don't believe the hype

Well a lot has gone on since my last post... we had my little blue Ford Laser stolen (we got it back the same night), and after that we sold it. We now have a very nice white 2002 Mazda 626.

I did a bit of climbing in April, Mt Stanley twice, Mt Pilot, a little bit in the Quarry, some stuff at Felltimber (getting close to doing Pimp Daddy Superstar).

April 28th, Kylie & I went to Melbourne briefly last weekend to pick up our new kitten (Maggie) and for me to buy some new climbing shoes. That's Maggie in the picture.

My new climbing shoes are La Sportiva Barracuda's. They ROCK as I found out today at Mt Pilot. Ben & I went out, first we went to Flake Off for Ben to put some unfinished business to rest (he has grabbed the draw twice on this climb). He led it in good style and was pretty happy. I wanted to check how well my new shoes went on the top-rope line next to it, a grade 23. I have never been able to get past a spot about 4m from the top, but this time I managed to do all the moves except one (I did take a few rests in between). There's basically no handholds and the footholds are microscopic so you need decent shoes to do it. So I was already happy and it wasn't even lunchtime yet! After that we went over to Bakery Wall and tried to do the grade 18 on the far right... after watching Ben on the part I have previously struggled with, I saw how to do it and got higher than I've been before. But I would really like to top-rope it to check out the top-out to make sure it's not too bad, you would fall onto a bit of a slab if you came off and it would really hurt your ankles. In fact the best idea would be to put a U-bolt right at the very top for people to lower off as there is a lot off moss & stuff up there that is easy to destroy if you stand on it.

After that we decided to have lunch. Next climb was Chicken Salad Roll, and after my first attempt failed at the second bolt, I lowered off to give Ben a go. He got to pretty much the same place. My 2nd time was much better, I managed to get a little past the 3rd bolt to what seems to be the crux move - you have a nice big two-handed hold but not much else.

We finished up trying Beechworth Bakery, it was great fun and good practice placing gear etc. Such a nice finger-crack in the middle section of the climb! The bottom is pretty tough though and it's going to be a while before I'm good enough to lead it.

A great day all up even though I didn't finish a single climb! Hopefully this is all making me a better & stronger climber.

The next few weeks is packed, we're going to Cirque Du Soleil (Varekai) next Saturday (12th) and the next morning I fly across to Mount Olive (New Jersey). I arrive there at about 12.05am on the Monday morning, assuming the place is not delayed (unlikely!). Then I have about an hour taxi ride to get to the hotel, and I have to work in the morning. I'll be there for 3 days, then heading down to Pennsylvania (West Chester) for 2 days, and I'll be checking out Washington on the weekend. Sunday night I head to Orlando for the IBM IMPACT conference (Websphere Transaction & Messaging Conference is part of this). Then back home, I leave Orlando the night of Friday 25 and arrive in Albury Sunday morning.

So it may be a little while before the next post!

OUT