Rannoch Mountaineering Club 

www.climbrannoch.co.uk

FRIGOROCK   ^{Big Al, October 25th 2003}  

Catalunya 2003

I got picked up and taken to the Profesorios midden in Jordanhill and waited while JD procuratorily fiscalled some bassa from E’boro on his moby. Cool. Then it was smooth audi-glide to Glasgow-Prestwick Airport. PAH! -  that’s a fuckin laff -  Glesga!…..  Prestwick!….fuckin  30 odd stinkin miles away man who do they twats at Ryan Ayr think they are….banjo picking feckwits.

Arrived at Girona-Barcelona Aeropuerto. PAH! That’s a fuckin laff – Girona!….Barcelona!…..who do they twats at Ryan’s Daughter think they are – it’s fuckin 60 miles away for Puta Madre’s sake….banjo picking feckwits.

Gatos y Perros

Drove to the Hostal Roma, down Catalunya way, in Cubells. Right in amongst the muntanyas and that. Pished it down the whole way. The Hostal was so called the ‘Roma’ not after the Infernal City but after landlordo Signor Jaume Roma….baldy wee dego greaser and jamon slicer.

Went up the the Vilanova de Meia crags furra looksee…’cept we coulnae see fuck all cos it was misty, baltic, and pishin down big style. War Council in the carpark resulted in an anonymous decision to get the feck outta there and beat it over to Morata de Jalon in the Aragon Disputacion. ‘Guttie to the Floorboard’ and we were at the Hostal Marivella near Calatayud in a super-pronto 3 horas.

Better weather in these Aragon parts. Snatched a cuppla V+ routes up, at the Sector Reloj….>gulp< …V+!…Jeezoman the arms are fulla mince. Pure desperate. Ach, put it down to the excessive travellothon and altitude thingy. Nae bother.

Lluvia pesada

An extended desayuno ‘cos of the shity cold wetness meant a late start at Sector Tunel and the Gran Placa. Superbo craggy bits and lots to do for the budding middle grade rockjock. …..but I must say Big Riceboy needs to get down to the ‘Bigman at the Catalan Matalan’ for a new perra trackie bottoms. Shockeroonya.

Barras de la Escalera

Drove back up to Cueballs and booked back intae the Roma furra second attempt at the Vilanova de Meia stuff. Up to the crag. A bit more promising. Well, at least we could SEE how fuckin wet it was. Went up to the Roca Dels Arcs lower tier….where all the fast-drying sports routes were. Mucho dampness and depression on the crags. Scuttled off to the Cresta de Connils at lower-lying attitudes and snatched a days cragging. Then it was back to the ‘Roma’ for an evenings entertainment…

 El pis abajo

Next day, abandoned a wet Cowbells once again and slewed the Voxy Zafira along to La Riba in the Costa Daurada Prades bit. Surprisingly, only an hour away. A good day here, even some sun to warm up cold and damp Escocian bones. Bish and Riceboy unfortunately had to depart for Escocia at this juncture. See yez in hell ladz.

Frio y seca

Next day back up to the Meia, where it’s higher but a bit dryer. SANTA MARIA! Clear and dry my-oh-my-oh-my. Me & the Timster vamossed up to the Roca Dels Arcs bit to do Necronomicon….a superb 3 pitcher. Three stars…..at least. Then across to the Zarathustra sector for another classic 3 pitcher. Magnifico. Made the week that did!

El tiempo bueno

Si si si, fuckin typical!….the good weather saves itself till the last day. Incredibly it was only 2°C when we got to the crag at around 10 in the morning, but it was beautifully clear and sunny, and in the sun you get your kit right off and climb in nothing but a pair of week-old kecks…..which I did.  Maravilloso.

The feeling of a Spanish October sun on the back of your sack….and the sweat running down the crack.

There is not much better. Really.

^{Big Al, October 25th 2003}