Fall Bay- First Day Trip 2018

by Abbey Tildesley

The first outdoor trip of the year was to Fall Bay; an excellent day for all our bright-eyed freshers to give this outdoor climbing malarkey a go.
Top ropes were set up over on the non-tidal crag for everyone to get their hands on some real rock for the first time, everyone flew up the routes with real fears of climbing being confronted head on. Whilst the freshers were getting to grips with the famous Gower Limestone, committee members and OG’s were setting up the abseil and, much to my despair, a zip line… Once everyone had given all the climbs a go, coming down with bruised knees and achy forearms, we had a much needed lunch break.
Whilst the zip line was being tested, longer routes were set up over on the tidal crag as the waters dipped away: a new challenge for the new comers to the society to tackle. The last few members made their way over to the newly revealed routes to give a final conquering tackle, before abseiling down to the beach through Giants Cave, with a few brave people giving the zip line a whizz along the way.
A few mini heart attacks and a speedy descent down the zip line later the abseil was ready to go, lowering excited climbers down through the cave to be greeted by the ocean. There was only one activity left to do: SWIM!
Apparently “baywatch” running doesn’t translate too well into the cold waters of the Welsh coastline, so many shivering swimmers the club began to wrap up warm and trudge on back to the cars, a few drops of rain prompting the end of a wonderful first day out and the beginning of a nice warm trip to the pub, the way all great climbing days out end.