Melanie Jackson: May 2013

So its been well over a month now since Wiz and I arrived in Australia and a lot of things have been happening. This is just a quick update on what has been going on over here in the Blue Mountains.

Firstly, we have moved out of our bush home. Some would say we are moving up in the world, and I would have to agree. We have gone from living in a tent under a tarp, to living in this:

The Barn

Inside the Barn

A HUGE thank you to Claudia, Tek, Gabby and Angie for their generosity. They have taken us in and been so so good to us! It has been awesome to meet such nice people who have been making our time in Australia that so much better!

Little Angie is 9 years old and is absolutely crushing!

Angie climbing at Boronia Point

We first met Angie at Wave Wall when I was seriously struggling to pull myself up my project. While I was hanging around, next to me was this little youngster casually cruising up my earlier project. Since we have been staying with them, we have been out climbing with Angie a lot and she just doesnt slow down! Its awesome to see. She recently sent her first grade 27, Wrong Movements, which I am currently trying. To be given Beta by a 9 year old is something you dont get everyday. Angie has some serious talent.

Since being in the Bluies we have been out climbing most days and are still going hard. For me, I began to struggle a little bit, and found myself in a bit of a lull with my climbing. But have recently pulled myself out of that by sending my first Blue Mountains 27, White Linen. I was super stoked that I did it in only 4 attempts, which is the quickest I've ever sent a 27 so was psyched. There is hope for me yet!

I have recently been setting my sights on some of the longer routes up at Shipley. As I have only really climbed in New Zealand, longer routes have been intimidating me a little bit. To be able to climb something harder than 26 for more than 25 metres is something I have never done before, so it has been cool to find climbs that have tested my endurance and strength. It has begun to get quite cold here now, and its good to be able to climb in the sunshine at Shipley without the holds getting slippery and sweaty.
We have also been out on a bouldering trip which was fun. Was good to get out and do something different.

Day Out Bouldering

In the meantime, Wiz has been crushing also. He has few big ticks under his belt and is still going! Its been good to climb with him and we have met lots of strong climbers who we have been climbing with lots to so its always a good day out! There are so many psyched climbers around that you just cant help but be psyched yourself! Its cool!

So thats about it! The trip is still going great, and will most likely spend a couple more months here before a ticket to Europe is booked! We are heading off to check out Nowra for the weekend so it will be good to go somewhere new and see what its like!

We still haven't got many photos of us climbing but they will come. For now though, here are a few photos of some fun things we have been up to! Will hopefully have some climbing photos up soon! :)


We've gone from eating food like this.....

To food like this.......

Which Pair Do I Choose???

Angie Got Hold Of Wiz HAHA

BEST Homemade Pinata Ever!

So I've finally began my travels! First stop: Blue Mountains, Australia!

Me and Wiz have been in the Blue Mountains for nearly 3 weeks now and it is AMAZING! The climbing is unbelievably good and we are meeting so many awesome people!

I arrived in the Blue Mountains with no expectations! Having only really climbed in New Zealand, I knew that it would probably take me awhile to get used to the style of the Bluies and set out to just climb as much as possible, on anything that looked fun. And so our trip began.

We have set up our little home in the bush, are living as cheap as possible, and out climbing nearly everyday! What a life!

Bush Home

Living Cheap: Bin Food!!

I have just been climbing many of the classic Blue Mountain climbs, getting my endurance and strength back after my break over the summer. I have managed to get used to the style of climbing fairly quickly, and on my first day climbing, I realised that in order to do many of the climbs, I would have to teach myself to jump and Dyno, and fast!! Having never really had the confidence to jump while climbing, this was a big mental challenge at first, but now its my favourite way to climb.

So far, the highlights of the climbs I have done so far include Trix Roughly (26), Madge Macdonald (25), Rubber Lover (25), Padington (25), as well as many other really fun climbs!
I have some more 26s and 27s lined up which I have been trying which I am sure will go very soon!

Ive been amazed by how much climbing there is here, and the amount of people I see out climbing everyday! There are so many people climbing hard and they come from everywhere!! Its been really cool being out climbing with all the "Big Guns" of the Blue Mountains climbing scene! Seeing both guys and girls crushing everything is sight has made me super psyched to do the same and im learning so much just from watching and talking with everyone!

So anyway, there is just a quick update on what I have been up to so far! We havent got many pictures of us climbing so far, but they will come!! Here is just a few quick pics of our trip so far! :)

Keep looking out for more updates and blogs from both me and Wiz!