Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Winds

It's been a while since I've posted, sorry!
I highly doubt I can remember everything that's been happening, but I think I can give you a rough idea...

Non-climbing news:
I haven't been to uni due to my break, and I have applied or a course transfer to Exercise Science / Sports Medicine. Hopefully, I'll get it. :) Finished my physiotherapy sessions, wooh! Went out with my parents to Cabramatta a few times to feast, yum yum. Yum Cha, Fried Noodles, all good stuff! :D Been talking to Sid more, since he has moved to Singleton and now has internet!
I finally had work last Friday, stocktake. Good seeing everyone again! I need to think about quitting Kathmandu, because I would be able to work at Mountain Designs if I left. Hm. Two weeks ago, I replaced the curtains and blinds in my room, to make it more... adult-like and less cartoony, haha.

Climbing news:
Last last Saturday, Sid came back to visit for a day! We went to The Climbing Centre to have some fun. Didn't do that much, apart from climb and catch up!
Still going climbing every Tuesday night, always fun times! :D
Last Thursday, went to Villawood with Damion to get some extra leading in, it's been a while.
On Saturday, me, Thanjon, Baden and Louise went to Porter's Pass to climb. Did a few routes in the low 20s, before Baden and Louise left because they found it too hard! They lost their motivation. :( So they went to Slackline in Katoomba instead. Thanjon and I headed to the other crags in the area, the Glen and Shipley to do some more routes. I'm happy with how I did on the day! 3 climbers hitch-hiked with us on the way back from Blackheath to Katoomba.

We met everyone in Katoomba (including Sid, who came back this Saturday also) and had Subway for Dinner. We all watched Reel Rock 7 at The Edge, which was bloody awesome! Huge turnout. Back to Thanjon's place afterwards and stayed over the night.

Feeling pretty sore from all the climbing, but it's awesome. :D

Not such a detailed post, since it's been a while, I can't really remember everything.

Awesome quote:

Water parks are fun. Disobeying your parents is fun. Sex, drugs and loud music are fun. But do these vapidly blissful states of mind automatically bestow superlative greatness in one of the most technically challenging enterprises to ever grace human existence? Fuck no!
Toffee :D
Bun Rieu
Lou and Baden
Megalong Valley in the BG
Pho

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Boring

Quick update!

Things have been rather uneventful the past week! Due to the fact that I have injured my ring finger on my right hand from climbing, so I haven't been out climbing, rather just taking it easy.

Happened last Tuesday, trying to campus the green roof climb at The Climbing Centre, missed the jug and hit the edge with my middle/ring finger, and got half a pad or so deep, and then came off! So pretty much, I've been resting it since. Just at home, seeing the physio and heading in to start work at TCC also.

Hmm, I went to the dentist last Wednesday for a clean and ate Tan Viet after, mmm, best crispy skin chicken ever.

Most of my days involve sleeping in, sleeping late and watching Wong Fu Productions, JustKiddingFilms or climbing videos, haha. Sad life. I've gone into TCC twice to train, and I'm picking everything up well, I should be working there properly in a week or two, max!

I sent my old Anasazi's in to Big John Retreads for a resole, there's a tiny hole in the right shoe, at the big toe, better get that fixed! Putting beefy rubber on it, and retiring it to be my gym shoe. I have since ordered a new pair of the latest model (my old ones were clearance from a while back) and my finger is getting much better, looking forward to climbing soon!

Exams coming up in roughly a month, can't wait to kick ass afterwards!


Blast from the past, this was taken last year in November!

Monday, October 8, 2012

Point Perpendicular

Had an amazing weekend down the South Coast with awesome people!

Thursday was relatively boring, I went to the supermarket to stock up for weekend camping! Prepared my camping dinners and lunches for the weekend also!

Friday, had a good long sleep, had spring rolls for lunch and red rooster for early dinner before heading out to Penrith station to meet with Ben (Jenga) and Rob! About a 3-3.5 hour drive down to Callala Bay and shared some great stories during the ride. Went to the bottle-o and Ben had a stack walking out of the store, dropping the beer! Stopped by Maccas so Ben could have dinner and I had a double cheeseburger because I knew the smell would make me go crazy. We got to Jake's house and wondered around near the wharf for a while because he wasn't home. Came back and met Matt, a guy from the UK! Watched a climbing movie to pass some time, and later in the night, Leith from Newcastle, who was quickly nicknamed 'Snacks' arrived and we headed to bed, hoping for the best weather. We stayed at Jake's place for the night, rather than camping.

Saturday, woke up around 8am, to lousy rain, no! Had a new person in the house, her name was Ashleigh and was a friend of Jakes! Had fruit/fruit juice and a cheese and bacon roll for breakfast, and decided on 'South Central' in Nowra to climb away from the rain. Basically, tough, powerful moves on steep, slick rock. Did a few short, powerful routes; but I'm too lazy to put them in detail here! I keep a record of the climbs I do on TheCrag. While there, more people came, including another Matt (Monster) and Dana, his girlfriend. Looked awfully familiar, just like a person two grades above me at Penrith. Will, Doug, Louie and Tom turned up and there were draws all over the wall! I worked a hard route for a while, but didn't get it, and we moved over to Mortein Wall and Rosies Wall when the rain stopped, and I was so close to getting 'Fist Full of Steel' which was my favourite climb of the day, I fell off at the last move! Climbing commitment issues... A great day of climbing with great people! We left after sunset, as it was getting dark and decided to have dinner at the local pub where I absolutely destroyed a T-Bone steak, mmm. The rain at this point was absolutely crazy and the wind was so strong. Jake offered to let us stay at his place for the night, instead of letting us camp out (which would have been at Honeymoon Bay). Went to Woolies to grab dessert, and back to Jake's place! We all went to bed earlier, knowing the weather would clear for a long day at Point Perpendicular!

Sunday, stupid daylight savings, alarm went off at 6am (so basically, 5am) and I had the same breakfast, was really cold and tired, but I was looking forward to The Point. Got there first with Ben and Rob, while Snacks and Matt were still eating. Set up a rappel for our first section of climbs on Wind Jammer wall. I walked around soaking in the view, taking a few pictures before the others arrived. People arrived in bunches over the next hour or so! It was frighteningly cold in the shade, but the sun made it bearable. The wind was absolutely incredible and caused gigantic waves! Seconded my first two full trad climbs on Man Overboard and Grey Mist, classics! I removed so much gear from Grey Mist, cleaning both Snacks placed gear and Rick's pre-placed gear from earlier. Made the top out pretty difficult, and it happened to be the crux too! We walked to the Lighthouse area, called Bayside Upper and I did a mega classic climb called 'Hello Dolly' which I got an awesome photo out of! (I didn't even know he was there) I was too absorbed by the environment, the view, the climb, the exposure. Afterwards, I seconded 'Sympatico' which was also a really lovely climb to end the day. There's no time for all the specifics of both days, but all in all, it was another amazing day, to end an amazing weekend, with the most amazing people! Said our goodbyes and we headed back home right afterwards, another 3.5 hour drive, and had dinner at Maccas again, it's climbers fuel, seriously! Ben dropped me and Rob off at Penrith and we headed home! I was absolutely nackered, I had some instant noodles when I got home, I was craving it since Matt had it for breakfast in the morning! Hibernated.

Today, I pretty much just rested, didn't do much, it's my mum's birthday today! Happy birthday to my mum :) We had pizza for lunch!

Giant photo montage time!
Amazing photo taken by Simon Wills of me on 'Hello Dolly'
South Central
First photo at the Point
Looking North
South, with Rob and Ben
Seals!
Wind Jammer Wall
Crushing Waves
More Waves!
Snacks and Marek, right after finishing Man Overboard
Dana preparing to rappel down
Simon, the photographer
Rick leading Grey Mist
Snacks and Matt after finishing Grey Mist
My rack after seconding Grey Mist
Other Side
Sympatico
After Sympatico
EOD Silhouette  

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Long Weekend

Howdy!

Awesome long weekend, very tiring, but like always, very fun.

Saturday, I caught an early train up the mountain and we all met at the hostel in Katoomba. Two Swedish climbers backpacking said they'd like to join us to go out. We decided to go to Big Top, and the line up was Baden, Lou, Damo, Me, Thanjon and the two Swedish guys (Pontus and Johan). It was a tiring up hill walk to the crag, but the rock looked beautiful. Awesome colour, but the quality was... debatable. Warmed up on a crack climb, free-solo'd an easy pitch and hated the Grade 18 chimney, holy shit. Finished the day on a nice, short 21. We went back to the hostel, rain was coming and going... We decided to go Slackline, and it was so cold! The wind was crazy. I had some roast chicken for lunch, and a meatball sub for second lunch. Had a little to drink at the hostel in front of the fire to wind down after a tiring day! Caught the train back with Damo and chat about life, was good.

Sunday, had a little sleep in (till like 9:30) and headed to Penrith to meet up with Baden and Damo, and we drove to Blaxland Maccas to meet up with Tristan and Thanjon. Headed to The Surgery to boulder, and we all managed to get our V4s ticked! Wooh! :D Had sushi for lunch, been craving it for a while. Had to walk home because parents weren't home, I also forgot my keys so I had to jump/climb the fence. Got some good sun-tanning in, haha. Made sure I slept early because Chew was picking me up from my place Monday morning for climbing at Shipley.

Monday morning, Chew and his mate Anu came by my house at 8:30am and we headed off to Blackheath. We stopped by Mountain High Pies on the way, and had the best breakfast ever. Met Halil at Shipley carpark a bit before 10:30am and we started heading to the 'Sandwiches Wall'. I nearly onsighted 'These People are Sandwiches' but got pumped out at the fourth bolt and took an awesome fall! Also had a go on 'Pallet of Pies' which is a 24, I also think I'll be able to send that soon, when I'm fresh and committed. Halil destroyed all these routes with ease, and a few others that I didn't try. Went on Hot Flyer to end the day, and the slab is so scary. Gah! Bumped into Johan and Pontus there, and there was this super pretty asian girl that was climbing so gracefully. I talked to her a little bit and found out she was 27, holy crap! Aging level: Asian. I thought she looked familiar all day, but didn't ask or say anything. I realised on Tuesday, while going through Vertical Life magazine, that she is Andrea Hah, Australian female climber of the year, and she climbs 32 and V9 or so. Wish I talked to her more, damn! Traffic was pretty bad on the way back, due to the long weekend ending of course. We decided to have dinner at Outback Steakhouse in Penrith, and it was delicious! Told some horrible, mean, death-deserving jokes in the car and during dinner, we are all going to hell. Haha! Got home, and I was so bloody tired, I could hibernate for a whole day.

Tuesday, I woke up around lunch time, ate half a chicken at home then headed to uni to print out some Turnitin stuff, then to Blacktown afterwards to pay Chew back, because I didn't have enough money for dinner, then off to the Climbing Centre! Very popular night it seems, lots of people, but i took it rather easy because I was still sore from climbing the past few days. Paul gave me his external hard-drive which has 78 climbing movies on it, and I was stoked! Thanks so much! :D

Today, Wednesday, I woke up late again, watched a climbing movie, ate lunch, headed to Blacktown to chat with Halil for a bit, then I went to the Orthodontist for my appointment. It was so hot today! I had my first soft serve cone in such a long time, with a Flake too! Anyway, I'm looking forward to the next two weekends because I'm heading down to Point Perpendicular to climb this weekend, and then Nowra for the next. Should be awesomesauce.

Awesome colour!
Baden
Pontus
"I only ever have photos of me coiling rope"
The Nurse V4
Pallet of Pies
Pulling through the crux
Flaming Flamingo Crux
Chew