So your cheeky chappie has teamed up with two dodgy looking characters, exploring  a local venue after enjoying a mighty fine flat white coffee. A couple of 6cs and a 7a ticked off followed by some great traverses. Then it's time to pose for the Jesmond Uprising photo😂😂

Our Stranded climber is back! After rupturing a bicep, rehab, and an easy year of climbing our cheeky northern lad is back, and on real quality rock in the UK taking in Northumberland and Malham. Training is pretty good as well with The Valley Bouldering centre and Newcastle Climb just minutes away.

A stroke of luck

Having spent 3 fantastic weeks in beautiful Northumberland climbing in sunny spring days (only one day where we had a bit of drizzle) on amazing rock at Bowden Doors (photos of our days out to follow), Shaftoe, and Kyloe in the woods, returning to Brisbane and its sun baked crumbling boulders resulted in obvious depression.

However, whilst out walking Freddie the dog the luck of the Geordies returned and we stumbled on 3 amazing boulders no more than 10mins from home in a dry river bed!

Moon Board, well nearly!

With climbing trips planned, our Cheeky Geordie Chappy decided it was time to set up some form of Moon Board in order to slow the ever advancing effects on age, with some 40degree woody training.

A big thanks to Brad B at K2 Brisbane for his help with Ben Moons 'School Room' holds sets.

With one set of School Room holds (black) up the board started to take shape.
























The second (yellow) set of School Room Holds are now up. The matting for the landing area is in place, and my fingers although a little sore, are benefiting from the training!






Good luck to you all with your climbing training and outside endeavours.

Life's full of changes

Several trips to Armidale in New South Wales have, with help from some local climbers (thanks Di and  Andy), demonstrated to our Strandedclimber, that you only need to be prepared to drive out of Queensland to find great climbing/bouldering on amazing quality rock.

Accommodation is very reasonable in Armidale. We stayed in a lodge at a local caravan park 15 mins drive from a an area boasting several bouldering areas. Di informed me that much of the rock is unclimbed and that while there has been development, because of the small numbers of climbers living there, there's lots of new lines waiting to be sent.

The rock is clean, with good friction in the morning and late afternoon. The boulder is typical of the rock in the picnic table area, with just one problem recorded on it. Plenty of potential. We completed three new problems, two sit starting under the front and another climbing the right arete.

A Great line runs from a sitting start, two hands on the arete to the break. Traverse along the break to a side pull just where the colour of the rock changes then slap back to your right onto the right arete. Use the small side pulls with your left hand and the arete with your right to squeeze your way to the top, feet matching hands.












"Larry the Phoenix' runs up the Gold streak of the riverside boulder pictured on the left. Its a typical problem that my UK climbing buddy Larry (yes the best climbing partner EVER) revels in, requiring you to keep one foot (your left in this case) out wide behind you smearing on the far (left) side of the Gold streak whilst your hands and right foot push and crimp up the right side. A sandy landing awaits if you miss the big stretch from the last decent hold to the top.




Good luck with your climbing renaissance Larry. Make sure your are back to your amazing strong self for May and some 'Secret Woods Bouldering!'

Old Farts Escaped Out.

Your two cheeky chappies from the mother country headed out looking for some very steep overhanging rock having spent a lot of time training at their wall. Here's some pictures of the 'Super Steep Wall'

The Boulder is very different to a lot of the rock we have found in these parts.....it doesn't break too much when you pull on it.

 Cleaned

Nick on the start of 'Witness the Brittleness' V11

Up to a 3 finger tip Crimp with your left, then drop down with your right onto a horrible little side pull.

After popping left off the side pull for another crimp  you follow 'Kiss my Witness' V6 to finish by throwing left again, (you also run out of useful foot holds).

Topping out isn't much better. Don't fall. getting back up the bank on broken ankles won't be much fun.

Coffee time.


There's also a nice V4 here starting on the rail and side pull 'Silent Witness'

And a V6 'Kiss my Witness' starting on the side pull low down and finishing up 'Silent Witness'







Well we'll be back to this wall soon to see what more we can do. We've decided we need another couple of mats though, two isn't enough, and we plan to explore the boulders on the hillside overlooking this wall.

The coffee is great in the nearby town of Samford.

Enjoy your bouldering/climbing......StrandedClimbers

Will it ever stop raining

So much for "You'll be glad to get away from the bad weather in the UK!"
Will it ever stop raining here in Queensland? Climatologists predict that these extremes of weather, Australia is either on fire or under water, will become the norm. This hasn't impressed our two cheeky chaps at all. With stories abound of perfect conditions back in Northumberland, beautiful blue skies, crisp days with perfect friction for climbing, they have found themselves having to train on plastic instead of getting outside. That said they do have an amazing board to train on with several V6 to V10 problems to keep them interested.

The mats have arrived (THANKS BAM), more holds have been purchased, and the sound system fills the air with tunes made for climbing to.

Now that this section is nearly complete, there's  talk of a 'Moon Board full of School holds.' Comments like "Well you have the wood and plenty on School Holds" has left your cheeky chaps with plenty to contemplate over the coming weeks. 

The Bolton Boy demonstrates just why a 40 degree Moon Board makes more sense than using the School Holds on a 50 degree overhang.  









Joining the chaps this week was Gustavo, our Brazilian crimper! Fresh from his part bouldering part investigating the 'Wolf-Lundmark-Melotte system' (albeit from a location that makes it difficult to see anything unless you have the eyes of a Haliaeetus Pelagicus) trip to Tasmania. Gustavo had been devastated to find the rock around Curly's Bar on 112 Murray Street, Hobart was crap! 
Apparently though "The sky looks beautiful from there honestly Marguerite!!!!", Yeh "especially when you're full of beer" replied our two scoundrels who are well averse with justifying their drinking trips as well.

Well with the rain set to continue, it looks as though we'll be on the plastic for a little while longer😞

Cheers and safe climbing.