At this time of the year there is very little light in the evening and so on Wednesday evenings, we are restricted to venues that are easy to get to.

This evening, we were further restricted by the tides. This left only Pennard (or The Quarry) open to us.

I had my eye on a VS 4c there. However Stealth wanted to do an E1 5b. Stealth started after a while and backed off when he realised that the rock wasn't very sound. Well I have always told him that about Gravesend! Gravesend at that moment was not his favourite crag!

He got a piece of gear stuck and had to retrieve it on abseil. By that time the light was reaslly fading and my poor night vision precluded me from attempting anything half-difficult. Tom and Stealth toproped another E2 5b called Helter Skelter The climb is divided into two short sections. The lower section is overhang and is climbed on largish jugs. The top is very steep and fairly featureless slab.

Tom climbed the lower section ok but avoided the main difficulty of the top section by climbing the top of an adjacent route.

Stealth climbed the bottom section beatifully. Very controlled and in excellent style. He tackled head on the top section dificulty and while he did look a tad wobbly, he succeeded.

Gravesend within the space of 30 minutes had become once more Stealth's favourite crag.

Retired to the Joiners.