Peppy Mob – the crew

If you are keen click on this link to find out what Nana said about me.  While not essential reading to find out about them, there may be some cross referencing in my words about these four people.

Gav and Moni used to come down the PCYC, and it was a while before we got to meet the other half of the Stewart Clan, Geoff and Nana.  While I have climbed with just two of the four at times, in most cases the four will arrive as a car load.  They all have busy lives with many other interests and climbing is just one.  After the PCYC closed we did on occasion cram into a single car and head to the wall that used to be in Dunsborough.  But the preference, when possible, is always to be outside.  They have all had a go at leading, although Moni (above) is probably the least drawn to climbing.  I’ve never pushed these guys too hard, well maybe Gav once or twice.  With them it is best to just go with the flow and enjoy being out there:

They live a stone throw away from each other in Peppy Beach, and when we moved to Peppy ourselves I was pleasantly surprised to hear that Geoff and Nana (above and below) had a boulder wall.  I would pop over there and be greeted by Angus’s howling and bowled over by Maverick (their dogs).  Short and fun routes are the go for this crew, while they have climbed at numerous places Castle Rock or the Bookshelf offer the most social and chilled climbing locations.  Below Nana is popping her leading cherry and did so with a bang as she took a lead fall.  Geoff and Nana were there when Lou took her bad fall, and we had many a chat about this and in showing their character it didn’t put them off and they still get out:

Gav (below) is strong and has a lot of stamina, he can pull through the hard parts as long as there is some good gear nearby.  He is probably the most fearless at leading, going in all serious and concentrated but when he pulls off “the move” you can see a grin start to emerge across his face and he relaxes into it.  I have at times pushed him close to the edge, but I’m pleased to say he has always come out unscathed.  I reckon Nana comes in second for determination.  She gets super intense and focused.  More so during out boulder sessions, but on occasion on rock too.  This can get to a point where she gets frustrated if she can’t do something, and while she realises it doesn’t help it is a hard trait to shake.  Funnily enough she is also the person most likely to go for the worse possible handhold available:

Moni will be happy to do a couple of climbs and then kick back enjoy the surroundings and company, she’s like Lisa in that regard.  Very chilled and easy going and she brings a relaxed feel to the group.  Geoff enjoys the challenge but I’ve never seen him go hard, in part as he has to be careful as he unfortunately stuffed his shoulder while building his boulder wall!  It’s a great mix of personalities, strengths and weaknesses.  Get them together and there is always a fun time to be had.  They are happy for early starts and going to new places.  Being a social bunch they can easily be swayed by the suggestion, usually by Glen, of a pit stop on the way back.  Although that is probably more the boys, at the thought of a cold one, than the girls:

While we don’t get out climbing too much these days we do keep in touch a lot.  While they are busy people with plenty of other things to distract them, what with living in Peppy, one of those distractions is the deep blue.  This summer has been particularly impressive out in the ocean and they have taken Lisa and I to some new spots on our local beach that have blown our minds.  So with this crew it is not just the climbing and bouldering that bring us together, it is also the snorkelling, gardening, Moni’s massages and of course general socials and catch-ups to check in and see how we are going, nearly always with a pot of tea on the go: