Kate, Nathan and I took a trip to Swanage for a hot and sunny weekend of chilled-out climbing by the sea. Our first day was at Subliminal, a good introduction to Swanage trad climbing with short routes and good belay ledges well above the high tide line. First we climbed Bypass. Then, whilst I was leading Balcony, a climber on a route to our left clipped some in-situ gear, climbed well above it without backing it up, fell off and narrowly missed hitting the deck, breaking his ankle as he swung hard and fast into the rock underneath. Broken ankle and the shock aside, he kept smiling and was rewarded with some giggling gas and a free flight in a helicopter. The day was rounded off nicely when my Mum, who lives near Weymouth, came to meet us for a fantastic dinner in the Ship Inn.
After the heat and excitement of Saturday, we opted for some shade on Sunday and explored the sport climbing of Winspit Quarry in a relaxed and lazy fashion.
