After a week of being thwarted and teased by spiteful weather gods, Friday was a beaut. I arrived home to find an email from Rob suggesting an after work session so jumped in my car and we headed over to Almscliffe. I managed to avoid the issue of Black Wall by offering Rob first lead so he set off on another of his VS "to do"s, South Wall Traverse. This shares a slippery, reachy start with Bird Lime, traverses across, then finishes with some quite bold moves up into the crack of Black Wall eliminate, all managed very smoothly by Rob. I still wasnt fancying Black Wall so we followed up with some contortions up The Goblin instead – after which it was quite dark and the next route was definately the one to The Kestrel for a pint. Only a short session but very welcome after a wet ten days.
Saturday had to be another short 'un as Rob had family commitments, so a morning dash to Brimham was scheduled. I arrived at Robs to hear that according to the forecast it was going to rain, looking at the blue sky this seemed unlikely so we decided to ignore it.
Arrived at Brimham in torrential sunshine, where I wanted to renew a long standing feud with Alan's Crack. The start went quite smoothly and I was soon on to good holds so carried on without pausing to place gear till I reached the crack just under the roof. At this point I decided I was high enough to need some gear so started stuffing nuts in. Imagine my joy when I discovered I had forgotten to bring a single quick draw with me to clip on with. Hastily improvised with the clip I had my nuts racked on then sent Rob a loop of rope to send the QDs on, however by this time the momentum was very definately lost and Elvis was in the building. Much faffing ensued, and the crack laced up like a ten eyelet boot before I got moving again, arrived at the top cleanly but having left most of my dignity and ego somewhere at the bottom.
After this faffathon it was almost time for Rob to go, but the sun was still lashing down, so we soloed Fag Slab and I think Rob soloed Fag End too, then Rob jumped on Little Funnel. Warning to the unwary: this route requires the flexibility of an olympic gymnast, and hands the size of Popeye. Rob having neither that morning, and a sister on her way to meet him, we eventually called it a day and left Little Funnel smirking to itself "another set of suckers repulsed".
PS. snuck over to almscliff sunday arvo with Dave Shield and finally got Black Wall ticked. <big grin and celebratory whoop at top>