton-in-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ribblesdale</span>, and requires a fair few ropes as we had to make three abseils down the side of a 45 meter waterfall.</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcw-T90kI9f5n_mQqzBIKa34HkEBplmI9S8MBW-IcvgeB84sEjN-1OGMONm2QS6Uy7khy4LoOg7c9KZDap55YxhBAjQIzx9UahDrdQ67mImnbm5hSdrgT-K6f2Ohq5osz3gTPcWw/s1600/P3310023.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcw-T90kI9f5n_mQqzBIKa34HkEBplmI9S8MBW-IcvgeB84sEjN-1OGMONm2QS6Uy7khy4LoOg7c9KZDap55YxhBAjQIzx9UahDrdQ67mImnbm5hSdrgT-K6f2Ohq5osz3gTPcWw/s320/P3310023.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590303610667432706" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Rigging one of the abseils to take us further into the cave system.</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTavGzv2iNg8S6ddy3cpJ6pKV23B4AyR6EDNX9by34vZzJ7KgExE4pMDOWOJZoKdk1ysiJ93LBG0VsqZuhCziK0kDBxEWK1XQbq3QDq-a16BHC94qOyJ_0NcC7c-qvLM3RJIrT0g/s1600/P3310027.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTavGzv2iNg8S6ddy3cpJ6pKV23B4AyR6EDNX9by34vZzJ7KgExE4pMDOWOJZoKdk1ysiJ93LBG0VsqZuhCziK0kDBxEWK1XQbq3QDq-a16BHC94qOyJ_0NcC7c-qvLM3RJIrT0g/s320/P3310027.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590303599314929682" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Looking up the Main Chamber of Sell Gill Holes as someone descends from above.</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Once we had reached the Main Chamber we headed for the passageways that some of our companions had descended so that we could climb up their ropes, and remove them as we went. This allowed us to experience another section of the cave system, but it also made it feel a bit more like a journey.</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0EVcdLU56E7DOJSLuZkR-VIETYfvOp-zA4jDrcvMqUEvGIyB-fCxEk_EhP0XjxScu3O7j7cgCytL-irvGa8SXTrlYFgHQhiJBz97lo-1zoz0bewpCJyBQZDLuchOhmCpcOb_yNg/s1600/P3310030.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0EVcdLU56E7DOJSLuZkR-VIETYfvOp-zA4jDrcvMqUEvGIyB-fCxEk_EhP0XjxScu3O7j7cgCytL-irvGa8SXTrlYFgHQhiJBz97lo-1zoz0bewpCJyBQZDLuchOhmCpcOb_yNg/s320/P3310030.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590303590852757714" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Approaching the Dry Entrance of Sell Gill Holes, which we used as an exit.</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Tomorrow it's back to work, and then I've got another three days off before rescue training begins.<br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-family:Viner Hand ITC;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><i>Good lines, stay safe and see you on the wet stuff...<br />Iain</i></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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