Bloganaught of Nanoff: December 2006

Climbing @ Coles Bay....again

More climbing shots from Coles Bay - Lassies Wall, then Travelland

A rope trail to heaven

Can anyone spell "DODGY" ???

I think someone might be showing off a little

But it's OK, because the ever vigilant Amy is there to catch him

A whole lot of rock, and a little bit of Justin

Justin again

Tim following me out

A look over Little Bluestone Bay towards the climbing areas known as Harlequin (far left wall with yellow vertical streaks), Second Ramp (the main ramp centre shot - this is where Jus, Amy and I went climbing several days earlier) and First Ramp (disappearing off the right of shot)

Why are all the photo's of Justin? Here's the hard 21 that Jus, then me, Tim and Brett all managed to scrape through on!! What an effort, it was CRAZY HARD!

I have a movie of myself doing the start of this climb, but it's like 20mb... a little big for uploading here.... [edit] so I have uploaded it to YouTube!

Here's the last one, short little 21 down below Traveland

Christmas Day 2006

Christmas this year was a bit different. Mum, Dad, myself and Michelle were at the shack at Swanwick, and instead of the glutenous feasting and merriment that usually constitutes an Aussie Christmas we piled in the car to go driving up the East Coast to check out the bush fire ridden areas surrounding Scammander and St. Marys. We had lunch on the rocks at Binalong Bay, then headed on to St Columba Falls for a sticky beak.

This is the area known as Four Mile Creek - no wonder the residents were evacuated onto the beach!! There was no getting out of here once the fire came.

The entry in Scammander... damn this fire was brutal!

Not much left of this one... yay for brick chimneys.

Christmas Lunch on the rocks at Binalong Bay - now that's certainly different to the copious amounts of ham, and Christmas pudding that we usually consume!

St Columba Falls from the car park

Close up of St Columba Falls form the viewing deck

Sally and Joel's Wedding

The ceremony in the church was really good and Lucy (Sal's youngest sister) sang in Italian!! OHHH MY GOD - she was wonderful!

The reception was at Strathlyn - the Ninth Island winery - the food and wine was amazing!!

The happy couple

Mother of the bride, the bridesmaids and Sally

The bit that made my night. Sitting next to Paul McDermott, a guy many Aussies know and love - from D.A.A.S., Triple J's breaky show, Good News Week and most recently the dancing show on ABC

My beautiful parents

Sally, Me and Michelle

Merry bloody Christmas

BRING IT

Leaving work very shortly to head up to Launy. My friend Sally is getting married this afternoon - so that should be fun.... two weddings in one month!!

Then tomorrow being Saturday mum, dad and I are heading to the shack at Swanwick. Going to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day on Schouten Island... how far away do you think we could get from everyone???

Boxing Day we will be heading back to the shack and will be there till about the 1st or 2nd of Jan. Everyone is welcome to attend, have a few people keen on climbing and riding... I also have my kayak if anyone wants to give it a squirt!

So to everyone - have a wonderful Christmas and New Years. See you all soon.

Here's a parting tip (thanks to Dougie the Pizza-boy)

"Be good to your mother".

Scamander Bushfires

It certainly looks like the Firerys up the East Coast have their hands full. With 18 houses already confirmed destroyed, there was talk on the radio this morning that a number of other houses would be lost because the owners failed to make their properties "Fire Safe"... what a shame! You think people in bush setting would think about that sort of thing. ESPECIALLY after the fires we had early this season on Hobart's Eastern Shore.

These photo's did the email rounds in Tassie this morning, unsure who took them, but I really like the first one.

Hot Tin Roof

Scamander Inn

And a little closer inn

Climbing The Moai - Tasman Peninsular

Headed down the Tasman Peninsular this weekend with a crew of happy campers - including a select few ready and itching to climb one of the craziest landforms in Tassie.

The Moai - a sea stack, dwarfed only by it's two neighbours The Totem Pole, and The Candlestick - was our target for the weekend. Heading off from the Fortescue Bay campgrounds at 8:30am it took us under 2 hours to get to the top of the descent. Both Canoe Bay and Bivouac Bay on the way in were spectacular areas, and the campgrounds at Bivouac Bay certainly warranting a revisit and at least one nights stay.

It took us about 45 minutes to get down the three abseil legs down to sea level, where we had a bit of a rest and got ready to attack the sea stack. Our intention for the day - to climb "Sacred Site" a grade 18 climb with some bolts and some natural gear. The other climbs on The Moai are Blunt Instrument/Burning Spear a 2 pitch grade 20/22 on the south west arete, and the Ancient Astronaut a grade 24 - a fully bolted climb all the way to the pinnacle.

The short version - we climbed the first pitch to the belay point. I then embarked on the main 25m pitch to the top. This was without a doubt the scariest thing I have done in my life. Sun drenched, 30-40 knots of wind gusts and the occasional spraying of sea spray.... Sizing up the first majorly exposed move, the adrenalin pumping, I just really didn't think I'd have the balls to pull it off. After one or two half assed attempts I boldly went were none of us had gone before and clipped in that first bolt... THANK CHRIST!!

There were several other hairy spots where the wind gusts just weren't agreeing with my tiring arms, nerves and patience. But true to form I finally reached the top and screamed with unbridled joy - my first ever onsite lead of a sea stack - not to mention the natural gear... truly mind blowing. After securing myself at the top, I stood, shaking with the realisation that I had just conquered The Moai.

With the winds increasing, Tim belayed Craig back down and then climbed up after me, cleaning the route. The little bastard was finished in about 10 minutes where I swear it took me at least 3/4 of an hour for that pitch. We did our dance of joy on the summit and then abseiled back down. It then took us the best part of 4 hours to climb out (including hoisting our gear up each of the 3 climbs) and walk back to the camp site.

All I can say is thank god I bought a full carton of beer, coz that first one went down so quickly I swear it didn't touch the sides.

The next big mission: The seaside cliffs at Mt Brown - Paradiso and the Parrot Shelf Cliffs. But I reckon I'll be getting some Coles Bay climbing in over Christmas/New Years before that happens!

And the moment you've all been waiting for - here's the pictorial essay.

The wrecked dredger lying in Canoe Bay

Bivouac Bay - only a short hike up the headland to go

The view from the cliff top above

Timbo on one of the three abseils down

Craggles on his way too

Some scale into things.... it's not as small as you might think!

Me being a twat in all my regalia - ready to attack anything

The fully bolted 'Ancient Astronaut' - grade 24

The view back over to Cape Huay and The Candlestick (110m, grade 16)

Craig doing the cleaning run up the first pitch

Timbo heading up the wall

Craig, Timmy and myself just glad to be in the outdoors - soaking up some sun, sea spray and an awful sea breeze (HUH!, breeze... more like a gale!!)

Timmy just standing around

Craggles secured on the belay ledge

Sizing up the first really bold move

Preparing to disappear around the arete and out of sight

Thank the lord! Timmy and I signaling our victory!

"I'm the king of the world!!"

Abseiling back down

Recovery Session - Sun 17th December

Being chief social organiser for you all, I have made the executive decision to host a casual recovery session / pre-Chrissy catch up on Sunday afternoon - Dec 17th

As most people will be having Christmas drinks (or work parties) in the week leading up to this one, I thought it would be a great opportunity to get together with real friends, and not just the people you know at work.

There will be no pressure to drink, eat or watch any of the Third Ashes Test - although you are most welcome to do all three.

Probably start around 3pm, and we'll fire up the BBQ for dinner about 6:30pm

I'll throw some dodgy snags and the famous chippies on the BBQ, if you want anything else, you had better bring it!

Hopefully see you at my house on the day.

My Bro's Wedding

It was a wonderful day... but just a tad sad too - my baby brother got married. There's really not a great deal more I can say that I didn't say on the day. And if you weren't there then too bad.

Welcome to the family Jess, may you both have a wonderful, happy life together!!

Matt, Me and our gorgeous cousin Hannah

L-R: Barb(Mum), Leonard(Dad), Me, Matt, Jess, Gary, Julie, Jeremy and the two flower girls (the only family member missing, her brother Nick - he was playing the guitar)