Midsummer Day's Dream

Knockdrinna

No flippin way

 Supposed to hit The Mournes for another spell on the granite today but was easily swayed into a full day in Kilkenny on two limestone quarries instead. It was a scorcher and the thought of two hours in the car either way to Co. Down was replaced with the enthusiasm of trying a bit of sports climbing. First stop Knockdrinna, not an easy one to find, but a beaut of a small isolated seldom climbed slab. Pat led the way as The Squirrel was well into hibernation this morning and wasn't to be roused. Well I never, the climbs were a tad hard, sports climbing is basically a pre-bolted route, it eliminates the focus on placing protection/gear and relies on strength and endurance. These grades were about 3 above my level at best, I got about two foot of the ground for the whole morning, Pat managed a cracker of a route West Fork F6a+, admittedly he ponced about it for a good hour previous but when it came good he sailed it. I was still throwing myself at it like a Jack Russel trying to mount your leg! This was the easy one and a lack of gym work showed up many weaknesses. We walked across and had a look at the harder sections of the quarry, no flippin way, it was like a brick wall 15m in height. I learned a good bit of roping techniques though so the morning was not a waste.

Amphitheatre

Ballykeefe

 
I was so glad to hear Pat say, "lets hit Ballykeefe Quarry, you might have a chance there". Another limestone terror, with an amphitheatre built within it, Pat is going to see a production of Midsummer Night's Dream there tomorrow night, cool spot to hang. And that's what I did, hang all day, zero strength, zero friction and zero success, bagged only one route (dont even think it had a name, a makey up job), looked the easiest on site. Pat marched up everything he chose as usual and was graciously trying to build me up by explaining the differences in difficulty in climbing lime compared to granite. Bit of soul searching pre the next outing, more gym work, rope work, quickdraw placing and a trip to the chiropodist. I will be back Ballykeefe, sleep with one eye open biatch........