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TR - bolting blues 12-Aug-2013 At 1:59:18 PM f_abe

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Plan: Bolt a bunch of routes on great little overhanging cliff I came across a while ago

Reality: sucks...

Fill up petrol drill, fail to notice petrol dribbling into boot of car. No worries, it’ll evaporate and my food will be fine...

Wonder why I smell petrol the whole way up to the cliff. Think it’s just a result of my spillage, but upon reaching cliff, remove drill and notice entire contents of petrol tank have somehow leaked out. Luckily I had the foresight to put drill in a thick plastic bag, so manage to pour what I can back into the drill, but due to spillage and evaporation down to half a tank. Should be plenty for two routes worth of bolts I think to myself...once the drill’s dried out...

Tis one thing to rock up to an established cliff and bolt a new line. Tis another thing to work out where routes should go on a virgin bit of rock. Waste time faffing. Then the sole of my shoe falls off.

Tis also a risk buying cheap chinese drills for $200. For some reason, fuel tank lid refuses to seal and petrol continues to leak. Abseiling down and keeping drill clear of rope is proving to be a challenge, but not as much a challenge as actually drilling. Ten minutes per hole is not how it should be. Two and a half holes later I give up. The rock is just too hard, I’m nearly outta juice (which continues to dribble out), and my shoulders feel ready to explode from holding the heavy mofo. Spit the dummy, uncomfortable walk back to car, drive home for consolation beers.

After a few, have a quick fiddle with drill and discover the trick to actually turn the hammer function on (instructions useless thanks to indecipherable translations). Wonder ruefully how much easier my lilfe woulda been had I discovered this a year ago. Drink more beer to avoid ruminating over a wasted days effort...

But it wasn’t really wasted. In between cursing drills, china, and everything except my own incompetence, I got to watch eagles soar by, waterfalls tumble down mountains, and marvellous views all around. And once the leak’s sorted (or eat humble pie and borrow a mates pansy electric number) I have an excellent reason to go there again...