Bonus session (Ca-Blau!)

Finished Brian's session early today at the IGC, so Brian, Joe, and I caught a ride with Rui from the IGC and headed out for a few late afternoon laps back at Cascais. It was beautiful late afternoon weather, and blissfully uncrowded - only a couple of other parties on the whole cliff. The late afternoon tide coming in made things a little wet, but not ridiculously so, things were a little moist at the base but plenty dry up top in the sun.

Ran off two climbs today, a warmup V+ and a 6a we'd been eying since the last visit. Brian took first lead on the V+ and did an excellent job; it was consistently overhanging, and shaded slightly right into a series of flakes and large holes, finishing up with a devious reach into a squeeze chimney that leaves you grasping for holds. Awkward, odd climbing - almost felt like trad, with plenty of possible holds in spots but no obvious ones. Everyone fought through this one well. The 6a was called "Bicepes" for a good reason - short, pumpy gym-like climbing with a crux undercling requiring you to pull in tight with the left arm and reach high with the right, followed by thinning holds to the top.

We finished off the evening with a little (ok, a huge freakin' lot of) Portuguese comfort food: francesinha, which is pork, linguica, fresh sausage, steak, and cheese sandwiched between bread, then covered in molten cheese and sitting in a tomato beer sauce. Almost forgot to mention the bonus: a fried egg on top. Good thing where was beer to wash it down...

For future reference (from the American Alpine Journal):