After a long slog up to the Peak District saw most of the club arriving around midnight, missing the initial Kiwi contingent visit. The club settled into the hut, a nice warm, dry and well stocked although slightly hard to find location. A few hardy souls took the camping in the puddles option. Most people putting their late arrival down to the smooth flowing single carriageway M1. Chuck, although not setting out down his usual M40 route (which he takes to all UK climbing locations), found his car with a puncture.  

When Saturday morning finally stirred the club from its slumber, activities were varied, climbing, baby hugging, cycling, walking and Cafe Faffing.  

Climbers missed the best weather of the day with a relaxed start - Rivelin being the destination of choice. Delphine and Paul tagged on as seconds number two and three for Rick and alongside second number one, Louise. He did a nice little VS which was described as "not too difficult if you're happy to solo".  

Rick then dispensed Croton Oil (up the needle) see photo for him wedging his way up (Rick Croton Oil HVS). Some nice moves later left him and Louise on top of the needle. I won't bore you Dear Reader with the rest of the details suffice to say there was plenty of internal discussion about who achieved the nicest arse jam - style, technique or most attractive shape wasn't clear. Matt, Mark K, Dean, Katie B and Miles were also in the area.  

Then came the rain, with Mark W leading and Matt F(1)...  

Matt - 'It's raining'
Mark W - 'It's still dry up here - I'll keep going'
Matt - 'That's because you're under a roof'  

Soon after Rick was heard uttering the unlikely words 'best get a move on' before the mass retreat to the Outside café.  

Mark W then proceeded to bully Rick, Rob J and Dean into a 1hr 45min run, struggling through bog around Higgar Tor, Burbage, Stannage and back to Hathersage. Dean would like to thanks to Mark W (for bullying him into going and lying about the time/distance), Rick and Rob for making the pace almost reasonable (Rick claims the sensible tactic of carrying the map for that) and Miles for the loan of appropriate attire.  

The cycling contingent consisted of Wendy, Chuck, JB and Rob M, on passing the far side of Lady Bower reservoir complex (The UK Dampbusters (sic) area) they bumped into a hard charging Jane And Phil. So we promptly whisked them off to the local Cafe. Jane muttering something about "only 1,000 meters of climbing" and not being up to her usual Alpine standards. The mixed conditions was enjoyed by all, although Wendy returned to her bike after a swanky play on "Speedies" bike found hers with a slowly deflating tire, though thankfully close enough to the hut.  

Mark R and Ivone took the baby hugging option with a visit to Mark's brother in Nottingham.  

Saturday night saw most people back at the hut and cooking up large pots of fine tucker. An outbreak of Little John-ness also occurred. Paul and Delphine apparently managing to eat the most.

Back at the hut. Dean, Debbie and 8 month old Nicholas were socializing at the bunk house, Nicholas the most social of all - the little horror was far too stimulated by all the people with funny accents [What funny ascents Dean?] to consider going to sleep. Debbie kept mentioning the weather never used to be this bad - rose tinted glasses me thinks!!

A lively evening was had by all with various other members of the club putting in brief visits, Claudia, Photographer Warren. David Dees and family also joined in, staying with the New Zealand faction in a borrowed cottage in Edale.  

Sunday dawned a much brighter prospect. The crowd went to Bamford, where all cobwebs got blown away.  

Paul led Bamford Wall S, topping out into a wind tunnel. This was a bit of a club favourite with Delphine, Rob M, Rob J, Faff, Mark W and Wendy making their way up at varying points of the afternoon.  

Chuck then got in a spat with the local heardie-beerdie locals. Chuck hadn't realised that his route (Neb buttress HVS) had the same ending as another one which two old gits were already climbing. Cross words were exchanged. And considering the locals were climbing in knitted pullovers they should have known better, they then scuttled off to offer more helpful encouragement and advice to the E4+ climbing brigade that was in town.  

Mark R & Ivone Sunday went to Bamford Edge, along with Rick & Nikki (A). Mark R Quien Sabe and the hugely enjoyable Gargoyle Flake in a howling gale, then something else but he can't remember in the downpour that followed. Mark R and Ivone did Gargoyle Flake (VS) Matt and Lou did three lovely routes: Wrinkled Wall **VS4c, Quien Sabe? ***VS 4c and Gargoyle Flake **VS4c  

Mark W and Faff climbed several routes, the most memorable being 'The Happy Wanderer - HVS', on which Faff was heard to call for a 'tight rope'! Mind you he said, maybe it was hard, since Rick also had problems on it a bit later on...  

Rick seconded Mark R up Quien Sabe? (VS- no I don't know what it means either - anybody with the benefit of a classical education? Who Knows (Ed)) and then led Nikki up Right-Hand Twin (HVS), before failing miserably on Happy Wanderer (HVS) - humph - too cold, too short arms, too crap...  

JB, Jane and Phil continued their cycling theme with another 6 hours. Round the top of Howden and over to Howden Edge. Apart from the first stoney section and a bit of stone pavement it was a push, and steep in places. Down the other side towards Langsett Reservoir was interesting - peat bogs, streams and boulders for about 4 kilometers. JB only came off once just fifty meters from the end of the hard section of the track! Covered in wet mud they headed along tracks and then the road for several miles. Phil and Jane stopping at Strines Inn. JB then persuaded them to go back onto the moors onto something more interesting than tarmac! The route went past Back Tor and then down more peaty footpaths to meet the road just above the Derwent Dam and more tea.  

Matt F(2), Miles and Katie B did a long walk around the stannage area. I hope everybody enjoyed the weekend, a sizeable contginent turned up (not all whom told me what they did, so haven't been reported on) and a nice chunk of money put towards the Mountain Rescue services.

SS