Check out the Behind the Scenes film

Matt Pycroft has put together this little film from Hoy. Enjoy.
Can't wait for the full film - crack on Paul Diffley!! There are also some screen grab images on Hotaches' facebook page - go check them out too.

Some photos to be going on with........

 Lukasz has just sent me down these photos and Andy has promised to put pen to paper (well finger to keyboard) later to tell you about his experience - all I'll say is that it wasn't as bad as he'd been expecting - not as scary and that he actually enjoyed the adventure - with only a bit of swearing thrown in!

Check out Dave's blog for his account.


Just found this little bit of film of Hotaches' Paul Diffley interviewing Andy prior to the climb - hear what he had to say and watch him suffer the midges!

Not waiting anymore!

Just a one liner - IN THE BAG!
Details to follow...............

Waiting.......

The last couple of days on Hoy have dawned drizzly so the boys haven't attempted the Long Hope Route. Andy managed to snatch a couple of routes with Mariam on Sunday, somewhere near the Old Man of Hoy and he and Dave headed to Rorra Head yesterday and ticked off a couple of new routes. Dave's lead was approximately E3/4 6a and called Slick John and Andy thought his route was about E2 5b and he hadn't thought of a name!!

This morning however, I got the text message to say that they were walking in under grey skies and going to give it a go. Not heard anything since so I have to assume that they have made an attempt and retreated or they are still on it and hopefully nearing the top.............will just have to wait and see. Will of course post as soon as I know.

Meanwhile back in the real world James Thacker and I have been working hard to get Andy's new website up and running and looking pretty swish. An absolutely MASSIVE thank you to James who is a whizz with all the technical stuff. Go check it out and let me know what you think.

Hoy Part 1

As is usual when Andy disappears off on his adventures he leaves me in charge of the blog......
So here's part one of the Hoy adventure:
After a long journey broken up with a very short night in Edinburgh at Paul Diffley's house, team big white van of Andy, Lukasz and Marium arrived on Hoy and at the plush pad set up by family Macleod and with massive thanks to Mountain Equipment. Yesterday they all headed over to St John's Head to get started with trying to get all the rigging in place for the intrepid film crew.
Andy was keen to get the first abseil over the top out of the way and can confirm that he was right to be terrified - was "well scary". The initial terror of abseiling into the abyss is now over and they have been concocting ways for Andy to complete the crux pitch - ie. how is he going to jumar up in the event of not actually being able to climb it? The first plan was to jumar up one of the half ropes that Dave will be leading on whilst Dave took in on the other - hmmmmm jugging up an approximately 8mm rope - not ideal! Today's plan involves a fixed rope and a massive swing out into space............we will see what the final plan is when he gets there. He might suddenly become superhuman strong and just climb it - it's amazing what fear does to a man!
Anyway, check out a couple of photos from yesterday on Lukasz's blog.
Loving the "Old Man" shot.

A-Hoy!

A couple of months ago I got a very strange e-mail. Dave Macleod got in touch to ask whether I would be psyched to head up to Hoy with him and get involved in his attempt to climb the Long Hope Route on St John's Head. This route has been his project for a couple of years now and he's hoping that this trip will be the final push - especially with Hotaches' Paul Diffley coming along to film. Check out Dave's blog for his latest photos from  a trip up there last week.
My first reaction was to think - f******g hell, no way you are getting me on that crag - it looks completely terrifying!
Why me? Surely there are better rock climbing partners to get along?
My next thought was - maybe he's tried everyone else?
Or maybe it's because I'm supposed to be reasonably competent at rescuing myself and Dave if things weren't going to plan?

Anyway after much speculation on my part and some pretty persuasive arguments from Lukasz and Ruth I found myself saying yes - and that's when the panic set in!!
I've been trying to climb lots and lots - although it's a bit tricky to train for 480m sea cliffs, particularly in the Peak District!

The week has finally arrived and on Wednesday Lukasz, Marium, Mac and I are heading north to begin the adventure. First stop Edinburgh, to meet up with Paul, Guy and Matt - team film, and then on up to proper north-shire and the island of Hoy. Dave, Claire and Frieda Macleod should already be in residence at the Mountain Equipment family cottage and the hard work of lugging kit around begins, and then the terrifying bit of climbing will be upon us - hope Dave is feeling fit and strong and good at building solid belays!!

I've been getting together some essential items for the trip........................................... Self preservation being of importance hence the Ibuprofen, Jumars, Meteor III+, Coffee and Protein Shakes.......M.E. Hoody and Slackline more about entertainment for the days not climbing.

Tour of the Roaches

The day had finally arrived! All this cycling has been in preparation for The Tour of the Roaches sportive. Starting out on the Cheshire Plain and then heading up into the hills and around the Roaches (of course). I had chosen to do the "Giant Roach" which was a mighty 103 miles long - I haven't ridden 100 miles for over 15 years so I was a bit dubious of how it was going to go. Ruth more sensibly opted for the 75 mile route "Big Roach" but then she's never cycled 100 miles!

It was an early start to the day getting up at 6 to get started on the road about 8 for me and nearer 9 for Ruth. We registered and got our goody bags handed over along with the vouchers for a Chorley Cake at the beginning and a Pie voucher as a reward at the end.

As I set off  the heavy cloud turned to rain, I was not looking forward to 7 hours of getting wet (would be a bit like going to work!), luckily it soon stopped and left some strong wind instead.  I had expected to be riding in groups and get towed along but within the first 5 miles I found myself pedalling along on my own, it was to remain like this for the majority of the day, I only rode with another chap for a while and proceeded to go the wrong way!! Which addded a few miles onto the torturous 103. The course was supplied with a couple of feed stations and was well sign-posted ( well most of the time apart from where I went wrong - maybe that was my own fault for not looking enough?)  The hardest section of the ride happened to be around where I often ride which was of great benefit with tired legs as I knew what was ahead - Ruth took the excuse to get off at that point for a little walk - knowing it wasn't going to stop going up hill anytime soon!      

I arrived back to the start about 5 minutes after Ruth - which was good timing as she had the van keys. We collected out Tour of the Roaches mugs and scoffed as much pie, cake and recovery drink as possible whilst watching the end of the Giro d'Italia on the big screen in the Rugby Club - can't imagine what the locals were thinking surrounded by so much lycra!

Before we set off and with our history of rubbish backs, we decided to try out a "warm plaster" - which came from the Pound Shop.

As you can see I went for a lower back and shoulder combo and within 20 minutes of slapping them on and getting moving we both realised that they should be called "bloody boiling plasters". I expected it to last for maybe a couple of hours and then go cool, but not a chance 8 hours later after the ride and sitting around and driving home they were still really hot. Very impressive! I am sending Ruth off back to Poundland for some more ASAP!

So anyway - the official times for our rides were :

Andy 103 miles - 6hours 54mins

Ruth 75 miles - 6hours 13mins

Now these sort of rides are not supposed to be competitions - but obviously there is definitely some "friendly competition" involved, so looking at the end results it looked like I made it into the top 10 and Ruth came home second fastest girl - not bad for a couple of "bloody boiling plaster" wearing climbers.