Various Berkeley characters' names were mentioned, but it all
sorted itself out Saturday morning when Don Snyder and Patrice
Ayme(?, sorry Patrice) showed at my door at 6:30 am.  Heavy footed
action brought us to the Pinnacles at about 8:40 am and the clock
(and us as well) started to tick.

Don warmed up on Between a Rock and a Hard Place (11a, 10 bolts) -
Patrice and I followed.  10 months of traffic has not really
helped this route, still has a loose lower section and both
cruxes have no usable holds below chest level.  Does have
its crankin' moments, though.  Patrice has the solution to
all that ails the mudpile - "I will take a beeg needle and inject
zee rock with glue - in 5 years everyone will be gluing."
On to the Monolith.  I flashed Ape Index (11c, 3 bolts), by 
doing a two handed lunge and grap for the initial sloping jug.
Rope pulled, Don up, I remembered what Wayne said about shorter
people moaning on this one.  Don missed the jump, but stuck a
hard static move to get it on his next try.  Patrice tugged
on the bolt to enjoy the upper arete moves.   Don flashed Black
Dagger (11c, 4 bolts) - Patrice followed on his second try, I mostly
flailed.  Don flashed Feed the Beast (11c, 4-5 bolts) in a very
impressive effort, Patrice followed free, I hung a lot.  Turns
out compulsively switching cable stations with my TV remote is
not adequate finger training for the more demanding Pinnacles routes.
I tried to lead Men at Work (11b, 4 bolts, new).  I got the 
undercling, but couldn't do a small headwall above and took
a few falls.  Bellizi showed on the trail to give useless beta.
I could have been nicer instead of "what the hell is this bolt
doing here" (zigzag line of bolts) but oh well.  Don hiked to
the top to set up a TR so Patrice could rescue my draws.  We
jogged to the car (4 pm) and drove hard (my house at 6:30 pm) -
plenty of time for Don and I to make it to our social engagements.

Joel