Most people have apparently developed an aversion to daylight and are now restricting their evening climbing to indoor walls. This, combined with an outbreak of the lurgy among those who still prefer fresh air, meant that once again there were just two of us last night.
The destination was Spofforth for some low-grade bouldering. It didn't take long to decide that it was all a bit too highball for us, with most of the cruxes being at the top, above back-breaking ledges, so most of the evening was spent backing off problems and/or climbing unlisted lines on bits of rock barely above head height. But it was all good fun anyway, on a cloudy but warm and dry evening.
After a couple of hours, darkness was approaching, so we packed up and headed off. The crux of the evening followed – negotiating a field full of cows with their young calves without getting trampled.
Problems successfully retreated from:
Hang Up (4c)
Jamline (4c)
Green Wall (4c)
Exclusive ("4a" sandbag)
Lime Hole (4a – got as far as the finishing holds but couldn't face the final mantelshelf onto the grassy gravel-strewn summit)
Problems with failed retreats (accidentally completed):
Birds Lavatory (4a)
The Arete (too easy to grade)
South Face (too easy to grade)
North West Arete (4a)
Pot Scoop (too easy to grade – surprisingly good despite starting in a gorse bush)
Pedestal Arete ("4c" closer to 4a, maybe the grades of this and the adjacent Exclusive got swapped)