Heading South

After enjoying tough Easter European climbing in Osp, we went back home for a couple of weeks to discharge the batteries. On the way back, we got an instant dose of not so repetitive techno by Paula Temple and Ancient Methods in Berlin. Sleeping in the van at Kreuzberg was a new experience for both of us.

Evening in Siurana

Evening in Siurana

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Mykolas vs 7a+ in Osp

We do love Southern France for what it has to offer, from some of the best sport climbing venues to its beautiful scenery to the wines and cheeses, not to mention the baguettes. And yet, we needed a change at this point of the trip. And the change we were in need came with a taste of Eastern Europe.

Mišja Peč full of action

Mišja Peč full of action

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Post Geography of South France

After spending a quarter of our vanlife/roadtrip/“my hair is constantly oily”/whatever thing in Tarn, we decided to enrich our knowledge of southern France geography. As a consequence, in one month we have explored quite a few places that were new to us, with one little exception.

Vultures in Le Boffi

Vultures in Le Boffi

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It is happening again

Martynas: It is 2am in the morning. The urge to pee disturbs my sleep. Not so long and I am standing outside. “Damn, it’s cold!”. A thermometer nearby shows +3C. “Wait, it’s end of summer!” follows immediately. Outside, lit by the full moon, I am starting to drift into an autumn-y mood while thinking about kids going to school, adults going to work, facilities such as a toilet at home, people commuting in cozy tubes, falling leaves, etc. Luckily, I didn’t have many teas in the evening, so quickly I make an escape from my thoughts to the warm bed leaving the melancholy outside.

Gorge du Tarn from Point Sublime

Gorge du Tarn from Point Sublime

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Green Rock in Spain

I always thought that a summer in Spain is very dry, hot and inhabitable, and any sane climber wouldn’t go there during that period of time. Therefore, when first Vilija and Domas suggested to meet in Cantabria / Asturias (North West of Spain) for climbing, I was very sceptical.

La Hermida

La Hermida

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Nostalgia in Gorges du Tarn

Gorges du Tarn is a place that’s a bit special for us. The first time we went there was 7 years ago. It was our first longer climbing trip together. It’s also a place where I did my first 7c and Martynas his first 7a. This year we came back to find the same Tarn and yet different.

Gorges du Tarn

Gorges du Tarn

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Hallucinations after a hectic week

I’m lying in a van bed with a camelbak full of cold water on my head. The head aches. I can see a bunch of men playing petanque through the backdoor of the van. It’s four of them. Three older ones and one younger. I look at the thermometer in my armpit. 37.2C. The digits are still changing. I knew there’s something wrong with me. It’s that recovery run that got me for sure. I look through the open side door. There is another van parked next to us. Very similar to ours. It’s a British version so its side door faces ours.

Happy ladies on Mont Blanc

Happy ladies on Mont Blanc

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Chilling in Finale Ligure

After we left Lithuania, everything we wanted was chill out and rest as the van preparation lasted longer than expected. So we did exactly that. We moved south slowly, stopping by for some climbing and visiting friends on the way.

Home is where you park it (Frankenjura)

Home is where you park it (Frankenjura)

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Dirtbagging start

And so, here we are, on the road, living in a van, traveling wherever we want, stopping whenever we find it appealing. After 7 years of dreaming about it we are actually doing it. The initial idea about what such a trip should look like that we had 7 years ago was completely different from what we now think it will be. And yet, it still involves living without many of the things we use every day not even thinking about it but at the same time also without most of the daily stresses. It still has very limited access to the internet but limitless access to the nature. And this is what we are choosing, deliberately and without second thoughts!

Our home for a while

Our home for a while

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Sinusitis in Chulilla

The Christmas breaks are dedicated to climbing, and this one was no exception. Without much debate, we decided to explore a new, for us, sport climbing place in Chulilla, a small village in the region of Valencia, Spain. This time it included the whole ex-Zurich crew!

Chulilla

Chulilla

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