Lab picnic

Retreat

Off to a work retreat this week in Germany. It's been full of hijinx so far. First, I somehow ended up on a flight a day too early with the Big Boss. Then two taxis came to pick us up, so I went in one and he went in the other (these are one hour taxi rides, by the way). Then I ended up in a pretty odd hotel-apartment away from the conference venue. It was up the hill, which was a pain for me because I pulled my right hamstring on Monday, and it was of course raining. The room was in a building away from the main hotel, and shared with what appeared to be privately owned apartments for pensioners! There was no soap to be found in the room. Since I did not have anything scheduled, I settled down to watch the last set of the Murray Djokovic match which included lots of panning to Sir Sean Connery in between points. I realized that in all my years of playing tennis, I never bothered to figure out the origins of the bizarre scoring, so I wrote down a note to Google it. Why not just Google it then? No internet in the room. Then it was back to the venue for dinner, then back up the hill in the rain. Did I mention that the hotel room smelled of cucumbers? Could be worse, I suppose.


n.b. According to The Internet, the origin of Tennis scoring is not definitively known, but might have something to do with a clock face --15 being 1/4 of the way to "full". 30 being halfway, 40 uh... I guess that one doesn't fit. "Deuce" from "Deux", as in you need two points to win and "Love" from "l'oeuf": an egg, which looks like '0'. I'm not sure I am convinced.

School

The kids started school last week, and it was a little rocky. Both were crying, and Alex in particular was cause for concern after his experience with the Creche (He would cry nonstop for hours until we had to come get him). Today was the first day of his first full week in school and we had been talking it up all weekend. I had also ordered new backpacks for both of them, to be given to them this morning. I dropped them off and it actually didn't go too badly. No tears at all until Alex realized that school was not a one week thing and that he would be going back. Then there were a few tears, but much better than last week. Phew!





 

Porte, Eynard

Went for a ride today. My legs felt pretty terrible for most of the way, but managed to give it a little bit of effort on the climb up to the Fort St. Eynard. Full route: Quaix->Sarcenas->Porte->Sappey->St. Eynard->Quaix

Ice Cream!

Green Arch, of course. We ate them on the curb next to the fountain just up the street, and midway through we heard a loud splash and saw an unsupervised toddler that had fallen in! Chloe ran over and rescued the waterlogged little girl, who was not very happy and eventually her father came out.

Earlier we had a pretty decent Chirashi plate at Ozenya! I'm so happy to have real Japanese food again.

Kalymnos->ATH

The flight from the kalymnos airport to Athens was unfortunately fully booked so we instead went via Kos: drop off the car, clean up the stuff, get ripped off by the Taxi guy for the ride from the studio to Pothia, then hop on the faster ferry to Mastixari. From there, cab ride to the airport and a plane flight to Athens. After a long wait, the Holiday Inn shuttle showed up, we checked in and had an overpriced and terrible meal and collapsed. Poor Alex had developed a heat rash and was in great discomfort. Thumbs down for the Holiday Inn, by the way.

Solo

I got away from the Massouri rat race for some quality time on Telendos: lunch at Zorbas, then a hike past the naked beach and up to the new sectors in the caves. More stunning lines. If only.


Then, a final meal at the Aegean + doughnuts!

Sikati Cave

On our last visit, the guidebook had a picture of a huge cave on the Northeast side of the island, with some text suggesting that it might become the next major area on the island. This was in 2005 and there was actually route development already starting in the cave (called Sikati cave). Videos have been circulating ever since, and Chloe and I had basically been waiting for six years to check it out. A friend of ours had recently been to Kalymnos and had done the somewhat crappy hike out there and told us that it was stunning, and that there was a wonderful and empty beach just below, with perfect sand (a bit of a rarity on Kalymnos). It would be perfect: the kids could play on the beach and Chloe, and I could finally visit the cave to climb. We knew the kids couldn't do the hike, so we asked around at several places, bargained a bit and eventually reserved a boat + lunch for 250E. Not too bad split among all of us, and it would be an adventure! So we showed up this morning at 9:00 at Myrties, met Ionnis at his boat (the Carpe Diem), got all the stuff on board




and we were off!

As we rounded Telendos, Ionnis started up his bitchin sound system and Lionel Richie came wafting over the sounds of the motor and bow spray. Normally I would laugh if someone started playing Lionel, but here in the Aegean on a motorboat bound for a remote beach in perfect weather, it just felt … right. Hard to explain, really.



Soon after, I saw a delicate, tiny bird skimming the waves. It had wispy little wings, almost like … a FISH! I saw a flying fish! So, so cool. Nobody else saw it, unfortunately. Zoe unfortunately got a bit sea sick, but eventually was ok. After rounding the point the beach and cave eventually came into view


After shuttling everything to the beach, installing parasols etc, Chloe, Christine, James and I went up to the cave. James decided he did not want to go down the fixed ropes, so it was soon just the three of us in the cave. We warmed up on a 6 to the left

And then did one more climb to the right: Mort aux Chevres which I did a vue (yes!). It is a spectacular line up huge tufas. Stupendous. The cave was turning out to have been worth the wait. Chloe was climbing strong. This could be her first 5.12… her first of the grade and no better place in the world to do that.




But after only two climbs, we headed back to the beach


Now, we figured most people would consider it pretty cool to be in a deserted Greek beach like this





But there are always people waiting to crap on your parade. Too hot, kids being too kid like etc. So we could only do one more route. It was devastating: Chloe and I were in great shape… the climbing was probably the best place either of us had ever been in our lives (and we have been to a lot of places), but we had to cut it short. Zoe had been bitten by something but was calming down by the time we left. We walked up to the cave again

and got on bar none the best route I have ever been on





Huge tufas, wildly overhanging: the route was Morgan and I almost had the on sight but part of a hold broke. Of course, no time to work the route because of consequences down below, but at least Chloe got on it and was similarly amazed. We quickly got the gear together and got down to the beach were there was even more pleasantness waiting. Nice. So we packed up the Carpe Diem (irony!) and headed back to Myrties

Zeus crag, Archaeological Museum

Zeus crag this morning. The location is pretty beautiful: a fig grove with views of the bay and Telendos

I mostly got shut down here. Expected after yesterday's exertion, I guess, but still frustrating.

Next: lunch in the sauna of Pothia and then off to the archaeological museum of Kalymnos. It is a bit difficult to get to in a car without scraping off paint, but well worth it. It is a remarkable little museum: brand new, beautifully done and with a small but excellent collection including a stunning sculpture of Asklepios. No pictures allowed in the museum, unfortunately. Here is a photo that I took before I knew that though:

There was a small marble statue of a boy with a ball, which I gathered the kids in front of and told was a sculpture of Alex (because of the ball). Zoe subsequently burst into tears because there was no sculpture of her, however. Oops.

They had some reproductions of some amazing maps of Kalymnos upstairs, which I coveted. One from 1697 by Coronelli, and one from 1521 by Piri Reis (in arabic). Both were remarkable. Anyway, the museum is highly recommended.

The signs made it clear that most items in the collection had been plundered and later "donated", and that as a result very little is known about them.

Next, more driving through comically narrow streets, buying of baklava and back to the studio for another ridiculous sunset

Iannis, Therma

Another early morning session today: this time at Iannis. We warmed up on Fence Guest (6b+): good, but sharp. Then on to Zagori (6c), a beautiful a long route which Chloe and I both flashed. Finally, it was the main event (for me): trying to on sight Tufa King Pumped (7b+). Despite not having much time to properly warm up and only being able to get three routes in at a time, Chloe and I have been in probably the best climbing shape we have ever been in. It has been disheartening for both of us over the past five years because we had been stuck more or less at the same level. It's no doubt partially due to a lack of adequate training. This year we did not do any kind of rigorous training, but we did a lot of bouldering, then some gym route climbing and then some routes in Monetier. Somehow it all came together for us and we have been doing really well. I know another part of it is of course due to the soft grades on the island, but even on the same routes as the last trip I feel way stronger. BAck to the climb, which would be a significant milestone for me. I scoped it out well, hopped on, tried to rest on the bottom section, had to reverse moves a few times at the crux, but eventually made it up and over the bulge, hyperventilating, arms pumped to hell, and barely keeping it together mentally. I wedged myself in between tufas, shook out for what seemed like fifteen minutes, then carefully made my way up the final bit. So, so very happy about that one. Probably my proudest climb ever. I know the grade is not that impressive, but it felt great to know that I'm getting stronger. And what a beautiful route: there just aren't routes like that anywhere else that I have climbed. Wonderful. Chloe seconded it and did very well on it. Like I said, she is at her strongest. What a shame that we can't climb more and take advantage.


After climbing, we got back early as promised and we all headed to Therma, near Pothia for swimming. Not my favorite of the beaches, but the food was fine and Alex enjoyed throwing rocks in to the water



I stopped on the way back to the Studio for provisions (pasta, baklava etc). The ladies that worked in the supermarket turned out to be Aussies! Yesterday we had run into some Aussies at the Grande Grotta, and I reported back to Christine about it, who asked where in OZ… and I had to lamely respond "Australia?". Today I was sure to ask where in Australia (Sydney).

Later it was girls night out, so the kids and I made sun prints, I cooked some pesto with the Basil that they grow at the studio, and James and I drank Mythos and Chivas on the porch.

Also, I had to return my beloved scooter.

Pirate Cove!

We all went to the "Pirate's Beach" near Emborios for good food under the cabanas


Looking for pretty rocks with Zoe, and a little kayaking



I was (needlessly) worried about the very steep road out of the cove, but it was no problem at all.

Grande Grotta, Skalia Cave, Emborios

We did another early morning climbing assault this AM. We warmed up on Swiss Baby (6a?), then onto Ivi (7a+? 7b?) which I did first try.


It is such a fabulous route. Steep as hell and with lots of good rests. I find climbs of that steepness to still be quite challenging. I need a little more practice on the so called "3D Kalymnian climbing techniques). Next, onto the first part of Rastapopoulous (6c+), and then I got the on sight of Aegean Sea, 7a+. A crew of Italians had descended upon us, and were mistakenly trying to warm up on Cigarello (7a). It did not go well.


Next, descending like mad to avoid repercussions! There were goats in the way though



Christine, James, Robyn and I went to the Skalia cave, which is pretty cool. Next time I want to bring a mega headlamp though. The iPhone light was surprisingly effective, and there was so much dust down there that James' laser pointer looked great.




Next we went to Emborios, which is a pretty town near the end of the road for beers. It looks like it would be an excellent place for dinner with the kids

Vathi

Today we took the NEW road from Arginonta to Vathi. I should mention the there have been big changes since our last time on the island in 2005: A new road to Palionisos, a new road connecting the center of the island, and oh yeah: an airport! Anyway, the road is quite scenic, if a little bit difficult on a 50cc scooter. Chloe was having similar troubles in the car, but we all made it over the small col and to Vathi without overheating the little lawnmower engines. We had lunch at Poppy's Tavern




And then took the road to Pothia to get back

Where I stopped at the bakery for Baklava

And then back to the studio. We had dinner at the Aegean again, where Zoe helped pick a fish, and then ate the eyeballs



and alex danced

Then, more doughnut balls. Mmmmm

We also had some new neighbors show up: Russian free divers! When not free-diving, they seemed to be showering. Like, continuously and for hours. So much showering in fact that we went past the point where cold water was coming out of all the warm water taps in the building, and to the point where no water at all would come out of the spigot. Nice.