A cultural exchange by the HMC sister club the Herts. Pub & Café Club.

The HPCC meet was once again a great success, despite the poor turnout (Phil, James and myself).

By Saturday the team was eager for the off and looking forward to establishing some new routes following the success of hardcore member John Dunne-Deecake who went over by himself and soloed every bar in Calais, not technically hard but warranting an Expensive grade of E9 possibly E10 if you drink the posh stuff.

Our journey passed uneventfully, brightened in the tunnel queue by Phil making friends with two kindred spirits on the back seat of the car in front.

Once in La France route finding proved a bit tricky (we headed immediately for the wrong booze outlet). We soon

This will be the last Crux I publish before my two-year role as Secretary comes to a close.

Dealing with new members in that time reminds me of when I made that first tentative call to the then Secretary Ian Criddle.  I didn't know what to expect when I dialled those digits that I had found in the back of Climber Magazine that February.  Even after the call I remained unsure about the club and it took me a further two months to actually come down on a Tuesday night.  Fortunately I did. On the first meet attended, Bosigran, my rock climbing career began in earnest with a borrowed harness and silver shadow trainers. 

I have taken great delight in welcoming the new members in the club. The weekend meets, shared adventures in the hills, and the tall tales down the pub later. Here is where early friendships are born and at last you begin to feel part of the club. You are no longer a stranger looking in.

It's now time for me to move on from Secretary at the AGM in April (see back page) and let the enthusiasms of another carry it forward.  I hope you will give them your full support.

Phil Whitehurst

found ourselves making some desperate moves to get back to safety and find the wine warehouse, which was supposedly graded very cheap (French Moines Cher).

Phil thought he could remember the route but it was late by this time, (the French had turned the clocks forward to thwart the expedition) so we quickly trollied up and went for the supermarket route, which, by English prices definitely

Page 2