Ropes

Today is my first day back on the ropes.  Mike is there, with his cool confidence and easy laugh, as if not a day had passed since we last climbed together.  So is a climbing buddy of Mike's and we make a nice three-some.  They are both highly trained and they climb one route after another, 5.9 and 5.10.  I remember those days, and it encourages me to see it.

I begin with a 5.6.  I turns out be harder than many 5.7's I've climbed; the sequence is hard, and some of the holds are not that great.  I finish it, after some back-tracking to get the right sequence.  Then I take a rest while Mike and our third do some more lead climbing.   I finish with another 5.6,  doing two laps on it, which feels encouraging.  My energy is good, all I need to do is work on the foundation strength in my muscles and tendons, and that comes with time.

I've had a great time, getting lost in movement and sequence, and being with climbers.  There are people here I know, and they're like a community to me.  The manager, who knows me by name, the barrista who serves me coffee in the morning, and many others who are just familiar but friendly faces.

I'm climbing again on Sunday, so I will probably go for a hike tomorrow.  That way I can take a day off before I climb again, with Mike, at the gym.