Day 25 – Friday 24th August
It feels now such a long time since I was running along the white cliffs of Dover, the evening before I boarded the ferry for France. I had parked on the esplanade with a number of other campers and motorhomes waiting to head to the continent. I was full of excitement, a little nervous as I didn’t really know how it was going to work?
Deep down I did now, I knew it was going to be great, the flexibility, the open road and the freedom. Now I’m often asked how do you do the things you do, you must earn lots of money to do these things! Well, I don’t anymore, earn lots of money that is… strange I know, but even more enlightening is that these types of adventures need not cost a lot (I’ll write another blog on this).
My ankle felt better this morning after the cold pack treatment last night. I decided to go for a run first thing before a coaching call at 9 am.
The day was now dry after last nights torrential downpour, the river has a must lying on top of the cold glacial water.
The only mile with a smile this morning, just to take it easy.
Office time beckoned today, the first day back to work, catching up on Property related issues, Everest Base Camp and Kilimanjaro preparations. Time to also catch up on my blog, as hands up I’d skipped behind whilst Mum and Ellie were over.
Top tip – write your journal / daily blog on the day, even if it’s only the highlights as playing catch up is so time-consuming.
The car park was busy with climbers, young and Old either climbing at the crag or on the Go Ape style course.
The sun had come out and I’d completely missed it! I only noticed it when I nipped to the little boy’s room, boy what a view… no not that the mountains, the glaciers and the clear waters of Lac Gaillands.
A couple more hours then crag time. 4 pm and the crag was slowly emptying, freeing up some routes.
The climbing here is classed as sports climbing and each route is graded. 3 is the easiest and 7/8 the hardest. Like my Running, I’m a steady middle third climber. 4-5’s for me.
Clare led the first route, 4b. A steady, solid climb. I then climbed up after Clare had descended. I fancied a lead so I opted to lead the same climb. My confidence has surely grown since I started climbing at the age of 41 (you’re never too old, for anything). Along with climbing with friends and of course mountain rescue, the skills have certainly enhanced some.
It was getting dark now and only three sets of climbers remained, including ourselves. I watched a father and son climb across the crag ‘alpine style’.
I fancied pushing the boundaries a little and ashes Clare to pop back to HaRVey to grab the head torches, some night climbing was on.
Now I would never have even considered this 3 or 4 or even 5 years ago, but I’ve surrounded myself with a great team of people, the training and self-believe has helped me massively.
I led the last climb, a 5b, it was getting dusk now so I attached my headtorch to my new helmet. The route was great, not climbed that much, I couldn’t understand why!
Clare lowers me and I removed the gear on my way down. Clare ’s turn and she got to within 4 meters from the top without turning the torch on. My turn now, it was dark, head torch on and slow dance-like movements, it was very relaxing, spiritual maybe.
The bats were out now and nobody else was on the crag. I reached the top with relative ease, I surprised myself, to be honest, but I felt chilled, even though I’d moved outside my comfort zone I was still in control.
Wow 9.33pm, time we called it a day, back to HaRVey and food, I finished my Tuna Salad. Yummy.
