Gola 28/29th June 2003. Anthony Feeney.

The original plan for Gola island was for Al, Donna, Julie and others to head over to the island on Friday. Myself and Marlene and anyone else would head over on Saturday. Donna was to provide the boat. Due to the weather Al and co. couldn't get over on Friday and then Donna couldn't make it on Saturday. We were to get over with a local guy Jim Sweeney once everyone had gathered at Bunbeg harbour but when I arrived I spotted Sally's empty car and could find no-one else.

Jim Sweeney promised to take me and the kids over at 1 o'clock from Magheragallon pier and I hung around for an hour wondering if anyone would turn up or if they were already on the island. Almost at the stroke of one Al, Julie, Marlene and Geoff turned up, as did Jim with the boat soon after. We loaded the boat down with enough equipment for a Himalayan expedition (not forgetting the booze) that took 2 trips to carry from the Gola pier to the campsite. After we pitched the tents and left the kids at the beach with plenty of sunscreen on we headed for the cliffs and found Frankie and Sally and a few other lads (never got their names) who'd come over in Frankie's boat.

Al, Geoff and I started on a VS 5a that I think was called Cornered Rat. Al scooted up the 1st section but got stuck at the top and wasn't sure of the exit. The description of the route was 1 line - "Climb straight up", the photo of it looked like it should head right under the overhang where Al was, but in the end he went up and left. If that was the easier option, thank God he didn't try anything harder. I haven't been climbing properly for about 2 years and got totally wiped out by this route. At the top I was hanging on by my forearms cos my hands hand no grip left in them - topped out bloodied but proud that I'd made it. Geoff scurried up the route in no time at all but the general consensus was that it was under-graded. But isn't that what all climbers say when they find a route difficult?

Julie and Marlene were practising leading on a V Diff called Wendy Raindrops but even that was too much for me - besides I'd left the kids at the beach for over an hour and had to head back. Geoff too was leaving because he had to catch the boat at 6 o'clock so that was the climbing over for the day. I got back to the beach to find Colm trying to retrieve Pol's shoe that the tide had accidentally swept out to sea. The 3 of us dared each other to dive in for a swim and it was "refreshing" to say the least. Geoff found my high-pitched screams amusing from his vantage point on the cliffs as he walked back.

Back at the campsite there was utter chaos as the boys had got sand all over the inside of the tent, left the flysheet open to all things winged, spilt 5 litres of our water supply eaten all the snack foods, soaked all their spare clothing and were in the process of soaking mine - Colm was wearing my socks. Aaargh!

After a tidy up and dinner we gathered firewood and Al, Julie, Marlene, the boys and myself had a pleasant evening round the fire drinking beer and shooting the breeze and comparing sunburns. The weather had been blue skies all day. Frankie, Sally and the lads jioned us for chat on the way back.

Sunday dawned damp and cloudy and the weather we were expecting seemed to be on it's way. But after a brief spit the clouds cleared and we had another day of blue sky and potential sunburn. We were more liberal with the sunscreen this time and Al and I got started off on Pride Of Gola - an easy Severe. Marlene had her first ever lead on a V Diff to the left of it and Julie and I followed her up it. Geoff arrived back in the meantime and all 5 of us went up a VS 4b that was much more reasonable that the previous day's VS. I'd brought the kids with me this time and by now they were getting bored and restless so we headed back to camp for a while before packing up to get the ferry back at 4. I assume Al, Julie and Geoff went on climbing - Marlene joined us on the pier but we had to persuade Jim Sweeney to take us back - some mix up with ferry times. Jim had said "BETWEEN 4 o'clock and 6 o'clock" - Geoff had read this as "4 o'clock AND 6 o'clock". Best remember that next time. All in all a great weekend.