Post 24 Some fine days out - holiday blog !

The sun decided to shine last week and knowing it was our very last chance to get away before the end of the holidays we packed up and headed for the Lake District. The main agenda for our trip was to pack in as much climbing as possible.  It was an absolute blast and my feet and hands  haven't ached like they did last week in a very long time ! Like a lot of things in life you don't know until you go...rest days were unnecessary and the more we climbed the better we felt, the stiff joints soon eased up in the sunshine.

We headed to Wallawbarrow crag in the Duddon valley first and after a grand day out there headed up to Langdale. The sheer amount of climbing in the Lakes would keep anyone busy for more than a life time no matter what grade your climbing. It is so varied and interesting that every outing is a treat, especially when the weather is fine.

Taking in the views at the top of Wallabarrow

Wallabarrow Crag

Looking through the trees on the 1st belay of Digitation

One of the many highlights for us was  a route named Slip knot on Whiteghyll crag just up from Dungeongill. It's graded a VS 4b which on this particular route is in the exciting "out there", fresh air kind of climbing that definitely gives a thrill you don't experience every day of the week. You do need a head for heights, balance and a certain amount of technical ability to enjoy the experience. It's a great climb and as the very friendly climber on an adjacent route said "it's proper climbing "and I have to agree.

Top climbing on Slip Knot

John on the 2nd pitch of Slip Knot (lots of fresh air beneath your feet !!)

   Gillean enjoying the challenge too!

Looking down from Slip Knot

Harmless cloud photographed whilst on Slab route no. 2  Whiteghyll

Skies over Whiteghyll

The beauty of the Lakes is indisputable.  Although the crags have a real mountain feel about them we did want at least one day to get away from it all. Gillercombe buttress on Gillercombe certainly offers up some splendid isolation. We headed off reasonably early hoping to get on the climb before any other party but all our huff and puff up the hillside was unnecessary.  Apart from a big group of scouts spied from the summit in the early evening sunlight we never saw another soul all day.
So far from roads and dwellings you could hear a pin drop when you stopped for breath and a view.

Looking down from Gillercombe Buttress

With a couple of hours to spare  before dinner we squeezed in a last route at Quayfoot Buttress  and then on Saturday headed to Shepherds and Castle rock before zooming up the road late evening.

Wild meadow flowers at Castle Rock near Keswick

Thinking it was all over for the week my thoughts were drawn towards the studio and all the work still to complete before the Art trail...not to be.... again the weather forced us out for more play!
A trip to Peel and Crag Lough ended the week on a high note with plenty to reflect on.

The sun eventually came out later on

Hazy sunshine 

John going for it on Pinnacle Face

Post 23 Out and about

I never thought I would be saying this but I was quite glad that we have had  some rain forecast in the next day or so. (hope it doesn't linger ?)
Being so preoccupied with the great outdoors in the last few weeks my studio time has been irregular . When I have been in there I've been finishing off a couple of large canvases, and  making some mono prints.

When things are going smoothly mono printing can be an excellent way of producing an image quickly. There is always the element of chance which makes the process exciting. I apply oil paint using various implements such as a pallet knife, brushes  etc anything that makes a potentially interesting mark is worth exploring. Different thicknesses of paint result in  different image quality so it's always fun working in this way and often offers some light relief from the sometimes arduous nature of painting.

Spot the difference

Second print gives a more faint imprint, not a mono print  really

The better weather has been hugely welcome and we have been making the most of it. It's obviously not been wall to wall sunshine and often quite chilly but more days have been pleasantly warm (when the sun came out) and when the showers did come they were light and pretty insignificant. Lucky !

Sky over BerryHill

Berry Hill, Northumberland

I haven't been able to do any drawing on location, rock climbing is pretty all consuming but the sheer amount of time spent outdoors and especially spent on belays gives a lot of time for observation.
When it comes to multi pitch climbing , it feels like a real privilege to be 60 or 90 meters plus up a crag or mountainside getting a birds eye view of your surroundings. It allows you to have a really unique view of the world and something I don't think I'll ever take for granted.

Langdale

I  find the big skies especially inspiring. Seeing cloud formations move and change, watching approaching rain showers and generally soaking up the overall shapes and colours in the landscapes is really visually interesting.

Blue bells at Traprain Law

Big Northumberland skies

Time is ticking on now and whilst we're still avidly forecast watching and hoping for a few more days out ,I have to get back in the studio and get in ship shape for the Crossing Borders Art Trail at the end of the month...not to mention the small matter of returning to my day job too !