Holiday - Exeter 26.11.15 - 28.11.15

Exeter

Thursday 26th November
Tim picked me up from work around 15.30 and we arrived at the Exeter Toby about 17:20. We checked in, unpacked and relaxed for a bit. We had decided that we would go to the Toby for dinner!! It would be rude not to!!! Later in the evening we made a quick trip to Tesco for some snacks and Milk for Tim's tea!


Friday 27th November
Last night neither of us slept that well, we had a slow morning and eventually went down for breakfast about 10. The weather was supposed to be bad but we had sunshine! We decided that we would do a bit of shopping Friday morning - There are a couple of climbing shops and I need some new climbing shoes. For lunch we found a great pasty shop we have been to in the past - however we both decided that we were still full!! While the weather was good I suggested we had a walk on Dartmoor. We set off for Haytor, after taking a massive diversion for road works we eventually got to the car park. The wind and rain had started - but we decided we were going anyway!! We got our over trousers and coats on while the rain and wind were whistling round the car! We made our way up to Haytor and had a wander round in the driving rain and fog!!

Back at the hotel we dried off and warmed up and decided what we were going to do for dinner. We ended up having a sharing deal in Pizza Hut and once again feeling incredibly full!


Saturday 28th November
Thankfully we slept better last night. We decided that we would head down to the Quay Climbing Centre in the morning as the weather was due to be bad.

When we arrived we had a look at the canal basin area and found out where we were allowed to launch kayaks from if we were to bring them on a future trip.

We went into the Quay Climbing Centre to register and get assessed. We were a bit early as the kids club had the centre till 12 so we decided to have a walk along the river till it was time to go in. As we stepped out of the door the rain started so we changed our minds and had a drink in the climbing centre cafe instead!! At 12 we had a short assessment of our climbing skills and then made our way down into the climbing area. We started off with some gentle climbs and then moved on to some lead climbing. We had a good climb and felt like we had at least worked off some of our Toby meals!! By about 3.30 we had had enough and set off to the car to go home. We were home around 6.30 and had the task of unpacking - it is always nice to get home except for having to unpack!!

Climbing - Portland

Portland Climbing

Fiona got to us about 9 am and after we had eventually got ready we headed over to Portland. We decide once again to try for The Bower first.  This time we were lucky as we had the area to ourselves.  Tim and Fiona started off by climbing Suntrap and Whispering Gallery.  Fiona then had her first go at lead climbing on Queen Of The New Year.  

We next climbed The Bumper Fun Book - I was pleased to manage this climb as the last time I tried it I didn't manage to get to the top!

Our next climb was Godbeams - Tim lead it and said it was interesting!!  Fiona had a go but was finding it hard going on the arms.  I surprised myself by making it to the top!  While I was at the top I re-rigged the rope for the climb next to it Six Finger Exercise - a nasty looking 6b+ - Tim did this climb and said it was quite tough - Both Fiona and I decided to leave it for another occasion!!  After a break we all climbed Tinkerbell a 6a with a difficult start - a little bit of equipment use needed to get myself and Fiona up the first section!!

Lastly Tim lead up Far From The Madding Crowd.  I made it up after a but of working out how to get over the overhanging section!!  Fiona finally called it quits with very sore arms!  A good day climbing.

During the day we had two common lizards gracing us with their presence.

Day Out - Glastonbury Carnival 2015

Glastonbury Carnival 2015

Wimborne Climbing

The Edge Climbing

Tonight I felt like I had really mastered the blue route on the overhang. 

Pumpkin

Pumpkin Carving

This evening I carved the pumpkin that I had grown.

Climbing - Portland

Portland Climbing

Fiona got to us about 9 am and we headed over to Portland.  We decided that we would go to the Bower first but there were climbers already there so we continued down the cliff to The Dell.  We hadn't climbed there before so new climbs for all of us.

Due to the clocks changing we were already hungry when we arrived so first thing was lunch!

After lunch I started things off by lead climbing 'The Naughty Corner' 

and then we climbed 'Sjambok the Skelem' which was the next climb to the left.

Next we went back up to see if The Bower was free, unfortunately it wasn't so we went to The Cuttings and climbed 'Quality Family Day' - a longer climb with some good hand holds

before moving on to The New Cuttings.  The last time we were in this area I was not able to climb as I had had my hand operation 5 days before.  We first of all climbed 'Two Nuns, a Hang-glider and Jesus' 

and then 'Elephant on Rollerskates'.
A great day of climbing.

Clapper Chaos - Handbell Rally

Wincanton Rally

Today Clapper Chaos attended a handbell rally in Wincanton.  

We arrived and were greeted by the Wincantata group who were hosting the rally.  We had had 4 massed ringing pieces in advance to look at ready for today.  

We arrived by 11 for set up and tea/coffee/etc!

 The rest of the day went as follows...

12:00 Welcome and Notices

12:10 Massed Ringing 1: Appletree Wassail

12:25 Solo: Moretonhampstead

12:30 Solo: Kingston St Mary

12:35 Massed Ringing 2: Waltzing with Tchaikovsky

12:50 Solo: Mere Melodies

12:55 Solo: Wincantata

13:00 Massed Ringing 3: Keep That Wheel 'a Turning

13:15 Lunch

14:00 Massed Ringing 4: Christmas Rainbow

14:15 Solo: Clapper Chaos

14:20 Solo: Mere Melodies

14:25 Massed Ringing 1: Appletree Wassail

14:35 Solo: Moretonhampstead

14:40 Solo: Kingston St Mary

14:45 Massed Ringing 2: Waltzing with Tchaikovsky

14:55 Solo: Mere Melodies

15:00 Solo: Wincantata

15:05 Massed Ringing 3: Keep That Wheel 'a Turning

15:15 Solo: Clapper Chaos

15:20 Massed Ringing 4: Christmas Rainbow

15:30 Tea Break and Raffle

16:00 Finale Starts

17:00 Thanks and Finish, Clear Up and Go Home.

Other groups that were represented but didn't play a solo included Barn Bells and Perran Rebells. Forour solo pieces we played Orange Juice and Somewhere Over The Rainbow.  We were well received and I think we did ourselves proud.  The other groups came and spoke to us about our playing style as it is a little different to the norm!  At the end we did a play through of each of the massed ringing pieces.  We were asked to play Orange Juice again!!  They obviously liked it.  We had a good fun day and we look forward to reading he write up in the next edition of Reverberations.

Climbing - Portland

Portland Climbing

Fiona and Olly came over around 9.30 and we set off for Portland.  We decided that we would first go to The Lost Vally at Cheyne Wears and then move on to Dungecroft Quarry.  Tim and I had climbed there before but there are lots of nice low graded climbs. Tim lead up 'Head In a Bush' and left it top roped for Fiona and Olly.  I then lead 'Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This'.  We also climbed '4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42' and 'Rhys Gets Another Monkey Bite'.  By now it was time to stop for some lunch and find somewhere more sheltered, I was feeling quite chilly.  We packed up our stuff and made our way to Dungecroft Quarry in search for a sheltered lunch spot.  After eating we went to 'Doris Does Dungecroft', 'Dirty Bertie', 'The Alpha and The Omega' and 'Dungecroft Delight'.  To finish Fiona and Olly had a go at another couple of climbs that Tim and I had done on a previous trip to Dungecroft Quarry.  A good day of climbing.

Kayaking - Taunton and Bridgewater Canal

Kayaking Bridgewater Taunton Canal

Smelly ditch!

Today's activity is kayaking. As we were on annual leave we decided to drive over to Creech St Michael and have a paddle on the Bridgewater and Taunton Canal.

It started off being quite pretty with ducks and swans swimming with us.  About half way up the section we paddled it started getting rather overgrown the water.  At one point we were in very thick undergrowth that we were not able to get our paddles in the water!!  We went as far up as the lock to make sure we had done it all and didn't need to come back again!  Near the lock the water became rather nasty and stagnant!  Still a good days paddle though.

Climbing - Hedbury

Hedbury Climbing

We parked at Worth and walked out to Seacombe and then onto Hedbury.  First of all we had some lunch while we identified which climb was which.
We started off with the easiest and then gradually got harder.  I managed to lead the first 3 climbs.  Tim struggled leading the last bit of Moral Flexibility and even with it top roped I did not manage the last part.  It is there for another day.
Very Ordinary Route
Another Contribution
Sea View
Moral Flexibility
Tim finished by doing another climb but I decided to call it a day as my had was getting quite uncomfortable.  We climbed for about 3 hours and then walked back to Seacombe, onto Winspit and back up Winspit Bottom to Worth.

Caving - Hunters Hole

Hunters Hole

Today's plan was to go caving and do Hunters Hole.  The last time we went here I really struggled and thought I was going to die!!  I thought it was about time I got over my fear of the place and knew I was more than capable of doing it especially as we were going to use SRT.  

It is not a long trip so we decided to go after lunch.  We decided to have a roast dinner! Feeling very full and sleepy we got ready to go caving!  We took the Far Right Pitch route.

It was a good trip and I am very pleased with my self for getting over my fears of the place!