The Approach

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Isle Of Wight

Family time on Isle Of Wight.

With the 4th of July holiday falling on a Wednesday this year, our calculation was that we could eke out a 5-day stretch at a cost of two vacation days: two days for round trip travel and a 3-day window to do the climb and spend the balance with family. Tide tables were showing reasonable windows on our 3 potential climb days as well. And so we were picked up from Heathrow by my cousin Jason and after a quick night at his and Agata’s place we found ourselves on the ferry bound for the Isle of Wight on a sunny Thursday morning. The remainder of the day was spent on a visit to the Old Battery (to chat with the administrator regarding our plans), a little bit of sightseeing and some family times. With the exception of a couple quick London visits, this was our first real trip to the UK and so we were pretty excited at the prospect of climbing in a new to us country.

Photos

Skeleton Ridge

A 100 meter static line, a set of pins, and a handful of screamers – ready for a beach holiday on the English coast (July 2018).

Isle Of Wight

With so few days allotted for this trip, any delays or lost luggage issues could really throw off the whole plan. Fortunately things went smoothly (July 2018).

Isle Of Wight

Packing up at Jason and Agata’s place on our first morning in the UK (July 2018).

Isle Of Wight

Portsmouth on the English Channel – departure point for the Isle Of Wight ferry (July 2018).

Isle Of Wight

Isle Of Wight-bound (July 2018).

Isle Of Wight

Shirley and Auntie on the ferry (July 2018).

Isle Of Wight

Views of Portsmouth harbor from the ferry (July 2018).

Isle Of Wight

Family on the ferry (July 2018).

Isle Of Wight

Departing Portsmouth (July 2018).

Isle Of Wight

On the Isle Of Wight (July 2018).

Isle Of Wight

Agata, William, Jason and Shirley checking out the neighborhood at Totland where we stayed (July 2018).

Isle Of Wight

Not exactly roughing it (July 2018).

Isle Of Wight

Jason and Agata (July 2018).

Isle Of Wight

Tidal beach near the place we stayed at in Totland (July 2018).

Isle Of Wight

Shirley and Auntie taking in some glorious English weather (and some brews; July 2018).

Isle Of Wight

Alum Bay from the hike up to the Old Battery (July 2018).

Isle Of Wight

Shirley on her way to the Old Battery the day before our climb (July 2018).

Isle Of Wight

William, Agata, and Jason on the hike (July 2018).

Isle Of Wight

Views (including of Agata) from the abseil point at the Old Battery (July 2018).

Isle Of Wight

Jason and William at the Old Battery (July 2018).

Isle Of Wight

Shirley and the Old Battery (July 2018).

Isle Of Wight

Our first sighting of The Needles and Skeleton Ridge (July 2018).

Isle Of Wight

Descending into the bowels of the Battery (July 2018).

Isle Of Wight

Tunnels under the Old Battery (July 2018).

Isle Of Wight

William, Jason, and Shirley being hooligans at the search light structure (July 2018).

Isle Of Wight

More of the Old Battery (July 2018).

Isle Of Wight

The family (minus my auntie) on the hike back from the Old Battery. Shirley is checking her flip flops for signs of dog shit (having been previously traumatized in Europe by such things; July 2018).

Isle Of Wight

Hiking back to the car (July 2018).

Isle Of Wight

Shirley and William tearing into some “whippys” (July 2018).

Isle Of Wight

Some random town or village on the island (July 2018).

Isle Of Wight

Oddly enough, we had seen some travel documentary involving the making of Scrumpy’s Cider a couple of weeks before heading over to the UK.  Shit’s pretty good (July 2018).

Isle Of Wight

Beach holiday in full swing (July 2018).

Isle Of Wight

Moorish dancing in Totland…couple of brews and I’m sure I could do that too (July 2018).

Isle Of Wight

Agata, William, Jason and Shirley …should all be paying more attention to the ar’teests on stage vs. staring off blankly into the distance (July 2018).

Isle Of Wight

A late afternoon glow at the beachfront (July 2018).

Isle Of Wight

Sunset views (July 2018).

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