The Beginning…
This is a brief intro, spanning from September 2015 until now.
In order to truly start from the beginning I actually need to go back to when I was a young teen — My first meeting with the wall, the shoes, the rough holds and dizzying heights of Evolution! What a thrill it was, until I had to peel those ridiculous things off my feet anyway…
I first went along with my older sister, something to do with her then boyfriend I think! We returned ot the wall perhaps a handful of times back then, but as with most things when I was younger, I soon found other more exciting ventures to take up my time with. It wouldn’t be for several more years until I return to the rock, and even then it wasn’t for much longer.
Tom, and I. Tom moved in next door when I was mid teens I suppose, I hardly remember now, but it made a large impact on my life back then. Suddenly the boredom of the solitary country hick lifestyle changed, now I found myself playing games with someone my own age, having something to do in the endless summer afternoons and hobbies which I could share. Bike rides, walks, playstation and drinking hundreds of cups of tea a day… and at some point climbing popped back into my life. We went quite a bit back then, enough for me to shell out for a pair of my own shoes (at last, climbing in relative comfort!).
Alas the effort soon ebbed and we stopped climbing again, back then it was a bit more of a financial commitment, and one that neither of us could really afford — things like driving lessons and pubs started to mean more to us, or at least our wallets anyway! Away went Tom to University, and away went my shoes into the dark recesses of my bedroom.
London calling. Work took me up to the big smoke, the increase in salary meant I could once again afford to indulge in what I loved — drinking and buying things I dont need! Along with all the Shoes, coats and bikes which I steadily spent my monthly wage on I started to go to the odd climbing wall after work, but I soon found that the climbing wall environment was very different to that of Evo in quaint little Groombridge, I found it a much more gym’esque experience, full of topless fitness fanatics, bristling with unnecessary muscle and oozing with attitude problems! Needless to say, I didn’t last long this time…
Tom, and I (part. 2) Back from Uni, out of money and without a job… like all other ex students at that time.
Many months, and in all probability, years have passed and Im back working in Tunbridge Wells, and Tom is still in Groombridge - we are both still pretty much the same as we once were a few years earlier. Well, one thing leads to another, and back to the wall we go. Out come the shoes, dusted off and heavily sprayed down with fungicide!
Tom, PJ and I. Now that was back in September, and I am putting all this in words now in February. So what happened? Where did we end up? Well in the past four months we have gone from strength to strength, and quite literally too… Along with my work colleague PJ, we have gone from rookie to intermediate and verging on advanced in, what I personally consider, a very steep upward curve! We tend to go three days a week, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, and this past Thursday we really made progress on the longest ceiling route available in Evo. In fact, we more more than just a dent, we are literally about 4 moves from the end now, which is very exciting indeed. Were finding ourselves half way up challenging black routes which are probably around a grade 6, and easily completing 5a/b/c’s. And looking good while doing so ;)
Looking forwards? Well its winter, and a grim one at that! When we can we will be heading out into the big wide world and looking for some natural climbs — we are very fortunate to live in the sandstone smothered landcape of the south east. Literally a stones throw from some fantastic climbing spots. Bouldering at first obviously, but hopefully after completing our NICAS we will attempt some more exciting top rope routes. Bring on spring!
From now on I will be concentrate on photos and videos showing our climbing adventures as well as writing about some of the more exciting points. So watch this space, and also check out the Twitter feed @bidoigtbetauk