City of Rocks   5/5-12/90

8 days in the City -- it was pretty good.  Cranked many buckets on the way
to bagging all the 3-star routes under 5.11d (except 1), plus most of the
2-star ones also.  Nancy and I climbed mostly with Phyllis (her partner's car
blew an engine on the Oregon/Idaho border); we were pretty well matched.
Amassed a total of 66-70 stars, playing the "star game" (bagging recommended
routes).  Didn't run into Dave Bingham, but climbed with Bill Oldfield in the
afternoon of our last day.

My highlight: tr flash of Strategic Defense 5.11c, after watching a guy try to
lead it the previous day.  Did an extra "victory lap", as it was classic.
Nancy's highlight: freed Bovine Guidance 5.11b/c on her second tr attempt (she
just pulled off the last moves as her skating feet signalled a total pump)!
Phyllis' highlight: tr flash of Hammerhead 5.11b/c friction crux.

Other "5.11" notes:
Redtail 5.10b/c *** (not 5.11a/b * if you skip direct start).
Sudden Pleasure 5.11b ** (C+P tr flash, Nancy hangs)
She's the Bosch 5.11b ** (C: 1 hang on lead, P+N hangs)
Bovine Guidance 5.11b/c *** (C: tr flash + second lap, Nancy freed)
Straight Edge 5.11a *** (all flash, C led 5.6 X alt. to 5.10d R finish)
Tel Aviv 5.12b ** (C: multi-hangs on tr, ratings seem accurate...)

Did a few "contrived" routes -- bolts on 5.10, 3 feet left of 5.6 ground, but
in general the stuff is very high quality.  Those flake buckets (like J Tree
"Klingon Pizzas" but more solid) are great!