Indoor climbing

I visited The Castle last night, Lord that place was rammo-ed, like a Chippendale's Jockeys. It was good to find a spot to work on my Yoga though, after a solid 30minutes of climbing it's good to work out those hotspots with some Ashtanga moves. The cafe upstairs was good, with a nice range of healthy foods and a bubbly young lady who I have no doubt would climb very hard indeed.

Also, is Avon near to the mythical Peak district? I have visited on a fact finding mission and saw some very large graffiti which might have been about pirates. Maybe you could see this from your vantage point above, Endomondo

Nah. Avon is in the west country just outside Bristol city centre, the Peaks are up near Sheffield in a big national park.
Went back to Avon yesterday, great day spoilt by a bit of a crag bully throwing his weight around and bringing a group up directly beneath us which was more than a little unnerving... Also went to Goblin Combe, lives up to it's name being more like Fangorn Forest with the crags dripping with ivy, tree roots, moss and other creepy crawley fun. Strolled up a route called the Hobbit, choked with mud but still great fun. Probably better in winter when it's not massively overgrown.
Was cool to see the local fire brigade doing cliff rescue training exercises on the sea walls area of Avon.

Place I'm staying currently has its own little bouldering room:

Pretty neat challenging routes.

Impressive amount of routes in such a small area.

^^I need that in my life, puts my fingerboard to shame.
Just on way home from a great day at Brimham rocks, ticked off a few good routes. Almost made me want a boulder mat as there must be literally thousands of problems there. Realised I need to up my bouldering game though just for confidence when climbing above questionable nut placements.
Laner, Alkali, 'brows et al, any of you up for outdoor trips over the summer? We're trying to get out of London to climb every other weekend at the mo. Join us!

Climbing outdoors? WTF? I'll stick to sweaty indoor plastic thanks dude. Actually, climbing is secondary to Mtb for me and gf, and we only get to ride together at weekends so I'm out but for slightly vomit inducing coupley reasons.

If you fancy a bouldering mat then I do have one, I got it on here about a year ago, it remains unused by me so can move on to a better home. Pretty sure I paid £80 for it and would like the same again. It'd have to be collection only and I'm in Potters Bar, but let me know if you're interested.

No worries dude, enjoy the mtb!
Thanks for the offer, I sold my last mat on here years ago. Might take you up on it if it's still knocking around in a month or so when I'm less broke.
Have definitely grown tired of indoor climbing over the last couple of months. I can lead much higher grades indoor than out but really enjoying the wholesome outdoorsyness of the whole thing at the moment. That said, we're going to the Castle on sunday for some bouldering.

Cool, I'm occasionally at castle but have been at Milton Keynes on weds nights recently. It's a bastard of a long way from mine but is a sensible meeting point for my mate, so I've stuck with MK for now. It's Father's Day this weekend and I've already double booked myself or I'd have invited myself along for some castle climbing. Maybe catch you there sometime though.

Going to Malta in October for sport climbing and sitting in the sun. Been before for a holiday but never climbed there. Can't
wait.

Not quite the med but just got back from a day in Swanage with perfect sunshine and a light breeze. Leaving at 6.30am and getting home at 8pm to only climb 4 routes is a long day but was totally worth it. Sunburnt, knuckles scraped and a handul of S 4a ticks. Our first forray into trad seacliffs. I dropped a tiny nut into the sea. Lesson learnt I hope. Dropping £10 off the cliff every time we go could get expensive.

http://www.lfgss.com/album.php?albumid=867&pictureid=17861

Liz keeping it stylish on the belay ledge on Subliminal.

I sold my last mat on here years ago.

You sure? It was in the bus when I went to the farm last week...

Sooo.....
Anyone on here fancy going caving? Been looking at novice days in the peak district for next spring. Looks like a proper laugh if you're into dark, dank and confined spaces....

Hey @edmundro, if you are still thinking about this caving I would be in for sure. Feel free to drop me a DM

Cheers Matt

Def up for cave trip when spring comes around. Will look into it and be in touch.

In other news, just got back from our honeymoon on Gozo, Malta. Amazing island, fantastic food, lovely people and mad sea cliff climbing in perfect sunshine.
Had the pleasure of watching Stevie Haston and Jeffrey Camilleri working on a roof project at Weid Il-Mielah.
We spent 3 days climbing and both led Gozo Gozo Gone, only a 3+ but right on the exposed edge of the arch. Great abseil in but tough work pulling ropes over the razor sharp rock. Lots of cuts and scrapes, a few good falls on some 6a+ routes but led my first 5c outdoors which was nice.

Pics

1. Jeffrey Cammileri belaying
   
2. Stevie Haston under the arch
   
3. Gozo Gozo gone is on the far right up the outer arête
   

3 Attachments

Getting back on bouldering at the Arch again, anyone going there regularly?
Tend to be there Tuesdays and Thursdays

@laner - what time of day do you usually head down there?

usually get there about 6/6.30

Not looking forward to the indoor season this year. Might try and get some drizzly trad weekends in...

Any-one going to the castle later?

I was thinking of heading there to boulder after work. Got my ridiculously uncomfortable new shoes in my bag on the off-chance...

Just heading down the castle.

I did an induction at the Arch yesterday, first time bouldering since I was 17. Man it's fun.

Anyone need a belay device? I've got a few spare as I like trying different designs. One each free to a good home or a small forum donation. All in good or almost unused condition.
If anyone's interested I'll dig them out and take a pic.

Going climbing at the Arch from 6.30 tonight

Going climbing at the Arch from 6.30 tonight

When's the best / least busy days to go bearing in mind I work M-F 9-5?