4 weeks felt like 1 week like it always does.  You think you are on a long trip, but no matter what, it always goes fast. I met so many lovely people, amazingly they were either from Colorado or Israel.  Thanks everyone for the fun times and all the support, the trip wouldn’t have been the same without it.  Special thanks to Lucy, Matt and Min for putting up with me for the longest.  I have never tried so hard on a trip, we need the downs to feel the ups! Oh yeah word of the trip was false. 8 weeks before the next adventure, Bluies get psychedddd!...

What is the most aesthetically unpleasing place to go climbing in NSW? Nowra of course! I recently got a chance experience Nowra for the first time.  It was balls ugly, dirty, bouldery and moist. I’m not selling it to you at all, hey? I must admit the place sure did climb well and I was so keen for some onsighting practice. I ended up going down to Nowra twice in the space of a month. Woo fun times!

Weekend Number 1:

Friday, caught up with Julz, my old friend from uni and went to a seminar on “GUM DISEASE” haha woo tax write off.  Had a very delicious dinner, dessert is displayed below. 

3 weeks later weekend take 2 at Nowra:

So psyched on Nowra and the fun company of Reuben, I headed back down to Sydney.  Saturday morning we had breakfast at a cafe that he supplies coffee to.  I must admit it was the best breakfast I’ve ever had, it was healthy as well.
 

We then headed down to Nowra, weather wise it was much better than a few weekends ago but quite a few cliffs were still seeping.  This was the weekend Reuben wanted to get his project "Coneheads” and I really wanted to get on “Trigga Nigga”.  We headed to the grotto to do a few warm-ups before Reuben jumped on “Coneheads”.  He did so well but wasn’t able to finish it off.  We then headed to PC crag, where I gave “Trigga Nigga” my best insight attempt.  I could read the climb really well from the ground and once I got on the climb I was focused.  The crux was thin and I read it 2 ways, big move or intermediate before a better crimp. I opted for the intermediate and i screamed all the way through the crux and the jump move to the sloppy jugs was great. When i finished the climbing I couldn’t believe that I had onsighted my first 25. Wee so good! I tried a 26 after and couldn’t even pull the first few moves hahaha failed hard :P Reuben tried “Brother in a Body Bag” all the moves went quite easily but the last jug was so soapy, he slipped off every time he went for it.  What a great first day, mission for the weekend done.  We went to point perp and stayed there for the night.

It was so lovely to wake up at the beach, the sand was so white and we could just walk for miles. We decided to go to Rosies first up to check out if "Mega Mach" was dry.  Ended up just doing one of the warmups there and got super pumped and rested with a hands free bat hang so fun. Mega Mach just looked really mossy, not the best conditions hahaha. Back to “Coneheads” to give reuben the sending belay! Reuben has been suffering from sending block for awhile now after surgery on his elbow.  1st shot of the day was awesome, but I think reuben on sending block on the last hard move hahaha.  I had a go next and had to climb that hideous crack first, it was so hard.  I managed to get all the moves out but ease except I got very confused at the top haha. I brushed all the holds and put a gigantic tick mark on the hold that Reuben fell off.  Time to shine, Reuben.  Sendy Send with ease! He was so happy because it was the last time he was going to be out at Nowra for the season and the mental sending block was gone.  

Well, my full psych has not returned yet, but that doesn't stop me from trying really hard when I do go out climbing.  Beautiful day, like most days in Brisbane. I love the weather, air and atmosphere! 

Eric and I decided to head out to Frog, because it's always a challenge even on the days with the best conditions.  Plus, I like shoving my  limbs in some nice cracks.  We started off the day with "Gladiator" Grade 18 hand crack goodness. Eric struggled slightly on it and I just led the climb on his gear. When I clean the climb a 0.75 cam had walked its way deep into the crack. Even my little skinny E.T. like fingers could not get to the trigger. It was mission time! Eric stole my asender (that is now permanently in my pack) and jumared up to where I was. We fiddled for about 6 minutes before we both nut keys were locked into the trigger wires. Some whiggle and jiggle and it was out!

It was my turn to choose a climb, Eric suggested "Odin" grade 20.  It looked great and it also had a magic floating block, so I was sold. The first 2/3s was pretty cruisey, I reached the magic block and I could see this weird overhanging crack crux move. *swallow* I tried to protect myself with a number 4 but my little arms just couldn't reach that part of the crack. I placed a 0.75 in this chosey part of the crack hahaha and then I said to myself "Hope that holds if I fall". I pushed myself into the crack wedging my feet in as well. Then my right hand went to a Gaston behind my head, where I had to match with my other hand. I let out a mighty power scream *rawwrrrrrrr* and managed to pull the move.  I thought to myself that is such a hard move for a grade 20.  The rest was super nice hand sized jams, amazement. :)

Eric wanted to lead "Devils Dyhedral" grade 20, he did it with ease and I followed him up. Such a great climb and it was way easier than "Odin".  

Eric asked me..."What do you want to do now?" I said "I love the climb "Voices in the Sky"" a grade 25 face climb. The only thing was, I did't know if I had the balls that day to lead it!  Eric wasn't going to put the gear up for me :P There were a few factors against me:

1. It was in the blazing sun
2. I've never led anything that hard
3. It only had small gear on it (luckily I just got another set of aliens)
4. And I was scared as F** o.O

But I wanted to 

1. Conquer my fears
2. Show Eric how awesome the climb was
3. Try really hard
4. Climb the whole climb placing excellent gear!

So it was on, "Eric, I have the balls, lets do this!!!!". I racked up all the smaller aliens, cams, nuts and scrotum.  With the last words of encouragement from Eric "Go for it, you might surprise yourself or else you can just figure out the moves". Well, I was super careful with the first 5 pieces of gear I placed. Then I placed a black cam in a shallow part of the crack, yelled out to Eric "This one doesn't look too good!". As I placed another piece a little higher up my feet slipped and I took a 5 or 6 meter whipper. The black alien ripped out and I was sitting on my next piece of gear.... Wahhoooo! When I was dangling there I realised that I just scrapped the ledge to the left of me. 

I got myself back on the climb, I knew this was the crux and there was at least a 2m run out with committing moves.... I managed to place the next piece of gear by heel hooking and leaning all the way over, I blindly stabbed a green alien in the unknown crack. I slowly sat on it and it was awesome! I figured out the sequencing of the crux... So scary! I eventually got to the top. Even though it was an epic to place gear, my feet were throbbing so much I could hardly edge and my sweat was dripping out of my fringe like a tap, it was a fantastic experience! Now onwards to sending it this season...

Thanks Eric for a super dooper day!!!

Xx   :)

After new years  in the Bluies, hard crimping action gave me the unpleasant surprise of an A3 finger pulley on my right ring finger.  All I wanted to do was keep climbing, I was so motivated.  The thing is, I defiantly had to rest my finger, but I kept on climbing and climbing.  It ended up taking 4 months to fully recover.  I was in Arapiles and the Grampians when my finger was recovering, it was frustrating, but at least I got to climb.  After the trip I came back to Brisbane feeling strong, so I turned my training and climbing up a notch.   After 6 weeks or so my body was starting to say "NO", my elbows were hurting and my triceps.  Every dynamic power move was 10 times harder and that extra effort gave just frustrated me.  I was one tired bunny, emotionally and physically.  Coming back from a trip and going straight back into work and 4 days a week of climbing/training was not a great combination! It has been so hard to stay in a routine when I have a million different jobs, where I'm required on different days, with unpredictable hours and long drives.  

I suddenly had no drive to do any training, climbing or socialising.   My body was screaming out for rest and I didn't realise at the time that I needed rest and lots of it.  I have had slumps in motivation before, but not like this, for the next 3 weeks I pretty much ate in bed and went to work.  Sometimes, I would fall asleep with food in my mouth hahaha. Great example from a dental hygienist! 

Finally, when I got my ass back on the wall, I felt great! My body was healed and I was just climbing for fun. None of this "Must Send" or feeling sorry for myself because I couldn't climb very well.  I've also just spent the last few weeks out of my comfort zone, woo slabby ledgy climbs at Kangaroo point (our local inner city quarry chossey ledge fest)

What I've Learnt:

• If you are as obsessed with climbing as me, you will feel motivated again!!
• Listen to your body, you only have one. Look after it!
• Always remember why you climb, do it for yourself no one else.

Xx

Ever heard of "Crimp Jugs"? They are also known as "Mini Jugs", intended to be held with one hand but still quite positive. I can so relate this to my bust or lack of. :P

I always wanted C cup boobs and I repeatedly thought I was going to get them because my mum was quite gifted in the breast department. Sadly at the age of 21, I realised that these iddy bitty titties had reached their full capacity.   I didn't go as far as stuffing tissues or rocks into my bra but I did always wear a heavily padded bra with that super uncomfortable underwire, yuk.  Liza and climbing taught me that big jugs aren’t everything; I have embraced it so much that I have a word just like "Crimp Jugs" for my tits!  "Mitts" stands for muscle tits or boobies made of muscles.  Due to my pectoral formation from climbing, they are now more muscle than mammary tissue. Hehe

Small boobie advantage list: 

• They just don't get in the way!
• Who wants to go walking into the crag when your boobs get caught on every stray branch on the path or
• When you're doing a mantle and you decide that beach whaling is the best option, you might end up with no boobs left when your slowly slidding down that course rock, you defiantly need the surface area of your tummy as well as your boobs to save you from the impending doom of slipping off that edge or
• When you’re in a frantic rush to find that foot hold right under the line of sight of your boobs, with the seconds counting before you are totally bricked and take a massive whipper.
• And the cross through move where your boobs just in the way of a perfectly stylish technique based move.
• I guess having bigger tits helps you on a slab because it sucks your upper body in but as for overhang its best to have the complete opposite.  When your fore arms are on fire and you can't get your weight to your feet that extra few grams/kilos all counts :P
• Power to boob ratio! Not staying that girls with large breast can't climb but the more dynamic/power moves you do, the more gravity pulls you down in the recoil or downward motion of the breast after you have made the move.  Also they might fly into your face if you’re trying hard enough. Keep them strapped down tightly, in your sports bra ladies. 
• Boob sweat can be embarrassing, the smaller the boobie surface area the less boobie sweat.  Noone wants a upside down T sweat mark!
• When you're crack climbing big knockers it can be helpful if you need an extra boob to cam into the off width crack when your balls’in it and about to fall. This of course is not pleasant, can cause bruising and deform the natural breast shape.
• In the end its always going to be a high gravity day with D sized knockers, they are defiantly good to look at and feel great but climbing wise, for the majority of the time are not helpful.
• Don't forget the constant attention you get from the boys looking down at your chest, when all you want to do is climb! We don't want to get harassed by boys; we would rather onsight your project. :D

Anyways, we are all beautiful the way we are.  No matter what you are blessed with! So love your mosquito bites, E jugs or saggy sandbags.  Remember being confident and having a great personality, out shines a nice set of jugs any day!!!

Xx

BLUE MOUNTAINS! O how I have miss you in this past year.  Another 2 weeks during Christmas and New years was heaven.  Such a fantastic vibe and crew to climb with. Seriously did not want to leave! 

It was like a routine to wake up and eat breakfast, go have a coffee at a cafe then head off to the crag. I love morning coffee! :D Then cook up a huge meal after and just chilled out. 

So after 2 weeks of editing and getting some much needed help from Sarah! This is what I have produced.  

Enjoy and happy viewing!!!

Thanks Logan for making a little video of me on Trix Roughly in the Blue mountains.

This was my best send of the trip, really cool bloudery climb with non blue mountains beta. Can't wait to head back there :)

Enjoy!

Just came back from a 2 week stint in the Blue Mountains over Christmas and New years. It was a slow start to the trip, I had been working very hard since I got back from Kaly. I needed to relax and get used to sandstone again. Met so many people and hung out with friends near and far. Got to climb completely different climbs to the previous christmas and also had a send train going. 

Heres a link to Logan and my adventure on one of the most famous multipitches in the Blue Mountains, Australia. Hotel California is a 10 pitch, 355m climb, graded at 22. It takes an average party 6 hours to complete but we ran into some trouble. It took 3 hours longer than expected. Logan has done this climb before too! 

Enjoy!

Theres a reason I haven't been blogging! Mainly due to the fact that there is just way too much to do in Kaly! Overall, I spent 5 weeks climbing in Kalymnos, Greece. It has been an amazing experience from the climbing, the people local and from around the world, atmosphere, food, it just feels like a second home! 

Ahhh how good have the last 2 climbing days been! Lucy and I started concentrating on 1 day projects and some harder onsighting!

Illiada was our first destination! I finally walked past climb that I knew that I wanted to get on! This steep short roof called Dolonas (7b+) after a couple of really good warmups it was on... There is an awesome cut lose move, thats kinda risky but I was able to stick it first shot! I fell off shortly after and figured out the rest of the beta... On my second shot I had gotten to the last tufa clean, toe hooked and clipped the chains while slipping off the tufa!!! Ohhh such a good route :) Photo below. 

Iannis for our second day on. Did some awesome technical climbs that were slightly slabby and required some thinking! Lucy onsighting them all was quite inspiring! Then we got on Tufa King Pumped this 7b+ that looked amazeballs and was amazeballs! Techniqual start then jug haul on mini tufas, cool sequence through the crux and really varied easy jug haul and hand jamming to the end. Lucy put up the draws, then I had a shot and only fell in the crux... and didn't listen to lucy's beta as I was too in the zone.  Lucy got on it again and killed it, made everything look easy! Then I finished off the day with a dog fest, I just ran out of energy... then realised we did 150m of climbing today more than any other day here! Heres to a rest day :)