Converjed

Les Escaldilles - Llo

Probably the most physically demanding and un-nerving thing I've ever done (ditto Ruth). We had the options of the AD or D+ route (it goes F/PD/AD/D/TD/ED - although one web site I've found say the routes there are PD and TD!) - either way we did the hardest! The route climbed 259m in a length of 800m as it went diagonally up this big rock face. There were basically 4 types of terrain/pitches: a very few bits of walking/easy scrambling where you needed little protection, lots of traverses where you were using natural small rock ledges and grooves but with some sort of metal handholds, a few corners highly exposed where you had to step around to the next traverse, and finally a number of vertical climbs of 5m - 20m where you had metal rungs  which were sometimes obliquely spaced. The AD and D+ shared all the top 2/3rds. But the D+ start included a 20m overhanging vertical climb with a sloping wooden plank at the top - which looked flat from below but was a complete nightmare when you got to it. Ruth was pretty much pulled up this bit by the instructor  (she rapidly fell out of love with via Ferrata, but after about the 1/2 mark really got into her stride and enjoyed it). I thought I'd never be able to raise my right arm again my muscles felt so burnt out (and we were only 1/3 the way up). Protection was by two slings and carabiners - but you clipped these onto a fixed metal cable which was only attached (and so would stop a carbiner)
every 5m or so, so from the vertical climb you' slide 5m before the carabiner stopped, and then the sling had about another 5m of shock absorber built in so you'd then fall another 5m before you stopped!

Just to add to the fun most of the fixing points where you had to unclip and clip form the line (one carabiner at a time of course) where right on the crux moves! All this was about 60m above ground level - straight down. I thought exposure was going to be a problem, but you were so focussed on just trying to hang on and get up the only chance
you had to look around (and take photos) was on the easy bit. Needless to say we were all very relieved when we got to the top!



Once back at the town we soaked in the hot tub for an hour or two and had a cafe and crepe at the local Salon de The.



Canyoning tomorrow then home, but after today it should be a doddle
(assuming I've got my strength back and I'll be giving the water jumps
> 5m a miss anyway!)

A really nice ride, 17km, a bit on road but mostly forest and hill tracks through horses and cows and cowbells, with just enough roughness to get the adrenalin going and put the training into practice. I'd guess about 1000m of descent (we started at 2100m). Lunch in the small Spanish town of Lilvia (there's a Spanish enclave around the town which is about 1/2 mile from the real Spanish border as apparently it declared that its town charter overruled the Treaty whereby this bit of Spain was ceded to France). We got back to the hotel about 3ish and all the younger kids have been sat in the hot tub (its now 5.20!), so Ruth's had a good afternoon anyway (mountain biking not really being her sport!).

65km/1h30m bus ride down to the River Aude for the white water rafting. Wet suits, helmets, and lifejackets and a paddle. 6 to a boat, plus a guide.First 5km were Grade 3 rapids, but obviously not exciting enough for the guides so we played games like practising man (or in our case Ruth) overboard, capsize drills and all being made to climb to the top of a 10' rock and jump into the water and swim across the river. Then we had 2 km of Grade 4 rapids where there were several 2-3' drops where the raft just plunged down into the water - Ruth at the front squealing with delight. We also rammed a good few rocks when the front of the boat would just fold up and throw Ruth back! This last section was canyoned with the high road wall on one side (the road about 20-30' above) and a high natural cliff on the other side. Quite stunning.

Then we caught the bus back to the start point and had lunch. For the afternoon we got thicker wet suits, bigger lifejackets, flippers and our "hydrospeed" - a cross between a float, a board and the prow of a ship. You put your arms into it and clench your hands then lie down, most of your chest on the float. Then you do the same route as we did in the rafts but with nothing else to protect you from the rocks. You go in groups of 6 again with the guide leading the way - although often when she fell back to check on people Ruth ended up leading the way through the rapids once put on the right line. Needless to say you got pretty battered as you hit or bounced off rocks- the worst being the ones below the water line which passed under the float but caught your knees! Also often when you tried to flip your flippers the water was so shallow you just cracked your knees on the bottom. After the first 5km about 1/4 of the group opted out of the Grade 4 section, but Ruth was determined to do it. The second section was a lot rougher, the big drops just pushing you right under water - but we all came through it, tired and bruised. Ruth immediately declared that she wanted to do it again - but luckily that wasn't an option. My only real injury was right at the end when following Ruth up a steep dirt slope to the car park she dropped her paddle and I stopped to try and pick it up but slipped and came down hard on the top of my leg - it still hurts!

For supper we went to one of the recommended cheaper resaturants (generally everything seems expensive) but they did a good Prix Fixe for Euro 13 with a salad starter, galette and crepe. Just right. Ruth and I bought the french version of Harry Potter in the bookshop and spent supper trying to translate it - I think we're four pages in!

Nice first day. Simple continental breakfast then out to the boulangerie and charcuterie to pick up lunch, and a market stall was just setting up with fresh peaches too. About a 40min drive down very windy roads to the Gorges de la Caranca. We then did the 4km round trek climbing about 500m, mostly in the shade since the gorge is both deep and heavily forested. At one stop there was a small rockface which had been bolted. Simon (the guide) asked Ruth if she could climb up to the second bolt, which she did and then traversed across whilst he spotted her. Was good to see how confident and professional she was moving on the rock, running her hands over it for the holds. Then one of the older boys was goaded into trying it, he almost got to the second bolt but then fell off, Simon only just controlling his fall! Needless to say no-one else wanted to be shown up by a 12yr old girl! On the return leg the path is cut straight into the rock (in the photo of Ruth you can see it on the far side of the Gorge) with huge drops and no railings (just a rail on the inside to hold on to!). Then lunch and then on to the Bain de Saint Thomas, a thermal hot springs which feeds three shallow swimming pools and the water is 36 degrees. Very relaxing.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/video/2008/aug/15/grandchallenge

Video report from the Guardian on the MOD Grand Challenge which was won by Team Stellar/Cranfield using a mix of robotic aircraft, helicopters and mini-tanks.

Today they were pushing on to Chilas, probably only passing through Gilgit. From Chilas though they should be able to see Nanga Parbat in the distance.

As my Twitter stream shows I watched The Wall production in SL. Quite stunning and really began to show how a virtual world can be used for performance.

I've uploaded some photos to Flickr.