For those that use Spotify, you may have noticed their algorithms for compiling your personalised playlists can get a bit samey after a while. Today driving out by myself I was keen for something a little different. Leading me to cautiously put my faith in the app to prepare a playlist based on an artist I saw play live many years back at music festival, and too not revert to the genres I more commonly listen too. Vin Garbutt was an English folk singer and songwriter, and I was not disappointed with the selection provided:
The speakers churned out many an ear pleasing ditty as I drove along. It made for an enjoyable drive down to meet Josh at Moses Rocks. One song stood out and stuck in my mind. It was by a band that was not surprisingly another English acoustic folk group. Called Show of Hands, who are now banging out the tunes as I type. I’m known for having left-right confusion. This is not too uncommon, with as much of 15% of people being afflicted with saying left when they mean right and vice versa:
This means that when I give directions, whether to someone driving or which way they should move on the rock, it is best to check which hand I show. This would have been confusing today, if someone not familiar with where we were going had been chauffeuring me. I would have said left and shown my left hand, but a recently placed sign at the T-junction said Moses Rocks was a right turn. This is however referring to the names of the surf break, as opposed to the obvious stand-out crags we call Moses Rocks that you approach if you turn left:
I’ve just read, not that you should believe everything you read, that in the 1920s there was a wild stallion who roamed the Wilyabrup region. This mighty stead is said to have had an energy, spirit, and wild temperament that matched a local and popular surf break, called Moses Rocks. This does however sound suspect, as surfing didn’t start in the region until the 1950s. It would seem that a certain winery, may indeed be telling an hands-down ‘pork pie’ by spinning this fable probably as means of promoting their produce:
I would however agree that the crag called Moses Rocks has a great atmosphere, which is enhanced by the proximity to the energy, spirit, and wild temperament of the ocean. Today it had been the location of choice by Josh, who was camping down south and as such drove in separately. When I asked he said he did not noticing the sign, having driven in on autopilot. You could say it was handy that we both knew where to go. It was also handy that I have a bit of knowledge about fish species, to know that we stumbled across something a little unusual:
I immediately noticed the pectoral fins and it made me think that it may have been a handfish, which would have been a rare sight. Called as such as their pectoral fins resembling hands. These are used to help them move along the sea bed. Other distinguishing features include having a lure on top of its head like a fishing rod, used to attract prey close to their big mouth. The closest species I can find is the Cockatoo Handfish (Pezichthys amplispinus) but there have only been two sightings before, both in eastern Australia:
Furthermore they are quite a large fish. Unless it was a juvenile, which is not likely over here, it is probably not a handfish. The next option being an Anglerfish. A fish made famous as a result of a guest appearance in Finding Nemo, when Nemo and Dory venture into the abyss. They have similar body features, and the closest match I could find to what we stumbled across is a Rough Anglerfish (Kuiterichthys furcipilis). I suggested I should take the specimen home, and I wish I had now so I could check the fins for more distinguishing marks:
No doubt by now the decaying body will have been found by the myriad of scavengers on the beach, such as the crab we found a few images up. Another creature I have been unable to identify, maybe because it is not of interest to crabbers. That is despite finding an identical image online, which is merely titled unidentified. After the distractions we eventually made it to the crag. Heading to Hands Up Wall, as we felt the possible handfish had been a sign. Before roping up, again distracted, we wandered round looking for possible new routes:
Nothing was tall enough to lead but Josh was keen to solo up a few of the more interesting features we found. This is certainly quite out of character for Josh. I am however not one to dampen enthusiasm when it comes to climbing. That is despite the at times nasty fall potential, and as such we allowed the distractions to continue. I did however ask him to very carefully check every hand, and foot, hold. Finally, roping up we focused on the obvious route of choice, called Many Hands. Both the right and left, which is shown below, variants:
After Howsie and my wonderful dry and cool climb a week back, today we were back into humid conditions as our not so normal summer continues. As a result we decided today was for fun, plus Josh was keen for a lead. To provide a fitting selection we moved to a small area with a fine collection of shorter lower grade routes. From here we could see the very non-summery ocean conditions churning up the sand in the near shore waves. We also spotted the fairly unusual sandy beach below Rumpoles Rocks, so our wandering day continued:
I was keen to get my hands on one particular route, and it was as good as I remember. Unfortunately, being that bit steeper Josh seemed to forget all the good control and footwork he had been displaying throughout the morning. Managing a clean ascent, but not in what he would describe as the best style. Leading us to consider yet another move, all the way back to the northern area. But not before we moved on I spotted some crag booty. This lived up to its name, when I spied a pair of climbing shoes that someone had left behind:
In honour of our original find we picked Hungry Fish to finish off the session, another one for Josh to lead. During which I’m please to advise his footwork and control returned, and unfortunately I started to feel a little woozy. It is possible Lisa had shared with me whatever had knocked her for six this week. Some may say it was handy we have a long weekend ahead of us, to allow me to recover before the working week starts a day later than usual. I guess I’ll just have to watch the hands of the clock, as only time will tell what will come of it:
Sandbagged 