Columba McLaughlin. A short report this time. The girls had gone shopping and Noel and I got to Dalkey at about 1.30pm. There was slight drizzle. Nonetheless, we went to the West Quarry and proceeded as usual up Paradise Lost (V.Diff). As the rock was still damp, we slipped, slid and with a lot of puffing and panting, we got some friction on Fragile (4b). It's a good job you can get your toe into the crack of Levitation (4b), otherwise the slip sliding would have been in the opposite direction. After this we made our way to the East Quarry. Noel, wanting to do it by the book, worked out the mystery start of Ivy Chimney (5a), I immediately followed suit. After this dark was setting in and Noel suggested a well-earned pint. Who was I to disagree? Surprisingly, our dinners were in the oven when we hiccuped our way home in the wee hours.

Slán go fóill Columba