Weekend Trip 23rd and 24th September 2000. Magheragallon.

Anthony Feeney I haven't done a report in a while cos I haven't been climbing for a while but here goes...
The ColmCille climbers club has a major division in its ranks which was highlighted at this weekend away. The trip was originally planned for Owey and then Gola was mentioned - leading to the wimps planning on Gola because it had nice beaches and the hard men going to Owey [Report] cos they wanted to brave the elements. Naturally I was in the Gola element, along with Sally Cook, Pete (HardasGranite) Smith, Frankie (Mad Dog) McCloskey and Jimmy "Psyclone" Boyle [Pic]. Pete and I also brought the kids (great excuse for not climbing). We had to devise a name for the new factions - "The Continuity CCC" and "The ColmCille Crocheting and Knitting Club" were favourites.

By the time we all gathered at Magheragallon the weather had become extremely windy - too much for Mad Dog's feeble little outboard - and we had to remain on the mainland. Pitching the tents was a lot of fun and my alloy wheels cam in handy as an excellent anchor for the windward side of the tent! Having nowhere else to climb, we went to a favourite bouldering haunt [pic] of Frankie's, stopping off to swap an oil tank between trailers. The rock was quite good, though it's a little freaky climbing to heights of 15ft with no rope! At one point Frankie attempted the most scary route on the rock (VD 5b?)[Pic] His protection? Pete and Jimmy [Pic] standing below him with their hands in the air! "We'll catch you, no worries!", said a confident Pete. We all tried the route later after sensibly rigging up a rope and had about the best climb all day. Two hours later we'd had enough of that and returned to camp for barbie, beer and baccy. The weather turned really stormy after dark and we were treated to an excellent lightning display (forked and everything). I think the Big Man didn't like the Continuity faction though cos most of the lightning seemed to be centred on Owey!

Next day we wimped out again and went home early. So, 2 hours climbing all weekend - can anyone beat that lack-lustre performance?

See ya Anthony