So, the first edition got out with a few hiccups and issues. I sent some people 4 copies and others received none till I had cracked the limited group distribution features of my mail client, and some received copies by e-mail when they wished it by post. I hope both that you are forgiving of these trials and that this month's issue has a smoother ride to delivery.
Now to the important "stuff" - the climbing. I have enjoyed a good mix of gritstone and limestone so far - despite the weather, and appreciated the camaraderie of mid week climbing. I would like to hear of others' experiences, something of the Thursday or Thirsty walkers and their circumnavigations large or small.
For those of you who have never ventured onto one of these meets the weekend starts as usual by meeting on Friday evening at T.Y.W. Saturday will as usual be spent walking, climbing, biking, or avoiding the rain. In the evening while the B.B.Q.'s are being lit and the steaks, sausages and anything else that comes to mind are being blackened on the outside the participants of this eagerly awaited repast will be destroying their braincells on alcoholic beverages. The evening will pass in convivial conversation, food and more drink before everyone eventually drifts of to bed.Sunday will take care of itself
A nominal charge of around £5 per head is levied by the meet leader to defray the expenses incurred by members providing additional food [beyond that which all members usually provide] and also to myself who will provide some of the alcohol. I shall provide a number of disposable B.B.Q's for everyone to use but I would be grateful if some members could provide their own. If you would like to attend this by now popular meet please give me a ring
We are booked in again at Trevaylor campsite which is between St. Just & Botallock - so come along for the Bank Holiday or longer. We will be in the second field as before. There is plenty of climbing, walking, cream teas, beer and hopefully plenty of sun.
By popular request we have resurrected the Forest of Dean Meet. As in the past we have booked the Lodge which adjoins the Fountain Inn at Park End. Since our last stay, sadly there has been an increase in the price of the accommodation, which is now £11.00 per person per night. We are hoping to organise a three-course evening meal at the Fountain Inn. The cost will be approx. £10.00; details nearer the date.
The Forest of Dean should be at its best this time of the year and offers climbing (Wintor's Leap), walking, cycling, and canoeing. For those intending on climbing, please check restrictions due to nesting season. I have already had quite a few advance bookings so don't leave it to the last minute if you want to go. First come, first serve.
The limestone crags (Dobar Dan) of the Istrian peninsula in North West Croatia provide short bolt-protected pitches in a beautiful location. A large team of Oreads and guests enjoyed a ten-day trip over this Easter break. The Team comprised Tony Howard, Dave Roscoe, Steve Bennett, Simon and Maggie Pape, Roland and Angela Smith, Sharon Fletcher and three guests.
Access was easy and fairly cheap to the region, via Ryanair flights to Trieste (c. £70 return). The drive to Rovinj took about 2 hours, but some took longer because they enjoyed multiple loops of the Trieste ring road. Rovinj is a pretty seaside resort with lots of nice restaurants - and the cragging is within easy walking distance. Accommodation is cheap and plentiful, a decent apartment can be had for as little as 10 Euros per person per day if you are happy to squeeze 8 people into a 3 bedroom flat. Eating out was excellent with good seafood and salads we enjoyed three-course meals with beer for around £20 per head.
The locals were very friendly and the effort of learning a few words of Croatian was rewarded with surprised smiles (Thank you - Hvala, Please/Excuse me - Molim, Beer - Pivo, The Bill - Rachun, Cheers! - Nazdravja!). The climbing was good, though not particularly varied, featuring slabs and walls on viciously sharp pockets. Many of the crags are in splendid locations with good views and the countryside is much lusher and greener than the usual Euro dust bowl. Much of the development of these crags was done by visiting Italians, which means that run-outs are rare: the maximum lob was measured at a mighty 15" (37.5cm). The Italian tendency to squeeze two lines of bolts into a very small gap is also common, but this does mean that a tally of 60 -70 routes or more in a week is reasonable. The crags are quiet outside of the peak holiday period when visiting Germans, Italians and Austrians out number the local climbers. The pick of the climbing on the Istria peninsula was to be found at Cepic and Dvigrad, with the world famous cragging at Osp just over the border in Slovenia.
There is excellent walking in the Croatian National Parks, and for the tourist there is always the mecca of Dubrovnik (a short flight) and the mountains of Slovenia further afield.
Arriving at Masons campsite at about 9-20p.m. I was greeted by the campsite owner who said to me you must be Mr.Pike you're a bit late. I forbade to tell her it is quite common for the Oread to turn up at two in the morning but I had already summed up my enemy and I was not going to waste any more words on her than I had to. Enough of her on with the write up.
The rest of Friday evening was spent in the Craven Arms pub trying out the various beers and hoping for better weather in the morning. Saturday dawned a bit wet but this soon passed to leave an overcast day with clag on the hills. Simon, Maggie and Joan disappeared in their car towards Ribblehead so that Simon could do some planning for the next Bullstones and try out some pub or other. Joan said that she enjoyed the cheeseburger and the beer. Simon was later abandoned on Embsay Moor and left to return to the campsite on foot.Margaret and Kevin spent the day plodding around Bolton Abbey whilst Chris, Gill, Chiz, Rue, Nick and myself had a brisk walk to Simons Seat so that we could view damp rocks in the mist. One member who shall remain nameless wandered off and got lost and the rest organised a search party. Once the party was back up to full strength again a wander down into the Valley of Desolation. [it is anything but desolate] and into the grounds of Bolton Abbey past the Strid, and a walk along the River Wharfe back to the campsite. The Strid is where the river is forced to flow through a narrow defile.
On Sunday morning a decision was taken to visit Crookrise for a look round and possibly to do some climbing. The number of participants for this jaunt was boosted by one when John Fisher turned up keen to do some climbing. A number of routes were climbed, actually three, Two V.Diffs and one Severe the Meet Leader managing to fall off the start of a V.Diff and do a backwards summersault down the hill. The weather then took a turn for the worse and so we all departed for home after a good weekend.
Thanks go to those attending, Simon and Maggie Pape, Chris Radcliffe, Gill Heys, John Fisher, Kevin and Margaret Sarson, Nick Evans, Chiz and Reuben Dakinand Joan Pike.
I am starting to put together the winter indoor meets programme, so please let me have your suggestions and contributions to the programme. We have not heard much about rock-climbing in Greece in recent years, and the recent trip to Croatia sounds interesting. Volunteers to give talks should contact me: