On the July Hutchorium trip of 2011
I Popped thee Question
You have to give me - 10 out of 10 - for location.
Glad she said "Yes"
Mhairi and I tied the knot
Headed south to the Med
for a wee Honeymoon
Malta - Gozo - Comino
Wishing id brought ma boat
We like boats and wow their was plenty to choose from.
I liked the Traditional wooden Luzzu
Fab weather - Fab company - Much Fun
One of the worlds largest container ports
Azure Blue sky's and Palms galore
They seem to value the old
lots of renovated buildings and lookout towers.
Soil is a very highly sought after and rare commodity on a rock strewn very dry island
I can hear the 1st condition of worth
straining to get loose from within your heed.
Does it have any good climbing ?
Im not going unless there is some awesome climbing !
It better have some worthwhile climbing !
I mean fucking big numbers !
I too used to think of my climbing destinations like this - constantly setting myself --Conditions of Worth
Constantly demanding its not worthy of my presence or effort unless its hard___high___sunny___virgin
Unconditional (love) regardless
my motto for the future
We could all practice this !
Deep water soloing was excellent - probably because the sea was 25 degrees
Maltas Blue grotto area - ticked all our boxes
Good climbing on bolts - good Trad - fab DWS - Awesome Snorkelling
yes i know we dont normally talk of such deviant weirdness on the blog
but i have to say
We really loved the Snorkelling
We really loved the Snorkelling
Mhairi stares longingly 
At a mere 70 million bucks worth of boats
This is the Sunseeker HQ Valletta,
out on a private island,
when i asked a local
how to get out there for a tour
This is the Sunseeker HQ Valletta,
out on a private island,
when i asked a local
how to get out there for a tour
he said
"you sir are not well dressed enough, to go out there !"
"you sir are not well dressed enough, to go out there !"
This kind man (Alfred)
dropped us on a ledge,
where we spent the morning clipping bolts in the sun, climbing on some really stunning routes in a perfect setting.
dropped us on a ledge,
where we spent the morning clipping bolts in the sun, climbing on some really stunning routes in a perfect setting.
lunch on a ledge with its own cave to escape the sun, followed by Snorkelling with hundreds of vibrant coloured fish and corals in the afternoon.
All this colour from one cool flower must be the sun.
We thought we had found an awesome hotel, truly stunning location, gardens and swimming pools.
All seemed good for £150 per night --- its the sprawling cattle ranch behind Mhairi
We were happy with our gorgeous room and private balcony with sea veiw
Decided to dress for diner
Shock horror -- when we entered the dining areas -- people were looking at us like we had two fucking heads -- Ok i thought "bit over dressed mabee" -- then i realised --
We were the youngest couple in the whole hotel
SAGA tours Special
The slight odour of pish and soft food
should have given the game away really.
should have given the game away really.
Surounded by the elderly and the clinicaly obese and a few stray cats, we decided to move to another island. I'm pleased to say we are far to young for luxury accommodation.
Comino
A glimpse of Cominos Blue lagoon from the ferry
"You Have to visit the Blue lagoon" all the locals told us this, so here we are and yes it was blue, warm and very very busy, not really our thing but glad we went.
I mean it was great if you like sitting on a sun lounger
watching enormous fat birds scaring the fish by snorkelling.
The limestone rock of Comino
Some is most excellent
But a few bits i played on
very Friable Very snappy footholds
The sharpness of the rock is fearsome
i discovered this by
slicing myself quite deep
from belly to titty
all because a foothold snapped
Apparently its ok to wild camp on Comino
I would consider this next time
The big cliffs on the south of Comino
looked really fab
Hmmmm sounds like a Condition of Worth
GOZO
Xlendi
Very rated for diving
somewhere to aim at Song Thrush !
Ignoring the signs to
"stay away from the cliff as it may be dangerous"
of some nutter jumping from here
Solo traverse of the inland sea
(easy but necky as a large rock sits directly under
the middle of the cave only 3ft under the water)
Certain death if you fell from here.
Spent some time cruising the island
explored most of Gozo in 2 days
Xlendi on Gozo is blessed
with some of the best eating
we have ever experienced
Back to Malta's north coast
We discovered a 70ft wave geezer spouty thing.
Encouraged by a med storm i tried to capture the perfect photo
I got a bitty mesmerised by this spout
took my eye of the ball
totally annihilated by the spout
Soaked to the skin.
After the storm we headed back to south Malta
Better weather better climbing
found a Trad route called "hello buoys"
Classic E2
Superb situation
One of our mate Craigs Runners
was left in remembrance of him
about half way up the crag
one of the best bolted situations
we have ever been in.
however he made quite an aggressive challenge towards my fingers
So i bottled it and gave up
Fishing rod holders on most ledges
placed by clever local fisherman
we always have a great time
but sometimes you meet someone
who just makes the whole trip better
Our Maltese friend - Angelo
I feel humbled to have met this guy
such a character
such great banter - Having never really met many climbers
he thought i was just crazy
but he loved Mhairi
Mhairi and i spent quite a few afternoons
fishing with Angelo
Parrot Fish
he made all the water in the bucket
bright red
Unknown Fish
Bream
What you do isnt important!
The friends you do it with make-ith the journey !
from all of Team Mackenzie
