Oh, by the way, on a lighter note...I finally beat Noah Kaufman at chess!!!! It was a punishing defeat to the master himself, let me tell ya, and I feel like I can now hold my own at the table. The following morning I also took vicotry over Wills Young. Queen's Gambit Suckas! This is the best opening sequence ever, and I got it d-i-a-l-e-d. I will probably never beat them again, so I am officially retiring from chess as a champion, like a real man.

The other night the owner of the farm we are staying at offered up a local feast to show their appreciation of returing to their farm year after year. I spent some time in the kitchen with the women learning a few secret recipes and speaking a little Afrikans. Before dinner the local farm workers gave us a talent show of sorts for entertainment and we celebrated our 8 days of rain with the coming of a bright outlook in the forecast. As a group we have been trying to expierence as much local flavors as possible. We spent yesterday soaking up the sun on a deserted beach near Lamberts Bay, and after watching the sun set over the Atlantic, we were given a traditional African Braai under grass huts on beach. This was an unforgetable expeirnece for sure and I am remined again that the best part of climbing trips are the spaces between.

Having Tommy around everyday seems to have a big influence on the group moral. Officially an "Old Schooler" amongst this group! Amazing enough, Tommy has been climbing for over 25 years, and is still breaking personal barriers in his bouldering strength. On the 3rd day of shooting a new project for the film, Tommy got up at 7:00 am, in the rain, and went out and claimed the first ascent of Storm Trooper V12. Early Bird gets the worm! Tommy first came to the Rocklands 11 years ago, around the first time Fred first visited this magical place. When Tommy was here before, the Apartheid had just ended and blacks were still not allowed in the local resturants we frequent regularly this trip. Unfortunitly, the wounds here have only healed on the surface, and although we feel safe in the Rocklands, things can be very different in either direction from here.

Development of a new big sector has begun the last few days and the best untouched boulderfields have now revieled themselves under time restraint. Photo work, video work, and number chasing, have all taken a backseat the last few days to the cleaning and developing of the new sector. Like kids in a candy store, those with the worst sweet tooth will tell you that nothing in out sport is better, or more exciting, than developing an amazing boulderfield. I'd have to say that after spending 4 months total here now, I am only just beginning to realize the potientail of the bouldering. Unlimited and without doubt, still untouched. Take a 30 mintue drive from the Rocklands from Clanwilliam and you'll find Woopertal, which is another Rocklands but even a bit bigger. I'm guessing that as it did with the birth of the Rocklands proper, it will take a group of climbers to actual stay in Woopertal for weeks at a time, and begin the mapping and developing of the boulder fields there. Only a few years out are the tales of what is to come from Woopertal.