Amazingly the wettest summer on record showed a chink in its armour for one weekend and a less than dreadful weather forecast got a healthy crop of the MMC blinking and shuddering into the light. Perhaps this was also due to a relatively short journey.

Saturday

On Saturday the climbing parties went to either Shorncliff or Wintour’s Leap.

Nick climbed with Debbie and Cath Bilson at Shorncliff. Climbed a few HVS's and Emotional Dyslexia (E1) and finished just before the heavens opened.

Rick(aka "The Fonz") climbed with Beatriz & Petra on the North Wall at Wintour's Leap where they did the classic Notung (E1 5a/b) and then Punch and Judy (E2 5b). They finished the latter just as the rain started to come down so it was timed to perfection. Really nice, though Rick felt slightly guilty that he wasn't helping out with the leading school on the Central Bay. Still, Petra and Beatriz were keen to do some harder climbs and no doubt he will be damned in a subsequent life.

Alix had a fab day climbing with Niki on Saturday at Shorncliff. Niki led/strolled stylishly up Independence Day VS, Fallacy HVS and War of the Worlds . Alix then led Phoney War (HS). Alix was so worn out with these exertions that she was too weak to eat her dinner by the evening.

On Saturday Clare and Maija eschewed the climbing and decided to get a good tramp in (lucky old tramp I say. ed) and opted for the high ground of the Offa's Dyke path (avoiding Wye River bog). The car full of climbers slowed down long enough to allow them to jump out just south of Monmouth and after some nifty map reading they found the local post office, which then pointed them to the start of the path cunningly hidden behind a bus shelter.

A sharp climb out of the valley revealed breathtaking views of the Wye before plunging into the darkness of the protected forest. The Offa's Dyke path is well marked, apart from when you actually need to know which way to go, an arrow happily pointing you in the direction you should take oblivious to the fact that the direction in question holds three different paths (at least one of which appears to be unknown to the cartographer). Unfortunately what appeared to be the correct route contained several large pieces of laminated card describing which bits of the following path were closed and proposing alternative routes on a map, the map itself bearing no resemblance to anything OS ever produced and neglecting to point out which of the points marked A to G you were actually standing at.

However, as the route looked horribly muddy they devised an alternative path around and soon rejoined the path further along. From there the path meandered up hill and over dale, occasionally spewing out the walkers into the midst of large houses oozing charm and wealth or allowing them to get closer to nature encouraging sheep and cows out the way of gates. After about five and a half hours of walking they finally arrived back at the campsite where Maija decided to press on and find the climbers at Shorn Cliff while Clare dived into her tent just as the rain starting falling.

Sunday

On Sunday Nick returned to Shorncliff with Debbie, Petra and Cath B. They started off on the brutal Tigers Don't Cry (HVS). Which had both Petra and Debbie falling off and Cath giving up completely. Debbie managed to warm up, get into her stride, peak and warm down all on this one route. She then left to join Beth for her lift home.

The remaining three then climbed a few more, Cath managed to lead a VDiff and then drop both ropes from the top (Potential Fwit award in what is looking like a lean year). Luckily Simon and Janet were nearby so she managed to use their descent.

Rick climbed with Beatriz at Shorn Cliff. She led One for All - HS 4b - her first HS lead, and Catherine O'Connell also followed her up it, before she had to go back to London with Maija. Rick then took an eternity leading Ironside's Men (E2 5b), and Beatriz took a lot less time leading State of Independence (VS 4c - her first VS, obviously).

David and Niki went back to Shorncliff where David led a Temporary Truce (VS) and Laughing Cavalier (HVS), Niki led the tasty Emotional Dyslexia at HSV (sic-geddit!!).

Tony and Anna (Tanna??) were also at Shorncliff where Tony backed off Temporary Truce which was then ably led by Anna.

Clare dropped Brendon and Jules off at Wintours Leap and arranged to pick them up at 3pm, being assured by Jules that they needed only "a couple of hours for the multi-pitch climb with a half hour either side for the walk in/out and faff time". Returning from exercising her mind at Tintern Abbey at 2:30pm, that is two and a half hours later, Clare received a call from Brendon stating that they had just found the crag (no, really) and did she mind waiting while the finished a single pitch. Thank goodness for good books.

Nick