In the \u2018Doghouse\u2019
It was my first proper climbing trip away since my replacement knee operation in February 2024 and I had hit the tender age of 71 this year, so I was a little nervous. Because a good friend had asked to go who was not a climber and had never camped, I had booked a day in Paris and a wooden chalet at our campsite.
Both she and Ruth Spillar (who can never persuade Dick to go to Fontainebleau ( \u201cI went there once in the previous century and was not keen\u201d), were to be my passengers, so I thought I would arrive at the site like a climbing Robert Palmer.
Plans often don\u2019t work out \u2013 my friend couldn\u2019t go in the end.
I arrived at Dick & Ruth\u2019s house early on the Thursday in the pouring rain to collect Ruth and head for our ferry at Dover. They live in one of the most potholed roads in Hastings which is generally very potholed anyway and my low exhaust got knocked off. I got soaked tying it back on with plastic ties and we headed off. Somehow, we managed to complete the journey there and around the forest and back in this
fashion without it falling off somehow. But my trousers and underpants remained damp for the rest of the trip there.
Incident no 2 \u2013 third evening on site having consumed a fair amount of whiskey, I managed to scalp myself on the door lintel of the chalet (called the Dog House by my so called friends \u2013 see photo) with copious amounts of blood \u2013 three of my female companions sprung into action to stop the bleeding with a large amount of plasters and padding. I sensed they quite enjoyed having me as their \u201cpatient\u201d. My male friends were less sympathetic.
Incident no 3 \u2013 oui, these things are always in trois \u2013 on our way home I couldn\u2019t find my passport \u2013 looked almost everywhere \u2013 then started searching the internet for how to get a replacement and finding it takes ages, with potentially a long stay in France whilst waiting \u2013 only then to have one more look and finding my passport in my iPad casing where I had put it for safety and to ensure it was not forgotten \u2013 despite this we made our booked ferry home.
Highlights of the trip:
– catching up with a lot of friends
– climbing on the wonderful sandstone formations at Font
– having a great day in Paris with a gourmet meal on the Seine on a bateaux (thanks Ruth for your company)
– helping Ruth to discover that she really likes Font climbing (although I\u2019m not sure that she will ask me for a lift again).
Roll on Font 2026 sacre bleue!!!!!
And thank you Jenny again for organising the trip.
Nick<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
It was my first proper climbing trip away since my replacement knee operation in February 2024 and I had hit the tender age of 71 this year, so I was a little nervous.<\/p>\n