With another blustery morning, and a rough ocean the Peppy Plungers were not gathering for their dip today. Despite that Lisa was still leaving early, for swimming lessons. Or should I say lessons to improve her swimming style. While she has a never ending urge to keep learning and doing something different, the lessons are part of her plan to feel more comfortable and safe in the ocean. And that is a good thing. On the other hand I am a bit of a stick in the mud, and have a select few interests that more than adequately chew up my time:
Feeling the rock calling me, I too headed out early. Driving to my chosen destination the above sight brought back memories of many a view of lush green rolling hills in the homelands. And like many of those trips I drove through the rain in hope of finding better conditions at the end of the journey. A big difference being that back then I would be on the road for anywhere from three to six hours; driving hundreds of kilometres to get away for a weekend. This was an hour trip, heading towards the darker clouds as oppose to past them:
My hopes of touching rock waxed and waned with the weather. Every time I had to put the windscreen wipers on full, they swished back a forth mimicking a head shaking from side to side. Sending me an unspoken message of disapproval. Pushing such thoughts to the back of my mind, stubbornness kept me going forward. A friend from Alice Springs used to say, he who dares wins. It was also a catchphrase used by David Jason, as Del Boy, in a brilliant British sitcom called Only Fools and Horses, only for Del Boy it rarely worked in his favour:
Water, water everywhere is probably an apt way to describe what greeted me. In my favour the clouds looked to be lifting and breaking up a bit. Before I put my trust in that being the case, I went for a wander through the forest. Keeping a sharp eye on ground but also spotting wildlife in the scrub, at times just off the path. The fact that they were still out, and so close to a walk trail, hinted that no one else was braving being out just yet. During the three to four kilometre loop I didn’t find any new orchids in flower, however it did not rain:
I think it may have been Howsie’s suggestion to come here on Friday that resulted in me being drawn this way today. He’s still crook, and I doubt anyone else would have contemplated joining me for a visit here on such a day. I could hear frogs croaking away in the quarry, a sure sign it was going to be wetter than usual. They were probably hidden in the many nooks and crannies, but I failed to find any of them. Water had been flowing down several of the climbs for a long period, with green algae taking hold:
But as the streaky walls indicate, some sections were drier. I even found some parts that were completely dry, just not entire climbs. Having made the effort to get here, I set the top rope up on each line with extra caution. Big puddles and algae where scattered across the top of the crag, ready to send me flying if I was careless. As is the case after we have had a break from climbing here, it felt hard. And even harder due to the conditions. Two laps on three climbs, and I was knocked for six. It was however still a lot of fun. This one dared and won:
Sandbagged 