The North Sea ferry was a little bumpy (just for a change), but we arrived at Bergen OK just before sundown. A two hour drive got us to Gudvangen, where it had just stopped raining for the first time for four days - the waterfalls were spectacular - as the photo shows.

A cruise on the Nordlys, up the Norwegian coast under a clear blue sky - apparently whilst still raining in the UK - was excellent, we crossed the Arctic Circle whilst we slept and arrive in Bodo a few hours before Colin jetted, from Edinburgh via Oslo. We spent four days climbing in the area, the shot is of a typical Grade 7 route at Bratthammeran. After getting suitable rested we drove on north to Skutvik to catch the two hour ferry crossing to Lofoten - it was was clear blue and flat calm.

After weeks (and weeks) of dodgy weather, the weekend held the promise of something just a little better, so Friday night we skipped up to Colin’s and Saturday Bruce joined us for a day on Highcliffe Nab on the North York Moors, it was a breezy squally day, with impressive shower clouds being pushed along on the wind. We only got wet once though, checked out some good routes and got all the photos I needed.
Sunday was better again, Colin had an afternoon appointment in Scotland so we galloped along to Hadrian’s Buttress, and zipped up it (Severe!!!), he headed north and we walked out via the Roman Wall.

On to Causey Quarry for a bit of bouldering, one last photo-shoot, then its back on the road to Sheffield - as successful a weekend as we could have hoped for.

The weather window arrived as promised, though it was more like 90 minutes than the 8 hours the BBC had suggested! We legged it up the moor (MUCH further than it looks) to Sandy Crag, cracked of the shots I needed then raced up Angel Fingers (”the best HVS in Northumberland”) just as the rain started again.
We ambled back down with the wind over shoulders, chatting away and trying to remember exactly when we were last up there. Back at the pad a check of the guidebook revealed it was September 1979 - half -a-life ago - where does the time go?

A week in Northumberland was the plan to tie up the loose ends, so we slipped away early, and headed up the A1. A brief detour had me thrashing through the jungles of the Eavestones, and getting blasted on the minor grit of Crag Willas (where is that do I hear you say?) before we hauled up to classic sandstone at Simonseat and Ravensheugh.
Colin arrived and Bruce turned up too; amazingly we had Corby’s to ourselves - and on a Saturday - I manage 10 routes, Binky went into overdrive with 16! My tally included Tiger Feet (E1 5a **), Sunshine Superman (HVS 5a ***) and Ranadon (E2 5b ***) all routes I had never done before.
As we packed in and headed for the cottage the rain arrived and much, much more is forecast for the Bank Holiday - especially down south!

Before the great spring weather decided to break we had another weekend visit to the Dales to start tidying the Yorkshire grit section of the new Northern England guide.

Conditions were superb as I skipped round Rocky Vally and Rylstone, getting a nice set of pics of these great cliffs - there were not many climbers about though!
The following week it was still superb so off we went once again - the Chevin, Caley, Earl and Eastby followed by tea and a beer in a boozer in Skipton, then a night’s B&B in the pub in Eastby.

The next day was another cracker so it was up to Simon’s Seat, for photography, sunbathing and a bit of soloing. Its a grim job but someone has to do it!
That just leaves Northumberland to sort out - so that will be Half Term week occupied.