Andy on 'Riverbed' (8b)

In the last few weeks enough has happened to blog about (a trip to Holland, climbing on the beach, 2 trips to Swiss, buying our house, starting at Uni again, featuring in a photoshoot with Mark Savage etc.). But I just never found the time to write it all up.
At the minute we are on our way home from our second Swiss trip (we actually flying over some gorgeous mountains as we speak).
Andy and I spend the last 3 days in Magic Woods (Averstal). We were suppose to stay a week, but Andy got ill the first day, so we booked a flight back earlier. I wasn't too fussed about going home sooner, because my shoulder has just recoverd from an 'injury'. Meaning I wasn't feeling strong at all.
I got my shoulder 'injury' about 2 weeks ago, on our first Swiss trip. We decided to book the two back to back Swiss trips in case we needed two visits to send certain blocs. Our first trip, however, turned out to be very succesful. Andy finished of 'Riverbed' (8b), one of the few hard blocs he had left to do in Magic Woods. He also flashed an 8a, probably the only one he hadn't done yet. I managed to do 'Jack the Chipper' (7c), 'Wallbrand' (7c) and 'Free for all' (8a) and several 7a/7b's. Unfortunately my body did not appriciate the amount of climbing I did. The day after I did 'Free for all' I couldn't lift my left arm when I woke up. Pretty ennoying when you have to get dressed in a tent, I can tell you. It hurt so much that I could not move my left arm up at all (Andy basically had to help me with everything).
It turned out I had overused my left shoulder (inflamation). But after 2 fysio appointments, a prescription of strong painkillers, daily stretching, icing and heating I was able to use my arm again after about a week. After 8 days I could climb the easiest problems at Climb Newcastle, and after about 2 weeks I wasn't aware of the pain any longer.
So the reason I wasn't feeling strong on our second trip was (at least that is what I thought*) because I hadn't really climbed for two weeks. But I must admit, I was happy enough I was able to climb at all. And I even did 'Foo fighter', 'Red Roses', 'Fliegen Erlaubt' and 'Heb da Arch' on our first day, while feeling very unfit.
What the injury did tell me again is how important it is to take rest(days), how lucky you are when you don't have an injury, how amazing climbing is and how much more enjoyable climbing is when you feel fit ;)).
*I wrote this text a few days ago, while flying through the air. Meanwhile, I became ill as well. I think Andy and I both got a fever (I'm still not convinced we do not have Swineflu ;)). Because of my fever, my shoulder injury is back again. Along with some other old injuries. Hopefully we both feel better soon, because I'm very motivated to train hard again.


Me climbing at the BAZ!

Me on 'Free for all (8a)' Probably the move were I overused my left shoulder on

Andy Chilling before his ascent of 'Riverbed'

Me on 'Jack the Chipper'