Eric’s thoughts about me

My memory is a bit skittish… my first memories of climbing Western Australia, after migrating over in 2011 was texting a guy from the motel in Bunbury where I lived for the first month. I got in touch with Rhys via a forum on the Climbing Association of Western Australia website, and he invited me to join in for bouldering at a buddy’s place, which turned out to be Rongy’s shed.

I remember being a bit shy, and I’m not sure if actually went over in the first week, I think I made and excuse that I couldn’t go ha ha. I recall going to the PCYC with my friend, also called Eric, and bumping into you, Rongy and Howsie. The first thing we had to do was fill out the waiver forms, and either you or Rongy welcomed us to “the land of paperwork”. I still remember these words when filling in tedious forms today!

You kept encouraging us to climb and try harder and harder routes until we fell off, which is something that you like to do in general isn’t it? We didn’t climb outdoors together much, but met at the PCYC once in a while.

Then one day we bumped into each other again at Wilyabrup, and when I climbed Fat Chance I took a few whippers, including one huge one. You were taking some pictures, one of which ended up in the guidebook that I never bought until years after. Now I’m very proud and eager to show this image in the guidebook to others. It is a very cool picture, maybe even my best climbing image to date. So thanks for that.

Up to this point, we still haven’t actually climbed heaps together. Then, the day I shall never forget! At Wallcliffe while belaying a new climber on a newly bolted route that was not very well cleaned, a half fist size rock came down and landed on my big toe. It was quite a memorable few shitty seconds, you guys were there and gave me some sympathy. Luckily not too much, as you then encouraged me to climb a few more lines which I did.

After my toe had healed, which took some time, we had a few sessions up at Welly Dam together before I stopped for a few years. We didn’t get back in touch until you bought a bunch of plastic holds for your home wall. There were a few trips to Wilyabrup and one up to Perth before I moved over East.

The one thing I’ll always remember about you mate is your eagerness just to climb and be outdoors and enjoy nature and climb, climb, climb. You are one of the most efficient climbers I’ve seen moving on rock and rigging gear, I have to say sometimes it looks like you are flying not climbing!