Strangly Satisfied

Have you ever had a weekend where although not hugely different from any other one, certainly no more noteable, you feel so utterly revitalised about it you want it to happen week after week?

Well I had one this weekend. I guess it started on Friday when as a company we went down to launch a portal for a customer and after that went for a very nice walk around the pembrokshire coast. Then preceeded to have an ok(ish) meal at “Stackpole Inn” I don’t rate the food much.

Then nothing spectacular happen on Saturday I dont think. Spoke to my friend Sally from Basingstoke which was good.

Then Sunday the morning service again was ok. Then had lunch at a friends house and then church again.

I’m sure you will agree, nothing majoprly abnormal there. So why am I so revitalised and ready for work?

If you have ideas please let me know!

Climbing in Pembrokshire

Ok so this weekend I went climbing with my mate Steve Westwood, and Chris. Chris I have been climbing with for a couple of months now and we get on really well and our climbing styles really compliment each other nicely.

Steve on the other hand I have been climbing with for about 2 years and our climbing styles (and grades) are now about comparable, if not I have [finally] overtaken him on the grades.

Saturday

On saturday we woke up at first light and headed off to Coeten Bay and hit off about a dozen routes all within the lower grade range (V. Diff – HS) but all though they were easy they were very good fun climbs.

Routes Climbed on Saturday include:

• Fuzzy Peg (S -Lead)
• Suprise Slabs (HS – Lead)
• Diamond Buttress (S – Lead)
• Coeten Direct (V. Diff – Second)
• Coeten Gully (V. Diff – Solo)

Sunday

This was a rather pathetic day as we only got 1 route done in the morning but it was quite an adventure. It started off by me leading a route called Ffynion Crack (E1) but about a 1/3 or the way up it started rainging and the climb soon became rather dangerous. But none the less fun.

In the end I succesfully lead it and Chris successfully seconded it and once Steve, Rosie, Ed and EMily had finished thier routes we quickly packed up and ran back to the cars to dry off. We did this by going into town and wondering around St Davids Catherdral and the town and popping into some outdoorsy type shops and window shopping.

Whilst in the cathedral we were politly asked to leave by one of the wardens as we decided that the inside walls (of the refectory) would make for some fun climbing so started dynoing up the walls, apperently a café isn’t a climbing wall and we were inconviniencing the customers … pfffft.

After that we went back to the tents and slept for a couple of hours before heading into town and down the pub for a couple of drinks and a meal (Homemade burger).

On returning the weather had cleared up enough to go climbing (in the dark, with head torches) so we went down to Red Wall Area and climbed 2 routes and finished at about 01.00 and went and had a well deserved sleep.

Routes Climbed on Sunday:

• FFfynion Crack (E1 – Lead – Heavey Rain)
• Red Wall** (S – Lead – Night)
• Red Wall Arete (VS – Second – Night)

Monday

It started of very windy but dry so we thought we would go climbing but somwhere close so ended up going back to Red Wall area (Porth Clais) but jsut as we started setting up th abseil it started to rain and with recent memories of Sunday we decided to do some light bouldering instead. Plus the crag was getting rather busy with trainees and its only a small crag.

All in all was a VERY fun weekend and can’t wait to go climbing again

Confessional

I’m not very good at writing these confessionals am I?! I think the reason for that is I havn’t had the chance to break the rules so I havn’t. Until this weekend.

THis weekend I went climbing in St David’s (pembrokshire) and frankly the weather was great Friday Eve (2 routes) and Saturday (12 routes), this lead for on Friday a hello pint with the rest of the club which turned into a nice blue Sirloin Steak from a wee restaurant in St Davids  called Jones’ (little pricey but definatly recomend it).

Come Sunday though we managed to get 1 route in the morning. Until the heavens opened and then we reatreated into town for a cuppa tea and a slice of carrot cake from St Davids Refectory (part of the cathedral) and then went back, had an afternoon kip and then met up in town for a nice Chuk Burger from the Farmers Arms and a few pints.

On the Monday we tried to go climbing but it was still desperatly tring to rain so we settled for some bouldering and 3 pasties, bottle of oasis, 4 packets of crisps, and a large bottle of Oasis from the local non-branded supermarket.

All in all a very sinful weekend but it was nice to get away from life for a few days.