Well, well well. Here I am in March 2002 writing a report for a climbing trip that took place 6 months ago. It sure was a good weekend, I remember that much. We had sunshine, drink, craic and did loads of routes. I'll tell you the bits that I can still recall and you can have a look at the photos.

Our new friend (now our old pal), Patrick Daly from Brisbane had contacted us because he wanted to get a trip out in Ireland before heading to Alaska (see photos of Pat in Alaska ). He was so keen that he turned up a day early and rang me anxiously from the meeting spot because I was late. Perhaps he got out of bed the wrong side of the International Date Line (ho ho).

Anyway, the plan was made - Pat (Bruce) Daly, Frankie (Pommy Baastid) McCloskey, Michael McGinty, Ronan (the Barbarian) Simpson and I would go to Muckross Head. We would spend the day doing some hard stuff and then meet the nancy folk over at Malin Beg for camping, drinking and barbies. The nancies turned out to be _Psyclone (to see other tales of his derring-do click here or here or here, but come back after), Andy (Hard Scot) McInroy, Sally (Dr) Cook and Gorgeous Pouting Lorraine.

I can't tell you much about what went on at Malin Beg on the Saturday because I wasn't there. Suffice to say that Hard Andy led Flying Enterprise VS 4c, which makes him a brave man indeed. Apparently he enjoyed it most when he got to the top. There are three photos of him and the others on the route and they are well worth a look. What you can't see from the pics is that Psyke was struggling and sweating, that GPL was (as is her wont) blubbing and that Sals was holding the camera and taking no part in the climbing.

Meantimes, Bruce was at Muckross trying to translate our grades into Australianese. He discovered that VS was about grade 18 and therefore well within his capabilities. He even impressed the Pommy Baastid because he was able to place gear and also learnt double-rope technique with ease. Michael and I got about 6 routes done and Ronan sullenly followed us around the crag. It was (and probably still is) Ronan's job to be sullen as he is a teenager. Frankie and Bruce did about 8-10 routes, they were still climbing when we went to Malin Beg to pitch tents and get some food.

Sunday was windy and the Malin routes were washed by heavy seas, so we went to Skelpoonagh (for another report Click Here). Bruce was busy again and led the scary route (name forgotten) with the airy traverse at the bottom (VS 4c?). Andy folowed and _Psyke pooped out. I did one route, if memory serves. I had to get home early. I drove Ronan the Barbarian who (barbarically) chundered all over the outside of my car on the way to Derry. A sorry end to a great trip.