On Saturday 5th myself, George, Dave and Marty went to Gola. We stopped at Mickey Ds' for breakfast (BIg M...istake) which ended up all over the car and my lap on that rollercoaster ride across the moors. Bejesus! who is in charge of the road improvement scheme in that country? We then travelled in two cars to the pier at bunbeg. Marty fancied a tour (twice!) of the periphery of Letterkenny, thus when we arrived a massive 5 mins after Dave and George, as one would naturally expect the boat was on its way quite happily to Gola. Marty was (obviously feeling mightily guilty having fannied around in Letterkenny) livid in fact started driving frantically along the pier whilst washing the windows (I think he wanted to flash the lights). If I hadn't said steady on me lad I think he might have driven oft t'end you know. They turned around and collected us.

Once there we discovered that the only guide that we had between us was actually in Dave's car... on the otherside, hmmm. Dave promptly set off to find his friends who were also going to be there, needless to say they were not there. They obviously hadn't come across on the mysterious boat that Marty and I had supposed to have left on. Luckily there was another couple there who kindly allowed us to peruse their guide. Once there the conditions were inclement. Dave [Photos] and George did Big Trip (I think VS 4c) whilst Marty and I did and elliminate of Muin na Muice and Gripple Wall (D and Vdiff respectively). We then moved to the inland crag owing to the impending tide (highest for 27 years) it was a wee bitty wet down there! I held Marty's ropes on Weathered Window ((VS 4b) whilst Dave and George clambered up Tasty Morsel (HVS 5b) and the finale; big Marty hard bearded climbing man launched himself at Days of Wine and Roses (E1 5c), failed miserably and then Dave fairly cruised it and George respectfully followed.

A good day in good company, hampered by little tests which didn't dent the determination of the intrepid foursome.

On Monday 7th Myself and Al went to Fairhead and had an adventure on the recently upgraded December (HVS 4c 5a). In my younger days when I could lead VS at the head I always gave this route a wide birth and now I know why. Al threw half of his rack down the route, this coupled with his grunts indicated to me that he didn't find it that easy either or wasn't expecting it to be sooooo scary! Mind you we almost did it in one pitch and this landed us with a very solid but nerve wracking hanging belay. By the way all you booty hunters I wouldn't bother using the crab as I counted at least 10 bounces of the rock before it finally came to rest a few metre or so up from the wire that had previously been jettisoned. All in all a good route but a reasonably expensive one for Al.