Parked overnight at the Os de B parking, we’re woken up by the arrival of the olive pickers. The van thermometer shows 4C inside and -1C outside! After a few brews it is clear that Os won’t be warm enough to climb on for a good while, so we head for morning coffee at Cala Jordi.
Warmed by the fire and a hit of cafe con leche, we hatch plans to go to sector Footballin.
It’s a scruffy looking crag, completely dwarfed by its illustrious neighbour, with less than 30 routes and only one easier than 6b+, so why have I now visited it 4 times? Quite simply, the climbing is brilliant – steep, juggy, pumpy fun. Oh, and the grades are friendly, catches the sun, and it’s 3 mins from the car and overnight parking. What’s not to like?
Helen puts her new found stamina and strength into a very cool ascent of Red Dusk – a really good 6b+/c. I do a few old favourites, including a couple of easyish 7as and fail on the last move of 7a+ at exactly the same point as my last try a couple of years ago. Not getting any better – but not much worse either 🙂 Helen’s definitely catching me up though!