It's a long way to the top

I've been meaning to try some stuff for a while (my whole adult life), that seem to become just one of those things that you always say you'll do & don't actually get around to doing. I guess I have my own sort of bucket list. It hasn't been anything I have spent hours constructing, just whenever a good (or sometimes bad) idea pops into my head, I file it under 'should-do-that-one-day'.
Well, last night after much organising & date changing, a group of us went rockclimbing. Wow.

I am someone who is not on the BFF's side of heights. In fact you could say I have a fear of them IF I don't feel safe. This was going to be a challenge to me & a few others with the same issue.

We had our safety instruction & a quick practice on a baby wall with the instructors overseeing our ability to not kill each other on the full height OMG walls.

The practice walls were hard enough to start with as none of had any real technique or know how but that was part of the fun, being able to have a laugh at ourselves (& each other)...

When we had a few goes we ventured into the I-can-do-this room but were still a little freaked by the sheer height of the walls. Some of us started negotiating by saying we'd be happy to get half way.

Once we were up though, you get so into working on your technique & what rock to cling onto next that you don't realise quite just how high you really are.

I amazed myself & a few others who knew my fear, by making it to the top of several different walls, as did some of the others in our group with fears or injuries. Some people just weren't afraid at all...

The anchor or balleyor at the bottom has an important job of hanging onto your rope, but also sometimes talking you through the tricky areas. After a while, you find your neck is locked in an upright position much like an airline tray table.

As the height of the walls we were climbing grew, as did our confidence & some of our stronger participants tried the angled & not so flat walls. I was impressed.

No one in our group had ever done it before so we were all out of our comfort zones and were able to not only learn a new skill, but have a great social night that didn't involve food or drinks.

I highly recommend an attempt to anyone, because after seeing where our group started & how we finished up, it reinforced my belief that adults need un-serious play time too and coupled with something energetic was a win-win for all.

Our social group is accepting new members so if anyone would like a go at something like this or similar (dinners...yes there does have to be food involved sometimes, shooting range day etc, please check out http://www.facebook.com/pages/Strictly-Speaking-eating/237697946258157 )

Have a go people! Thanks to the group for making it such a great night. x