Vasta poissa olen viimein perillä: Hot days climbing, rainy days resting

We made it to Clanwilliam and our small little cottage at Traveller's rest just before dark on Monday 11th of June. We purchased our climbing permits ready for the next day and settled in to our little home. And what a little home it was! Little clay hut with a pretty view and perfectly enough space for the three of us. The kitchen was very basic but completely fine, shower great and we even had a big fireplace!

After a good night's sleep it was time for the FIRST CLIMBING DAY! We decided on Plateau because of the easy access and some nice sounding classics. Easy access...well that part we completely messed up by taking a route straight up from the campsite with some heinous climbing even before the actual bouldering. Instead we could've just gone by a nice road lower next to the cliff. Weeelll, next time we know :)

In the end we did find our friend Jarmo and the boulders! We started on some really nice warm up things next to a classic 6B+/6C called Girl on our mind and then flashed that thing ;) It was a very pretty route for sure! By that boulder we met a super nice couple, Lucy and Ryan, from Texas and ended up climbing and hanging out with them the next few weeks.

On the same boulder, Chris climbed a cool 7B called Poison Dwarf, after which we continued to Minky (7B) where he did all the moves without an effort. Sending it next time will be easy. The heat that day was insane and we were really melting in the sun. We called it a day quite early.

The next day we found ourselves next to an impressive looking classic called the Rhino (7B+). Ryan had all the moves done and he really wanted to give it another go. The problem is that one needs quite some pads for it and their two little Mad Rock pads weren't quite cutting it. We promised to help out: exchanging pads for beta ;)

First we warmed up again on some beautiful easy problems on a boulder that looked like a leaf! Then we continued to a pretty tall and proud, 6 meter high 6C called Tiger Claw. Wow. I was a bit intimidated to hop on it, but ended up flashing it without a problem! To be fair, it felt quite a lot easier. We also tried a 7A next to it but none of us could quite figure out the moves. After that it was time for the Rhino! Both Ryan and Chris were really close, they took some huge falls but did some huge moves too. It was nice to watch but also a bit sketchy. Luckily nothing happened. Pia, Lucy and I didn't feel like trying it anymore at the end of the day but next time for sure.

Lucy and Ryan turned out to be enthusiastic bird spotters and I was syked! I love birds and birdwatching, especially with people who know more than I do. We quickly spotted some beautiful sun birds (we found two different kinds!) and later also two different kingfishers, some funny weaver birds, bulbuls and helmeted quinea fowls. So cute, all of them.

In the evening we all ended up at a beautiful seafood buffet in Lambert's bay. Muisbosskerm restaurant organizes these buffets whenever there's enough people signed up and the setting is great: you sit outside next to the sea watching the sunset and the cooks making the food infront of your eyes. And food there was: fresh fish, veggies, salad, excellent bread, yams, potatoes, and meat stews. Even a vegan like me got plenty to eat! It was all and all a great evening in a great company. And none left home hungry, that is for sure.

Then it rained for two days straight. We did late mornings, second breakfasts, internetting, reading and shopping. The next day we went to meet Lucy and Ryan in a nice pub with a great terrace in Clanwilliam, where we ate a ton of great food, played card games and admired the views! Afterwards we visited Ryan and Lucy's supernice Airbnb! The way there was a tricky one tho: with the rains, the roads flooded! We were looking in disbelief when R&L drove through the river first...yikes. They did make it and so did we, we only hoped that the water level wouldn't rise even more so we would still make it home in the evening.

We took a little walk next to their house and found some baboons on the other side of the river! Last time R&L had been there, they had also seen a spitting cobra!!! They are dangerous but it would be awesome to see one. On our way home, after dinner, more games, wine and beer, and river crossings, we also saw some kind of an small antelope running next to the dirtroad! Can't wait to go on that safari!