Like most of my sports, it appears that the instructions for learning new techniques are always given when you are in mid air, hanging on for grim death and fighting panic...

Past Ballarat, but before South Australia stands an imposing outcrop of rock called Arapiles. It was there that I first started rock climbing. 

Like most of my sports, it appears that the instructions for learning new techniques are always given when you are in mid air, hanging on for grim death and fighting panic. These photos were taken as I was being trained how to bridge - that is you change from one side of the cliff to the other. The reason why there are so many of them was that I was there a long, long time...

There are many different versions of this story. Here's what actually happened... 

Rob had done the climb and was at the top. Sue was waiting. And I had run out of excuses to stay behind.

'Ready?' called Rob.

'Ready.' My voice sounded shaky. But not nearly as shaky as my legs. Pride got me moving, I grabbed the first handhold and pulled myself up.

Climbing is graded not so much on the height of a cliff but on the number of hand and foot holds. The climbing was surprisingly easy - providing you did not look at the view so far below. Halfway up, I was starting to relax and enjoy the climb.

'You should bridge across just about now,' called Rob from above.

'Right. Bridge.' I muttered uncertainly. Hanging on tightly, I placed one foot cautiously across the chimney to the other side.

'Great.' Rob was doing his encouraging act. 'Now bring a hand across.'

Another act of courage or stupidity later and I managed to get a hand on the other side. That's when I made my fatal mistake. I looked at my feet. I looked at my hands. I stared at the hundred foot drop beneath. And discovered I was unmistakably and terrifyingly stuck.

'Hold it right there.' called Sue from below. 'I want to take some photos.'

'Forget the photos!' I yelled. 'Just tell me what to do next!'

'Hang on. I just have to put some more film in the camera.'

'Rob!' I screamed. 'Do something! Quickly!'

Don't panic.' he ordered.

'Smile!' called Sue.

Thirty-six wild eyed, panic stricken photographs later, I finally figured out the correct way to bridge a chimney.Talk about on the job training...