Espana!

10 October - 25 October
The much talked about ROAD TRIP
Finally enacted - one week's notice and we're off!!
Powered by Audi TT two seats a big motor and a small boot - like biking without the pain

The plan

  

Some one night stands, a few days with friends, some beach life

Bye bye Blighty

Hello Tours - evening out at Le Bouchon Touringeaux the city throbs with students and Loire Valley Tourist Types - buzzing
Hotel Castel Fleuri a winner!

 Morning stroll over the Loire bridge back over to the old town

Loire Light Art

In Perigeuex
Evening meal bit different from Tours contrast - big place, but just us in!

D road motoring
Typical ditches and trees

Just like the good old Guzzi days out at half past France

Old city
Carcassone

Night view spectacular

Last stop  at Sitges before meet up with V&R.  No pics it was peeing down!

In the Olive Groves in the shadow of El Ports de Beseits

R&V's place

Remote spot


Great outlook

Beach day at Ampolla

Glorious

BBQ back at the ranch!

Sunday

Great walk out in El Portes

Plenty of Exposure........


Gulp

Nice trip to Xerta for a calming cortado and a stroll to the mighty Ebro






Monday coffee morning with the locals in
El Reguers
Then Tortosa for Menu Del Dia at 4 Camins
Top Value!

Tortosarama

Tuesday 11.10 - on to Sitges

Some scenes

 

In the Marina

Hot little spot for two small cold beers

I believe in mermaids too.....

Some scenes from the day trip to Barcelona

Placa de Catalunya
 

At la Sagrada Familia

Placa Real

Tapas lunch in the Cerverceria Catalana

Only 950 miles away....

Barcelona Arc de Triomf

Estacione de Franca








Saturday - last day
Great morning walk along the front and back

Sunday Morning 23/10


Ready go get ON THE MOVE....

Last stop in Espana

In the old city
Carcassonne

Lovely eats at Num 37 Rue Trivalle

View from the Hotel Rapiere

On to Tours for the last overnight, again at Castel Fleuri


Eat out again at Le Bouchon Tourangeaux



Trams coming and going on the Pont Wilson over the mighty Loire

Approaching Dieppe in improving weather

Sorted!  Parked up for lunch on the harbour at a very civilised 14.15
Ferry at 18.00

Striking church - boosters ready for launch heavenwards

Our boat ready for loading

  Hoveward Bound

 Last sunset of a great trip....

More pics here

Neat Repeats

Thursday October 6th
NB returns.  Another great forecast.  Borrowdale beckons, arrive at sunny Bowderstone car park at a leisurely 11.15.  Four large minivans already parked - uh-oh!   As feared our prime crag already festooned with ropes and excited youngsters.  Back to car to consider plan B.  Seathwaite Slabs?  Glaciated Slab?  Both too late for the walk in.  Shepherds Crag?  Castle Rock?  Too many visits this year already.  Spotted another great lump of rock looming darkly above the car park.  Why not hot foot up there?
Quayfoot Buttress

NB moves confidently on P1 of the classic Quayfoot Buttress (VD **)


Another climber on high up on P2 of Aberration

Gloomy rock but great setting


NB on P2

A delicate traverse then a tricky move up left


This pitch was sopping last time!

More gear before another shiny move

 

Belay shared with climbers starting P2 of The Crypt (HVS 5a)


Our route completed in good order, exposed descent needing care

Back to the sunny car park for a late lunch and regroup

Quayfoot Buttress

Dotted line - route goes behind

Red           - belay

Blue          - to descent path

(Optional ab from in situ tat, not today thank you) 

Plenty of time for more sport, so wandered across to the sun soaked rock of :-

Wodens Face.

Another Borrowdale Multicrag day!
Thankfully now clear of the young ones

  
Cheeky climbing in the late afternoon sun


Finished up the right hand crack - always gone left before

Winding down

The route swallows gear until 2/3 height

Then it's no place for wimps

Details as per new Borrowdale Guide
All very tidy

(*) NB led both pitches

Don't mention the Rope Mix Up
Or the Flask Incident
(The walk in clearly wasn't long enough to do just the once)
Or NB's Wandering Bongs

Collar Heughly

Thursday 29 September
As forecast the day dawned bright and with a big wind.  Peak Edges definitely out, considered Corby's but in the end kept going to:-
Kyloe 
(Collar Heugh)
Hoping that the trees and natural lie of the land would limit the buffeting.  In good company with a group from a school in Ponteland.

CB gets suited up for an excursion up Gagarin's Groove (HVS 5a) on Space Buttress

The bulge was turned on the right
(left much easier but CB will have his way)

The crack takes two bombroof medium wires

CB gets them in

The groove is off vertical but

positive edges lead up to a juggy finish with another bombroof big wire going in.

I've eyed this route for 15 years it's great to get it done

Brilliant

Gagarin done

Up for a Spacewalk

CB gets a good sling on spike, but there is nothing after this

Turn on the anti-gravity and float out left




Then step round onto the front face

CB steadies himself before lighting up the boosters to power round the finishing bulge.

Awesome

AT follows after a fashion
(should have called him
Laika )

This route followed by retro grade onto Wilfred Prickles at a mere HVS 5a

Managed to get up that one
Although arm power now on the red line

Photo © JDal UKC with thanks

Back on the lead

The wind was really wild here on Flake Crack
(S 4b)

Very difficult to commit to crux moves with a hooly in the head

Got there eventually with some subtle encouragement from CB

The effort drained whatever was left in the tank

Three more favourites still to do!

CB Slab and Wall VS4c, direct no moves left


AT struggles to follow up with cramping hands


Fired the retro grade and found some flow on Mo at S4a

Then....

Deception Crack HS 4b **
One last Hurrah!

Deceptively good footwork


AT recovers some reserves and form to follow no drama

 All the right routes

Not necessarily in the right order

All grades as per UKC

(Wilfred Prickles up from VS! holds snapping off)