Rocklands, Part 2
Rocklands
July 1 - July 19
Another three weeks have flown by. We have now been in South Africa for six weeks in total! Time is such a relative concept. At the trip's start, three months felt like it'd seem like a lifetime. I was more lackadaisical the first month or so than I should have been in trying my main objective climbs. Now, I realize it might be the best psychological tactic if I pretend there are only two more weeks left in Rocklands, so I capitalize on as much of our time as possible.
For climbs to come together, many factors are always at play: weather, energy levels, skin, warming up well enough, time to try the climb and rest between attempts, and more. I have not yet experienced the standard definition of 'success.' I sent some climbs quickly, but I have not sent a climb that I am 'projecting' or put in more than a day on. I have been training a lot over the past few years, though, with the primary goal of being able to experience more in my climbing. Training has paid off. I have enjoyed doing more moves on climbs that I would be unable to pull on at all in the past. With improved tactics, eventually, one of these climbs will come together.
Even though we have been here for six weeks, this is the first week where the temperature has finally dropped to agreeable bouldering conditions and the rain has slowed down. From the beginning to the middle of July, it rained every day for at least a week straight. We were able to snag some weather windows and find dry rock, but it was pretty touch and go.
After a week of rain and a cold chalet, we were mentally exhausted and needed a break, so we booked a hotel room in Cape Town. Our timing worked out since the wifi went out an hour later in our Clanwilliam chalet. We later learned that the rain and flooding destroyed a fiber optic line, and wifi in the Clanwilliam Valley has been out all week. More rain rolled in after a few days of fantastic climbing, so we are back in Cape Town already.
In Cape Town, we enjoyed a fancy studio-style hotel with a large heater and walking distance to cafes and restaurants. We have now visited the aquarium and wildlife bird sanctuary in Cape Town. The aquarium has exhibits from the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, which is a unique experience. While it did start pouring when visiting the bird sanctuary, this was a definite highlight. Many of the walking paths to see the birds did not have enclosures; they were free to fly around as they wished. Zane especially has spent much time around birds growing up, working at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary and at the Tracy Aviary at home. The Cape Town sanctuary topped it all!
Cape Town is also a wonderful city with views of Table Mountain, the ocean, and lush jungle-like landscapes. We are not city people at all, but we have fallen in love with it and feel we have more to do here that is of interest to us than many American or European cities. We plan to return once more when it is not raining to experience Table Mountain, the botanical gardens, and the beaches. During the stay, we enjoyed the delicious food, coffee, and surrounding neighborhoods. There is also a much kinder bystander effect here than in other cities we have visited. Last night, I dropped a glove on the street, and a man quickly let me know. The first day we arrived and tried to parallel park, a bystander navigated us into the spot (and congratulated Zane on his excellent parking job).
After a change of scenery after five weeks of Rocklands and a mental break from hard climbing, the persistent rain, and the lack of wifi, we are more rejuvenated and psyched to climb.
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