At the last minute I turned the car out to the Peak rather than heading inside for a wall session and I’m glad I did. The days that are laden full of expectancy can so often fail to deliver. Conversely, days that are ‘obviously’ going to be rubbish turn out to be totally the opposite. Today was a case in point…

The weather was rubbish: misty, damp, mild and not a breath of a breeze – the lime would obviously be condensed and the grit as uninviting as an old tea bag. A day for an inside session if ever there was one. Yet a glimmer of the sun was all that was need for me to chance a wee trip out to the Peak instead. Burbage North, an old favourite of mine, is always worth a look. As usual, there was dry rock; Twenty Foot Crack wall was bone as was Remergence Buttress. Game on…

The first day back on the grit after a summer of lime is never an easy one; there’s nothing for it but to dive in and get on with it. Warm ups done – eventually – it was off down the Valley and time to re-open my account on The Terrace. The good news was that it was dry, the bad news that it was just as hard as ever. I was obviously ‘wearing’ the look of someone getting back onto unfinished business.

“An old Nemesis?” quizzed a friendly couple as they approached and threw their bouldering mats down. I could do no other that to affirm their enquiry. A likely discuss ensued covering climbing walls, the (changing face of the) British legal system, the cost of print, the state of the economy, retail business, politicians, broken promises, coalition governments, civil engineering, calendars, internet sales (wonder how those two cropped up - not!) and the joys of winter bouldering!

Not bad for about 30 minutes together, especially for folks that had never meet before! And that for me is one of the great joys of climbing. That said, it was little wonder we all left without even getting close to a tick. I for one though, returned back to Sheff with my spirits totally uplifted and what else can you ask of a few hours out on the grit. I even got the opportunity to try out the camera on my new Windows 7 phone. Not sure it’s going to replace my DSLR rig but when it’s the only camera you have…

Simple pleasures in life are often the best: a day out bouldering on your beloved Peak Grit with your Five Tennies and a flask of Earl Grey…