tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90736995393530909322024-02-20T08:07:33.209+00:00South Wales Caving Club - blogWelcome to our blog! <a href="http://www.swcc.org.uk/">Visit our Club web site</a> for more details and how to join.<br>If you would like to be able to write up your own SWCC trips please contact our <a href="mailto:communications@swcc.org.uk">Webmaster.</a>SWCC Webmasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00587459267157864629noreply@blogger.comBlogger117125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9073699539353090932.post-75622971126948119912023-11-29T21:20:00.003+00:002023-12-06T19:54:49.378+00:00Beyond Big Chamber<hr /><div class="separator"><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve;">After spending Sunday morning cleaning mould and plaster dust from bunks, in preparation for </span><span style="text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a href="https://www.swcc.org.uk/joomla-swcc/">SWCC</a></span><span style="text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> going back to normal operations, we didn’t have much time for a big trip, so we decided to go investigate a hole in the floor beyond Big Chamber.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></div></div><div class="separator"><span id="docs-internal-guid-7814aa77-7fff-df5c-3548-e59317523f45"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/z9l_ih-eqNVzlxi0B-BeJIw-gtkGYXooOndfQkGkQS3EOFiIFXSTweBKvlzgEPv0a4PZRhmvJ6LTVqoopq_S33A5sJVj2D3Ug8Vpa1dZwBbQ4VWRqhX_HMXYFeDYi5HS_3--aceNSavLsCU3CrESreQ=w480-h640" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px;" width="480" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>De-moulding the bunkrooms</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></span><span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin: 12pt 1em;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">We’d found this hole on a previous trip, when we were looking for a tight miserable crawl through hanging death. Instead of finding hanging death, we found a hole in the passage, with a traverse off to the left, which neither of us could remember. From the top of said hole, it looked like a fair drop. It was probably a very easy drop down, but self-preservation won over bravery, and we’d agreed to return another day with a rope.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/-t3cZPY_95Cd6eopuvSVrHOK_n3aOY4EGtQjfgupE5ou7ht-FAQTEOvsaMbZblN58dKFMcjYv95vu9u7dL-1LXde_KYUOJTPaUxhkK3uqvIP0V-Sj9Z00smYF3KaQW5JUvT1PNGNb9jRv0MiMmMIm7g=w480-h640" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px;" width="480" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The tempting hole</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;">So on Sunday afternoon, we headed off to check it out. The survey wasn’t giving many clues, the pitch / climb appears not to be marked, and the survey didn’t quite agree with our recollection of the layout. My wellies had disappeared, so I was caving on ice skates borrowed from the tackle store. Caving on ice skates is not to be recommended!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><img height="640" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/Q_LVaGKPaFe1iVBUbTlBFGegCgCn6QsPRPO9F-RPMMiXM3XUII_EF6EYHcuhzA_ZswuCfxBe5usqQQ-QeL3lqfkOd17disHufxQ2v-ZAhjVKBbf7Md3jeQ2gpOkX8MhwUkKJo1fceF4tLEKpKOb4wFM=w480-h640" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: collapse;" width="480" /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">Paul rigged up a safety line so he could go check out the traverse. </span><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">From the passage, it looked very tempting, but as we’d guessed from the location, it rapidly crapped out.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: x-large; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><img height="640" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/_4y6ERPu08ttOwSGenk-0AA5RPgI-no4r5q11BhzSph2fgeaCkhpJMPiFGGjVQ6WqSf2mrMag2Ff3nmQ-aSsAHnMSu9T1Bar6BnDcbQ8kN_RusuM8Te8Jq5XB-aokQahiBtXDqVV8jIBENDyGg4nxng=w480-h640" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px;" width="480" /></i></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The View to Nowhere<br /><br /></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;">We then dropped down the pitch. You drop a metre or two onto a boulder a couple of feet square, then descend through a hole, and after a short free hang, you’re done. For me, definitely a pitch not a free climb.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-5069e2a1-7fff-f74f-3412-127401059c26"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></span></div><span id="docs-internal-guid-36c1e34d-7fff-853f-ea08-8e5b4d705aca"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-fdfb6072-7fff-7aa3-15d2-b174cda88f6a"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/IRQRuO_O7VYmsX1972o4G7ALcmL5mkV88ZAjD1yy5dOys1EYvBi3eSnmQtGPPsTU-F8MZY3pcLXiwa_pN6gdGH05Hc8D3tqDT2_1ulsPsAZeztOTzUdOGFPn61mwIGNl_a0_r4W6HAZqIIVGCq_eoJ0=w480-h640" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px;" width="480" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><i>Paul descending the hole in the floor</i></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We’d dropped into a boulder chamber, with several hopefully looking routes out, however, most lead to disappointment.</span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/159MLzM23ygOWwWviO1Z4gCjzktA1r-Xd6LLWNEd3BR4MTQT-aDxgDYJ_W3G1NbApdGQILIK45308CNlRILjt9kyhGoBd-f5YdLhggA6l-72K5Km3o60BggQOuE3ZObcbK92CFthuSGjWEzTLrbHciU=w480-h640" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px;" width="480" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Investigating beaver sized holes</span></i><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;">We found a collection of passages that fizzled out, or were only passable if you were the size of a beaver. The only way on appears to be down another hole in the floor, but we’d failed to bring any spare rope, so that will have to wait for another day.</span></span></span></span></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span><span><span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/cCXnsNP8rtsUdJC0H13vE1soPyfrfrLVmlmYcV9bo4r1Txraa9ihvtrxQMZcJqe8D2TIx0cp1AzzAvkLWDoBw4hr_FJ-5IsYpW4YRCe90uIvtyvn63Sn5jfq6P72iw1n-JlRZvlp156nSTHKJP4TdfY=w480-h640" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px;" width="480" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Paul investigating a blind climb, using the head-jam method of levitation</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/5G0N3_dzdT4YEBAtqxf9l_31kSxx8ASK9owaLgxdz2xn2rquKAGUpXdd6k3PySxxAn4Uo-Lss2yt_dBbD4gjuwac6AjmHFCHGfhzaBU5I4X2X0WoAFjG5GdiKjuXxv3vRUEWA9J0a0G7Qu8rydk6KbA=w480-h640" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px;" width="480" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Another tempting no exit</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></p></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;">The only consolation was that this area contains cave chocolate, unusual types of formation. Some loose rocks were clearly made from After Eight mints. Seeing as we weren’t entirely sure where we were, we shall hereby name this place After Eight Chamber.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <span><span><span><span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/VKKFkl_jALGVHa_VBUHgW2tYGXKofmaGOhRvEktEUPRZx4Ke5zZQ0qXpzT9KXY_HFP3752j2mjjiMC5JwUxEXvbMwmv3tldSJtnWkMlZFI55NyfX8SjzAazmND5suwUKtm_crJH-IFdWMyjFjxHgErs=w480-h640" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px;" width="480" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-8db8eca0-7fff-16b3-0df8-0e4efabb3c06" style="font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Cave confectionery in after eight chamber</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">One of the side passages led mainly to formations made of chocolate covered cornflakes.</span><p dir="ltr" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-fcd13fec-7fff-a925-829d-32a629e33743"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; vertical-align: baseline;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img height="479" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/t7DXlZcx-Apw4c9zvX9y2u9ZqamgvEp5Vdyw0p28G0m8rqR0I9pmEi0phT6f66xwebozgk9Oac911xXIqt6eOvPgg8RfPnOi7g6yV7tYwUxJyEnnkAW56lwzY2AIhSrC7aMNXNmVo9XMHj4WSn_oaVk=w640-h479" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px;" width="640" /></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Cave cornflakes</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span><span style="font-size: large;">As we were thwarted in our mission by an unexpected pitch, we decided to resume our hunt for hanging death. Somewhere, not on the survey, is a link from Big Chamber to the passageways taking you to the Columns via the SRT route. We reckoned hanging death was to be found around there, so we ditched our SRT kits and headed up to the top of Big Chamber for a crawl around. </span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-f68bf191-7fff-f391-a54f-4faab2786f19"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><img height="640" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/hWmTeEx0kBHE33TUFQDh-nd4PibfZSEK62Xc3AFXxPvZFzrCTJcPftk9Q0mGpE3tEPwAp7Qh7n23Fd1UfhlLn1liIRErrAkTkUbPQOv8zKCoE-ZB8n9lVB0ML7gCldts-qIlsm9U-0gtK98AH3844eg=w480-h640" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px;" width="480" /></i></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Dropping into Hanging Death</i></span><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">We reckoned hanging death was to be found around there, so we ditched our SRT kits and headed up to the top of Big Chamber for a crawl around.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sure enough, on looking in the most unlikely of places, we found the right barely-body size holes between boulders, and crawled and wriggled our way through a boulder choke.</span><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/xVybV66Vzb5RRs-2-Qe05FETly3MKsx1gY9sQ-6Dgm863rp6GfrZrfCu4Np5Npf32FC70P_0J1-7gNnKK25cM-4wloAUEQle7ZW8YVR452D9G-w_YiNULiGf1WSuRQMN3paS417qz18qJTSgAs3S2EI=w640-h480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Wriggling through the choke</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="479" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/-fah_DSbSKJrckjgET1l3g7NONXNx3uTYI9jIonopzUyTRd9O76hz2smcYWjxsTtT82fiWRsUKcI2NOlhiimgXc1Y-VIzCxGI646aGfJ8SNRdtTZh-RNXBse3jvDXMe4lgJ5ONDhXzlheT_SGG-FB00=w640-h479" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Finally room to sit up</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;">Paul sounded very pleased when he entered a chamber and saw tape. firstly, the end of crawling through miserable, second, tape normally signifies something pretty to see. In this case, i think the person doing the taping, I'm guessing Dave Dobson, has done a great job. Instead of the normal stal, there is a lot of mud taped off. My phone did not do justice, but there is a strange beauty about undisturbed cave mud, as well as the scientific value. It was also good to see mud preserved in places where sensible people don't bother going.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 451px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; overflow: hidden; width: 602px;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-ec05a589-7fff-06ce-c990-1fa0802f216a"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 451px; overflow: hidden; width: 602px;"><img height="451" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/hNpBlT0sCTvC-CJB_S789GAZYohwVTwCc9ZJN6D9zCryc4HnPhO05NC6lkjtGtLRm0WaTo89JXt7gvuWbKjGwtRgfdPwinoqPK7t596wxW0U6b1w_nRO8uQMzeMawdJQS2Fku-yFXHZvv2no6wgmros" style="font-size: 11pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;" width="602" /><img height="300" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/hNpBlT0sCTvC-CJB_S789GAZYohwVTwCc9ZJN6D9zCryc4HnPhO05NC6lkjtGtLRm0WaTo89JXt7gvuWbKjGwtRgfdPwinoqPK7t596wxW0U6b1w_nRO8uQMzeMawdJQS2Fku-yFXHZvv2no6wgmros=w400-h300" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="400" /></span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Beautifully preserved mud</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="451" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/KD18uk3XvYR79pHC4PNGWjpiAZs1562-3YC_KY_grYJ0Nm80QCkikedA6A4MrSwXCq_4Hv6WsIdfUMj8mBZaIsAR7O7i5YZIa2wFbCcn3zVTE2vIbQrT0J9nzCMp2f1rFEp_dNctdNBRxltUXlk_sqk" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px;" width="602" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">A fine mud drip indent</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: justify; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: justify; white-space-collapse: preserve;">We turned round and completed the Beyond Big Chamber round trip (recommended for taking people that have upset you). On our way out, we mused over geological features and attempted to work out what we were seeing. </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wx_XtDLcWeU" style="text-align: justify; white-space-collapse: preserve;" target="_blank">Andy Freem’s</a><span style="text-align: justify; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> training led to more questions than we have answers for, but it certainly gave us greater knowledge to ponder over.</span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 451px; overflow: hidden; width: 602px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="400" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/U_FGjcx6s5zj_zWpvDqBLhUPqkPOYYqrFE0hJiPMH0pTcDpn52KcRV_EficpDQimHnATy7HOyFqyt3xpklGschDjzhgVSPL-JfPtNdw_MzYsyyEEmn8Sw-EBOPo_-3OjfZaPY8yr-F96snkTcdr_B-Y=w289-h400" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;" width="289" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Interesting colours to ponder</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table></span></span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Exploring the lesser visited areas so close to the entrance was a great way to spend a few hours. However, I strongly recommend that you never try caving in borrowed Hunter wellies! They are much more suited to traversing the high street on a damp day.</span></div>Helenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07306205196607082824noreply@blogger.com01, 10 Powell St, Penwyllt, Swansea SA9 1GQ, UK51.8258153 -3.661109929.852628744284434 -38.817359900000007 73.799001855715574 31.495140100000008tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9073699539353090932.post-25627152414940447532023-11-05T16:48:00.000+00:002023-11-05T16:48:22.521+00:00An introduction to the Geology of OFD <span style="font-size: large;">Author: Helen Nightingale<br /><br />Course Date - 28th October 2023</span><br /><br /><hr /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Andy Freem, accompanied by Prof Peter Kokelaar, ran a 1 day course introducing us to the geology of OFD. It was a truly fascinating day exploring Top Entrance, teaching us about the local geology. Any factual errors in this blog are entirely mine.</span><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/bngFZSu2vaWNTMr6ZDPsXF1hvjtO02lS2wgzB6JeM6CRNo5HsxbIV2ZKFm314s04iPX1pYbsuH8N7aUfEMQjVpFh9G4WqBl2CzZoRa-H-2pPwhL4u0_DMvQDlsIvotgPdYcT_Lz89x92qQOTsPY097Y=w480-h640" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Not quite geology but a fascinating example of fungus growing from a dead Herald moth (Scoliopteryx libatrix) near the entrance.</span></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;">OFD is mainly contained within a bed of Dowlais limestone, which is about 100m deep, and is laid down on a tilt, hence the cave has significantly greater depth from top to bottom than 100m. Above the Dowlais limestone is a thin bed of honeycombed sandstone, 1-2m thick, then above that is Penderyn Oolitic limestone.</span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/xBceewiGMCrldG-b1-OfpDYKSqJioWkS_OawbSTCmd0WN4aolZuTWCfAqk2mWLx8tY-gpX6OnP8YeiWa2qx60Oe0kOJYf9wHK7zK1CZSu6vScC3On8va_KosmSL7vprCJnENuE0QDUsoIO0AAHr2-zw=w640-h480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Andy explains the significance of Dowlais limestone on the surface above top entrance of OFD.</span></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><span style="font-size: large;">Before going underground, we talked about numerous landscape features important to the formation of the cave. You will have to imagine for now, that there is no Tawe river, no river valley, and there are mountains another couple of Kilometres higher surrounding us. Imagining what is no longer there is quite a skill.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/oQdJ1eDbbHgj_vKfz3Qf1Sw7PsP6k518XzhzjvGx59W9RudrR8T-SxUooe0GktfDhwLmJpSaK6i1AusPsNRYv_TPFf90IBNWJY6U6RbSh548tae_prW_LUOwK89YUBurtu2-hY5yikgkh7nriGHzba4=w640-h480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Attendees of the geology course, standing where the entrance passage used to be.</span></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;">As soon as we entered the cave, we saw interesting things. Pause a moment at the gravel pile just inside the entrance. As you let your eyes adjust to the darkness, consider the fact that all that gravel was carried into the cave by glacial flow via the chimney above. When the cave was active, if you could stand at the gravel pile, you would not be near the entrance, but mid-passage.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/hSH1R1_qPUbUbWTrUC4XWocCl0QXnoPK5RY8g-g8n7uyhGr9grWqcd_86kwY32wG6XiRuZv73xEhvmbJJw7Olo1dnBUdWBwqaBSHyn_S45DgXeyvcrd0X6LoAm1GODZoOD36wSJg2DmLBMYY9rJVaOU=w640-h480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">The gravel pile at the entrance we all walk past without a second thought!</span></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The passage would have extended out into the now-invisible mountain range. Not much further in, we can see dissolution tubes high on the walls of the cave.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/mxTr0ojc8nkJw9uSLWKifrAfynferRedne-q6Ck43otK76fUvzAotBu2Z8TlvJvbthLTk4Ux2W2eA-8nS6Amq0NfVTXMkYcmmhrtUxSv1R7NdCm6m_GSham75YgBTByP_bR5SSJ8hKYWpeidtmEsB5o=w640-h480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Dissolution tubes high on the walls.</span></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The sandstone and oolitic limestone are not conducive to cave formation, and the Penderyn bed on the whole makes a strong ceiling for the cave and is readily visible as flat exposures in the ceilings. The strong rock which makes the distinctive flat ceiling is described as "competent", good at not collapsing. Very different to a few mines I've been in, with highly incompetent ceilings.</span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/V_Vp2zurs4KBdWfSW-56sh-_fyzyAr3Qd3UjAsoyzZLAZEXhp-uZcXgYY9oNy_yXKOITgshBB5P_92iGgWMfhuscTKtQveJMz_bOdx81XdO1CN8cUqQpXiHJI-yREMjsh1GZfkWfrSPKC9eYqfthQO4=w640-h480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Gnome passage demonstrating the strong ceiling, where the Dowlais meets the Penderyn bed.<br /><br /></span></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/VfV3cXSmC1hIrXoh0UcSygGBXVNW8bwd9kB_9sGCHRctEm1wnCq39Yb3u0HBBMkVEarZ-sBbIaZdFX7q92YmioPJNdiuXsnszT0oktlXlrgmpfy0-0xLeQc7sLgdXIUTI-UFiow8yIOVoBIjqmPkh40=w640-h480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Andy discussing geology. Here, very unusually, the cave has formed upwards into the Penderyn. There is very visible evidence of the highly bituminous limestone here.<br /><br /></span></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div><span style="font-size: large;">The large entrance passage would have formed, then filled with relatively static post-production flood waters. The water at the surface was more acidic, so more corrosive, at the surface of these lakes. Flutings can easily be seen on the dissolution grooves, showing vertical rippling at the lake surface.</span><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/QjVxsxOy7EJh6wEZGsMdiHObJxOcj3dpiWQyIOBJ5hR3rFji0hBbwqa6Ghp_9E8kVLB4n-pdG3lHIWZlvQmAjKk9RhIvTlV3lpGWFoG4ECaFbprfAt9fbdlWiej5MRjB_obwzJL4HCg2R4C-zQ7PuIA=w480-h640" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Evidence of fluting.</span></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Dissolution characteristics are also readily found in the cave ceilings. We saw the main roof tube running above us through our route through the cave, created from phreatic pipes followed by the erosion of the limestone beneath. Also, this unusual collection of anastomosing dissolution tubes. If you haven’t seen this feature before, go have a look for it.</span><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/bHpjsVUbkABbEGofbgFpuLbo4GiMoZMz5l8qShoYdqR29Oaj6RDBRwLRRbobC-xJaWVoOfdvjXXbnJbsSR9dOWI8f-vPs6p10VG8N2GCs8MAXnrQzKTKqjMcETVkemou6hGDYM9q71p1hyUE-DoEwKk=w480-h640" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Roof tubes, the anastomosing dissolution tubes forming the cross like pattern in the foreground of the ceiling.</span></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;">People often talk about the power of water in the formations of caves, but we don’t talk enough about the power of ice. We must consider that blue ice played a huge part in creating OFD as we now know it. Many of the blocks we are very familiar with were formed by ice effectively chiselling blocks away from the walls, moving a great mass of limestone against gravity. </span><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/YtdhpZvirLv9ITJ-U-UGx5jBw2SpVkDkoWYZz1sLYnrfrT4yK-yeQWCes_duBzP0VEw8G97qx_FJ2g1mHRK6gQXkXUs-lp6cPVcbwC1ab6txw5RQe0CfZucZwmzhVMol-PfaSmCAgfIb6kE6s0KPA5o=w480-h640" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Discussing the origin of blocks of stone.</span></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;">An interesting feature to look for if you are loitering near any avens, is broken off stall. Domes of ice encased them, breaking off anything hanging in the way, then transporting it elsewhere. </span><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/b-23pM8T65FOuq7HoFEuKQbYytqMnMXqlSuLZtAhVI3Xt1kEW_lYyXLdjeHMPmjqUJkeb5MDkvLB9vCWvd7p_huNzMZHQEOBXTszV5F9qgaQ_zzpp6YBirMPr50ern37O2LLacFidSM0qYZZrQ3QKag=w480-h640" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Photo up Aven, where there used to be more stals.</span></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Mud is also a very important feature in cave development that we rarely value enough. Whole passages would have been filled with mud or silt filled water, for thousands upon thousands of years. We saw mud banks made of numerous striations, showing each occasion where the silt or clay fell out of suspension and settled onto the floor.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/_2vniim2IINpqji4Q4xiezzGeF2ViXhcmrzGSRivkspj37ZHSQtgvisgcha1X2mMEZbB5_-J0ycUVJcNksGwiBMgk_AUHJaV6P9PsZHTUdpSHiy6hzcwuYmx-yhc4q2dO5EiPtSTtCWiEgyQMv96EVc=w640-h480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Andy explaining the origins of this mud deposit.</span></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;">In a location near Arete, there is a wonderful cut-away into the side of a mud bank, very clearly showing the many different layers, and spanning half a million years.<br /><br />We had a look at some of the fossil beds, and talked through death beds and living beds - death beds being less dramatic than the terminology suggests, just fossils that were already dead when covered in sediment, rather than those in living beds - these had a rather more rapid ending. I do need more practice at telling the two apart. It's a bit like trying to tell if a Norwegian Blue parrot has croaked or not, if you don't know what you are talking about. I believe we saw mainly bivalves in the area we looked at with Andy, but coralline fossils can also be found in other areas of the cave </span><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/SY-55FjVgRC0m834X2uHcFm9LkASBxhmguwUcjXmuFGLAu8IHFCj-2Pqux-PFGtC38QEo98Fe4zbBQBe4aKaCvpNDBt6MpxXeYt_1Ar4OFNMBj3V49qjlYDCDwQZFFMq16U_jIQqy1QUr8ZDUUYlTGw=w480-h640" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Schrödinger's coral, dead or alive?… definitely old!</span></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;">This describes, very briefly, just a fraction of the interesting things we saw, and is greatly over simplified. I think all of us came away with a greater appreciation of what we can see if we explore the cave at a slow pace, and a greater understanding of the cave. Everybody went away enthused and wanting to know more. As we walked down the hill towards Penwyllt, clouds rolled in, covering the no-longer existing mountains of a past era. The geological complexity of Cribarth remained bathed in beautiful sunlight.</span><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/_Et1-53_GnalqNZnxfNOyxN2GpDcifIyWJp9mYdqslwoVmW5mcgRrcPyqWb8wBBVzTtPpl29y2vguvkprozrC5Ied6tURxJusAoHPP814wvEAZW-FH7ggEV6rmAWsAhOi8bIUqZpkWstgI6A-44guPQ=w640-h480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">The walk back to the club, with renewed appreciation of the landscape.</span></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">It had become easier to imagine flood pulses ripping through the now remnant passages of Top, and spilling out from a long-gone entrance, sending torrents down the path we were walking. For me, it remains harder to imagine the desert plains of Penwyllt, complete with Pterodactyls in flight instead of crows, or indeed the more Alpine glacial scenery of Penwyllt – past. Perhaps don’t imagine a Dan-yr-Ogof show cave complex in an icy winter though!</span><br /></div></div>Hornbyddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11955053422642525977noreply@blogger.com01-10 Powell St, Penwyllt, Swansea SA9 1GQ, UK51.8258413 -3.661103951.823188936405423 -3.6653954344238282 51.828493663594578 -3.656812365576172tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9073699539353090932.post-19100084021080435502023-08-18T20:40:00.004+01:002023-08-18T20:58:35.145+01:00Caving in Ireland, County Clare<br /><hr /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"> In July 2023, Claire and I spent a week in the Burren area of County Clare, Ireland and squeezed in a few caving trips…<br /><br />Through the power of Facebook we had reached out to local caver Pat Cronin to help us locate and possibly guide a few trips. Pat provided a wealth of advice but due to existing commitments was unable to actually lead any trips. This task fell upon his friend and other local caver Paul McGrath.</span><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/D-304bsel85P2PYmmG7Tl04Fh-PF6GvNVVeBdRWLLJvDnRxQ3K5ag7V6ecg9e8PztDsI6xJnhUYJG_b4aGEgQmJVJHcXl1rnyD55JRT5PL1qfvRQQYMFXs85p5FDlA7_jBBEyQTCLvhCuNtmJl9Bf3g=w640-h480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="The Burren at the coast, limestone paving for as the eye could see." width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The Burren at the coast, limestone paving for as the eye could see.</i></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The SWCC library has several books for the region which can be lent out to members (or you can just go buy them), we used the modern Caves of Mid-West Ireland. Although an excellent book it was no replacement to having Pat and Paul dispense local knowledge!<br /><br />We flew direct to Shannon airport from Heathrow and had hired a car to get around. On Pat’s advice we stayed at the <a href="https://rainbowhostel.net/">Rainbow Hostel</a> in Doolin which is about 1 hours drive from Shannon airport. The Hostel was an excellent base for exploring the area and they were no strangers to cavers hanging muddy kit out on the washing line in their back garden. A pub called <a href="https://mcdermottspub.com/">McDermott’s</a> was 30 seconds walk away. Good food, plenty of Guiness and a live band ensured it was packed out every night we went there!<br /><br />As we flew to Ireland we had minimal caving kit but this did not stop us from visiting several caves. We had arrived in Ireland after a storm which meant the two big systems in the region were essentially off-limits and we were advised to avoid those as they were most likely flooded out. Wasn’t really a big issue as Paul was able to take us to 3 other cave systems.</span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><h1 style="text-align: left;">Cullaun 2</h1><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Our first cave was Cullaun 2, an active stream cave located a few miles North East of Lisdoonvarna, this <a href="https://mapcarta.com/N7710702919/Map">map</a> locates the entrance.<br /><br />Easy going, no equipment required made for a great first cave in Ireland.</span><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/5DMfS9Rz519jW2U_HDpmvIX56JlYnV1j4IUEbS5UfMxZ_NKe3hEIu219uHSIEaZz7EE2WHgdIIgzh2NRGq9RX1eKA_VM8i6ol4n5y5G-SFPLAh04GHw55LQ2AgvYCjVHyfIX7xw_yVg2LQMWehXsqqI=w640-h480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Claire in the streamway of cave Cullaun 2 after recent heavy rain.</i></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/2lyjaM5n2KKSyTBGxmtcwuNAutr9f-J-indZL0JhofLhT5vkaC3sdecjJv2BKt3TqLRUTgBD31uI-Tr4-AFwD5VTfoDcSSo_NETbsa1_Hx_zJ6e425UkJ0g7TOVnU05-h7TUsFYJloMhdkpTygDrY6k=w640-h480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Paul our Irish host, Cullaun 2.</i></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/9PH27-VZDU7pHjc9ENF-qgNPBNWJ4ogd-bmvBvGvwmE6CDfL9lji3zotFQAvGSM-yV07WXUuStjmpT5DdHpfeodD3th9rGuY0UKdb7MiMeqtodi1fh8hJekTcNZsrt64bHNswDMVa-Aqmnt5-565DZQ=w640-h480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Claire admires some of the roof formations, Cullaun 2.</i></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><h1 style="text-align: left;">Faunarooska</h1><span style="font-size: large;">Our second cave was Faunarooska. This was a bit more tricky to find as Paul’s memory of the location of the entrance was hazy. We actually started a rather cool trip into Hawthorne cave that came to an abrupt end so we exited and then went in search of Faunarooska. Thankfully it was not too far, this <a href="https://mapcarta.com/N6147235457">map</a> locates it. Again a system that required no extra kit.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/hmC3CoR_iT2ol_aOXhUnCd4oXuH4LbQsGd9sS01Y7iEosOvvSQH907GbEGy_yOKv5VdX9qIXq5-710EOkN2BLXaC4a1gNeYg6eBbP2h-f1kUsvsUh_j8dnT0ewLCWgDgFZLCYMpN_gG9e6mB83wIPk8=w480-h640" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Duncan looking out of Hawthorne Cave, the first one we found.</i></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/qgKqwdhKlixRShaSG_nPnvSc2Oea3eTX3lcNeHW18DjS52iOy0KbFu5mCViIlbXBT3NS3jjj6Mx0wUYk72AYYpJpuA8qKN1O33yHph-9bIwhWOC87H2Y-YwYhC8qKdOHu8pHfcKK4SdFTFV63RMsJXw=w480-h640" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Following the streamway in Faunarooska.</i></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/kqkhATZV2_GvLDCZgAI1o3GQK--sTstAlRJ2kSCm1r0ZanCfD6x1ar9g30O2cGzfTVQ_TeX4YD70C1srVWvRij9J0Mj9GdRtO6gtOvTYNrUBpTrr-YbtMcTALBa3kII5jaAxQtgjxbjYKyJ8ff1EHA8=w480-h640" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Claire under a curtain in the Faunarooska streamway.</i></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/4wMdrvPwpzKVjrH9LVO8ZNHaba9y_SIUTumZFHANE_8wG15HglDn1qGnku5uNr2-MIPhUOztataBvzJ4xLNiAZD---1CCa62UdGJw5PKxoaKJIMEENsqziajxsqeB_lT7YRoDQ_1Wm97OfoYpgil39U=w480-h640" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Duncan admiring formations in Faunarooska.</i></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Sc0POMT2hcfmkq3oQH4zj4ToY_NeRoS-49kQ5pOh7iyMdKaFlJMwfeh9g7Mzhx_pjlTGaWjoOfF3w3f9REz-IzlRJW49kgBnztivpjuO-8-L31BlqMc7LBcg22SPLpKUTApEHX-nQVyLI_-aeiWYUdM=w640-h480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Claire admiring formations in Faunarooska.</i></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;">No trip to the Burren should be without a visit to one of the two show caves in the region. We went to the <a href="https://doolincave.ie/">Doolin show cave </a>with the ginormous stalactite. The tour guide was suitably humorous and it made for an entertaining trip.</span><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/onVUWBj3MbxaUAIPW8WpxsGCVstw2DR2tR7yg_mEV8ILIyZRIeILSskrBY07UCHcN5M68usm5ZGs0xC_0JCVpY2D2Sw0EvcOuedNM0p92xaSLD_fEpHIp4UoW0j6V44dULjGLXCSQNbgQAfnpiJbcP0=w480-h640" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The mighty stalactite, Doolin show cave.</i></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;">On one of the few days the weather promised to behave we visited the Burren National Park and did the <a href="https://d3n4hhi5bw120f.cloudfront.net/app/uploads/2023/07/NPWS-Burrren-Walking-Trails-2023.pdf">blue Mullaghmore loop</a>. It’s a fairly easy walk with spectacular scenery, definitely worth the effort!</span><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/9ZSQU7ImhpSJPgXv-19rC6ponNA99V1shMU9S2C5qLoGjsLfBK6KWQWKwTyggDI-f5oRD_F63Plp5BgfSwkUXdIn0woIAASuD5PerWJHeFa7zwsIZkm0JIWjbNx0zbm1JfbxpTwlL97S3BaI8rt5p1w=w640-h480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The spectacular Burren National Park.</i></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><h1 style="text-align: left;">Poll na gree</h1><span style="font-size: large;">Alternative spelling is Poll na grai, was to be our <a href="https://mapcarta.com/N7714024733">final cave</a>. Similar to the other two caves, linear in nature with an active stream it has been extended. Part of the route is a hands and knees high level traversing. Not as scary as the midnight traverses in OFD but sufficiently worrying that you would not want slip and get wedged in. The end of the first section ends with a ridiculously tight, up-hill, slippy crawl with no hand holds. Needless to say I failed to get past this choke point whilst Claire breezed it. Credit to Paul, he managed to get through and it looked like it took Herculean strength to negotiate the flat-out crawl! (It was the tight U-bend further on that proved arduous).</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/b2-pfQlZgJmdpYsWoNtZdJBiaTDQMOe9ZHGOpbvP3uFwgFRlVb50ki0SD89vy63CHVd6ycMzzNn2TpA2NoHBirFWlqnnjeir29JqnJL5P-GNbEZb58crQVLoAqFWrQRb9xKrrboAVXJqXfsaN_Oju-M=w640-h480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>A muddy Claire having returned from the by-pass to sump 2</i></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/IqRJZZxTGpEalXclXF5e7VK030_RSi7tyajmEF7TNPmSDfwe3J9mJ_okFXMbjbr5QxsxAR6XUWM_hC3zqjhunwb43Bmey5etJfgQchjyO9Pn9U880FNA07LAym4PiQntQ5bTIEk4gvu_A_nUlWy-6_k=w640-h480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>An equally muddy Paul. The crawl for sump 2 is very arduous.</i></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/NbBsdWy2v7ucZyo_Kzr0XWwFg86danhXDLnWSu9WrKLjPI2vnRxCMSCbmG6i9GdOD44TBgo1smJ9nub2hu0f2LbCWpKWbXS8gJftnS2FvOGCt0Kiv9tzf8_mLm44Lj1fnhBqH1OYMXIHYwyK4jljoBA=w640-h480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Sign identifying cave entrance.</i></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;">That was it. Our remain day was rained out with us escaping to Galway for some city culture. We barely scratched the surface of the caving scene in Ireland and with stunning scenery and great people, Ireland is a fab place and I can’t wait to go back and may be tick off the large systems. We are indebted to Pat and Paul and hopefully we can return the favour by leading them on some choice trips here in the UK!</span><span><br /></span></div>Hornbyddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11955053422642525977noreply@blogger.com1Doolin, Toomullin, Doolin, Co. Clare, Ireland53.0198299 -9.370880999999998953.018539140740756 -9.373026767211913 53.021120659259239 -9.3687352327880848tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9073699539353090932.post-38341000016113344292022-04-22T17:44:00.002+01:002022-04-22T18:08:04.022+01:00The trouble with Tribbles\Cobbles<p><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">About a month ago, I and three others did a through trip in OFD, in which we came out of the Cwm Dwr entrance. I was at the rear of the team as we crawled our way through the challenging restricted section known as Dim Dwr. The three in front had passed through pushing cobbles towards its exit and when it came for me to pass through I was faced with a wall of cobbles. Unable to crawl over, or push them ahead I resorted to screaming for help until one of the team finally came back and dug out enough at their end so I could push the remaining cobbles out of the way to exit. Would be fair to say it was an extremely unpleasant experience getting stuck there!</span></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-8507a264-7fff-673f-9a7b-e3825c22b50d"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The bags storing the cobbles from a previous clearance had failed and were simply spilling their contents back into the crawl. I’m speculating this was accelerated by the big rescue in November 2021 which would have seen hundreds of people passing through that section of the cave system in a very short period of time.</span></p></span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fast forward a month and I had decided to do something about it. Originally I had planned to do nothing more than bag as much as I could in situ. Thankfully the Freem’s offered to help and turned my amateurish thoughts into a far more productive setup. On Tuesday 19</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="vertical-align: super;">th</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> April in just under three hours we absolutely smashed it! Bagging, dragging and stashing the cobbles away from the crawl.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Before we started the work we shoved Andy into the crawl to put things into context, this was about as far as he could reverse into it.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/1w2FsLKJPeYe6aK7xYg8Vgt6srYJq6xb_S1wGkj-2J_Zv3d5vnF4gwkP3JJEtpaD-gDreKAEmTG-FNQZetOz1NnT8LIgQmUZUVjLyHqZKKvKJlArc097gCsHrtXLD-LYRjo4PtNn=w640-h479" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;">Antonia filming Andy. Note all the cobbles.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="360" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/UCE8e0Qwv4u_NWvuT9g72BU2LuASZgXKbMddEPgHbJxM0VVHHQT8veIpfmrh0bNvaIuv_xOCcvGOS6pHfeu_JCaCYE0JmNVtc6UKyUMAgNsTgjSdppyudTZqc2HySEmCcgMDiex0=w640-h360" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;">Andy for scale, demonstrating just how filled the crawl was.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="479" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/kg8fruCXkAnl3QxHzGy7UXO-z4tBLChGpCQlSg6Y0jA_DltlNFerE740VcGaN4RrBPkAMhQZYxhRDXMv7L2M6X-tQfwxFfgukn5NV4vwFAf1PYLfJYsoPwSHWbkUsxGt0EiRXP1s=w640-h479" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;">Andy looking relieved to be out of the crawl!</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="479" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Q-GfKGQ_N9Z_MdpMDHIm8wPaPV9da6dtVz9q4sYhd8CN3iyMgdzuQYt3TXAypFdV6HRrRhy1vOG06BCPymWgfxjZwBu-5350ZWszRn-99iHVr0o49LVfYj4D1hgnI1yISvADOBXF=w640-h479" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;">Looking into the crawl, Andy’s foot for scale, so pretty snug…</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><br /></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We took it in turns to dig and bag up the cobbles. Then we turned into a 3-man haulage team dragging the bags using ropes to a point just beyond the stal boss one has to crawl pass. Once the cobbles were stashed we returned to the crawl and repeated this process 4 more times. 24 bags in total.</span></p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="360" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/ID_Qhddq6rI-iKaI8EL4bwiRapdFoggKCSBMTkNmklyk7T7ZSEftAJRN_cmExMBhKWv7U2VVqRuSmQ8hxSntwLyOqXN4vnJ5fTalz5ZC-hAU8Nd49ixonw4EfPalUAIMO2xgNEDG=w640-h360" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bagging the cobbles.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="360" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/pQW6vXI7O6jBPrlW0kCG2iywXrqfhD_IyiZDKH1fi4gBb5h6kiwdVKzZJg5U5P_wKoyYW3GiTrHEbi9o2yyAz4A0SojdU5hoaKRBceNoUrIRc6xgsXR1H3_mcl1JMos_HtUrY5dM=w640-h360" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;">Antonia, the secret weapon! Small enough to get into the crawl and kick out the big stuff at the tightest point.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="360" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/WybsN41Clx6hEzasaoAL2e9zSpQPUKySpuBU_wMkH4oI4tv5lcOGWcNjBD05t5Xw_bHUthMWsy87AvigMrIN4lugiIDEltZa2dwIRPzzRR5voGORFGh_NeaMRfPjYramymYPn72c=w640-h360" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;">More bagging.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="479" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/bUEHy26k8L-Mya4ctz2gJaHPGc4tKYd-MQlsf-FknKKXSql3kKl_URPpBbbfTFNsc0W_GlowL7rP9LFsTJrFCdocg3KyfczuFU7AHI8r35FsnnJk-c8hWRI8qcve_9A47bwE27mM=w640-h479" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hauling the bags of cobble back towards the entrance. We stashed the pebbles in a small hole on the left some 30m back from the crawl.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="479" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/wPC3kWCerzttvUSs24PUnggHFaoAqKf8mLU4KTSEcJtcyasGfW8A2Cy6wBZ9HJ6435L8bhrJkHRPd8R5E2tmcyKR959Byws7qPZg_rRfvsPreKaVGXggInlJB7cA3HMXVAoqsfep=w640-h479" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;">Andy passes the stal boss, carrying the scrapper used to push the cobbles into their final resting place.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span></td></tr></tbody></table></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img height="479" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/9K1Ha5s55vf2syBqYK2p3fOEjD-zXZjd8nY8NpmLEp5uqhVohjdfoicrz1UvwjvrgrZU7GC86BjQ_f8NtyHzHQr7c1bo0TqFgDMotkuKMIDGSvyJp_8s-M8uZQtE-GdVauLHmwgj=w640-h479" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px;" width="640" /></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The end result, the crawl cleared of cobbles with Andy being able to reverse fully into the crawl.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The crawl is now open to a wider range of caver sizes and could potentially offer an escape route for a lesser injured person? Anyone reading this who has never been through cwm dwr should be aware that this is a restricted space with a tight tube beyond this crawl, if you can get through this you should be able to do the rest.<br /><br />So no more <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Trouble_with_Tribbles" target="_blank">troubles with tribbles</a>…</span><br /><span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="479" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/1yRvQEa0Z8O27kD_JKkCuaAnDPhqDdNdgiWHzx_14lnMtOB-nkhuIb8O6hcb_7KpgfX4W-4jPehrdcJqFNtrPkln8oiMHI-sQsuunRwpFXG7vJArxcZ_28Ic9pAZBFupfI2oYNLJ=w640-h479" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; text-align: right; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>© Paramount Global</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table></span>Hornbyddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11955053422642525977noreply@blogger.com1R8HP+6J Penwyllt, Swansea, UK51.8280636 -3.66344059999999951.817453025719935 -3.6806067376953115 51.838674174280065 -3.6462744623046865tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9073699539353090932.post-37535357976136305302021-11-13T18:34:00.000+00:002021-11-13T18:34:24.200+00:00Llethryd Swallet Reopened!<span style="font-size: large;">Digging team: Luke Ashton, Andy Freem, Antonia Freem, Duncan Hornby, Peter Kokelaar, Gareth Smith & Claire Vivian<br /><br />Other contributors: Val Bednar, Alun Freem, Piers Hallihan, Paul Tarrent & Phill Thomas<br /><br />Photos by: Andy Freem, Antonia Freem, Duncan Hornby & Claire Vivian<br /><hr /><br /><a href="http://www.cambriancavingcouncil.org.uk/registry/ccr_registry_view.php?ID=1116">Llethryd Swallet</a> is a cave found on the Gower peninsula that takes an active stream and became blocked in 2003. A team has been working on gaining access into the system for the last 3 years. Initial attempts focussed on an alternate way in, which became known as Barns Cave and is documented in an earlier <a href="http://swcc-blog.blogspot.com/2019/08/llethryd-swallet-dig.html">blog</a>. Although Barns Cave offered a promising alternative route into the main system a line survey revealed that it was trending in the wrong direction. <br /><br />Attention was then focussed on the original entrance. A concerted effort was made to join the main streamway by finding an alternative higher route that avoided the blocked section.<br /><br /><img height="360" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/GGdFKwKOfWRo4wiBlNlgfuZJfmKlfKWcCRMGoKko_09asxzvjO6Y0aKsVNFf5ml2QqIsjmNgyNZAWrow7AjTURtqlmbGhQQ6OXE33qg49A08DOkBBTVus04KzagC6xr1n8TS-GHD=w640-h360" title="Pushing alternate routes took the team into some rather tight spaces!" width="640" /><br /><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="360" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/OEHEDymHgLLHNkcfrXwnd_LCp7SqswXRoW7vKi8gfnta48dIh_BQwzB-vVCoclr4fXwofuyD06Mqf7_Ys-ok2NceZiIPY2gwMOt-YhzI_wjfZj1-JoZCMOjkpbzyu9WhCvEBUlkT=w640-h360" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Pushing alternate routes took the team into some rather tight spaces!" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Pushing alternate routes took the team into some rather tight spaces!</i></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;">After several digging sessions led by the local cavers a breakthrough was made in August 2021, regaining access to the main stream and the way on to the impressive main chamber.<br /><br />None of this could have been achieved without the permission of the landowners as there is no right of way to the cave entrances. Access arrangements have been set up for permitted caving groups, more details on access can be found at the end of this article.<br /><br />Recent flood events indicate many passages flood to the roof as indicated by leaf litter, so this is a cave that is not to be entered under wet conditions especially if weather reports forecast heavy rain. The swallet entrance can back up several metres to the height of the cavers door entrance.</span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/363Ln8PjTuTYvBLi_raDu9XXLX439afQqw8rmL0HE5bzYsMz5RC_nTqMsaGE7bQLD5ASIij_ofhqx60wO0N0r3iZyBUEoN3KTLA9RqBTjGXdcXJMjdpalJSjBIsnuuvzAdynL5lz=w640-h480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The swallet in low flow conditions. The cavers door entrance is just off to the right of this picture.</i></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/ThVA_CAZ8aFb5psyBfq9xZbIr3PGkbRtnONcHFUrnpuzFMzHZJ0adRKo09k1DrBcX-qCZn1n7jewSk5LvepXC9xEV9NnkVsDwPFiQZLeF8dtUSEp3fpn-_T_AwgmygVZBS_1Ha1E=w640-h480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><span style="text-align: left;">The cavers door entrance. Under high flow conditions this entrance gets submerged!</span><br style="text-align: left;" /><span style="text-align: left;">Note all the debris.</span></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="360" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/cNEITVoYWq3QM0QsipdWcG3VNxyOd3p7wDmqjgakIEh6-kh0HJez8OWRo38s7N0sbh9-WBNZPoMW5zKHxxTn3HoqmOrsiZUGdnjjSa8Rc6s3_QMC9wZuJQKV1ZciIgwdjcWkSSq2=w640-h360" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>After any severe flooding the caver's door often needs to be dug out.</i></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;">There are two technical sections through the entrance crawl that require great care, this is not a trip for novice cavers. The first challenge is under a scaffolded multi-tonne boulder named the S-bend. Small people can get into the void and get round the bend head first, the rest of us have to reverse around the corner legs first up a slope. So a nightmare going in but much easier going out! Large people will likely find this obstacle very difficult if not impossible to pass.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/ZaH9wPkmu-u1-2Cwa2E2A23iTu3Scv2H9INHkkOP6F6TXT5MfCvmMDu9mzEfgXrfmR1OTVid0lG6zNDti15PbnjAXlJCQZ_roQ3lU-2inYu4jjKZmOniUSrZGw_f-SZWtTgbPPs6=w640-h480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Andy entering the S-bend. The scaffolding is securing a large boulder above.</i></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The second challenge is the Grim Reaper, a large boulder seemingly held up by nothing and the current way on is directly below it dropping onto a chock stone that appears to be holding everything together. The digging team is planning to shaw this up with scaffolding because my pants can’t take anymore of this!<br /><br />After <i>carefully</i> navigating the somewhat concerning Grim Reaper everything gets considerably easier having regained the original main stream. Along here are some crawls and walking which eventually leads into the climb up into the main chamber. The ground becomes covered in a fine silt making it very slippy to walk on.<br /><br />The cave takes on a dramatic change in size, initially passing a formation called the mushroom.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/6C2S4pERQWeCTpyc0exVNahdbxnCJUMInZ6dfIHdb7pTo8BFH7gliTKReMSxOWwPv5m6eG3AFQRMBiqzZUSbD1Hm-OPUHACewYSbIODhRcmkWeJ1qKgFteBDVIhO5u0Feb4MhAGx=w640-h480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="The atomic mushroom!" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The atomic mushroom!</i></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;">You enter the lower section of the main chamber and heading off to the left you pass many silt covered stals before entering the awesome main chamber. <br /><br />Just before entering the main chamber the roof dips and you pass under various straws and helictites. One spiral shaped helictite makes a “zzzzzit” sound. On the first time I passed this formation I could not hear it but Claire swore blind it was making the sound. On a second trip the sound was louder and I could hear it but Antonia could not! Seems like the older you get the harder it is to hear.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/93qGqE_WbLyF6zQIoZQwwy0uhY4fNdehY92vIgutrEyIoAulmUsiQgJ-IbUPMZsIgN_ZeuYc0UweC3Uu6CPDF9oWpx0qP5aeDG_dbWtqJw2rbtYQTXpQ_CBfg_fCts-cCXoCry4I" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The helictite in the roof that makes the zzzzit sound.</i></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;">We managed to record the sound which you can hear by clicking on the link below. You’ll hear a tapping sound in the background, that was water collecting in a container. But in the foreground you will hear a very faint “zzzzit” sound at about 1 second into this 3 second recording. You might need to listen to it several times before you hear it and bump up the volume on your computer. But it is there I promise you that.</span><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxQFVwOxmQgrAudfw9bvVx0fhe2M6gGrmlecC5tOH9udWjOQip-r1dYi-DlEnP01CgTyQgA8as8adCVMP7ntA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The sound the helictite was making. Note there is no associated video with this sound recording.</i></span></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The main chamber is a large sloping boulder filled void, with an impressively large curtain dominating the roof. The formations have a grandeur comparable to those often found in other European countries.</span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="427" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/EocgT-pLIKfhig2s-lfZW413nfiCB7GXl4ITS0sHS0hLnHxoAG1nMBoCiJRIYStElJevG1uAwffUj-8ZIUUJVQ_yvTR6xR656Q-79Dft6ATZmgIjKI19w6irfuPfdtm2hLGecvCC=w640-h427" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Claire in the main chamber.<br /><br /></i></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="379" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/NL9NOOX0hQa78ytxZRCY078zXLr8a4n1RISG-zutTf01nK4ivIDRSNnJkspKcHVsyTKSa8ByO9b1LyMis45F-OCGjIQ33NEb3E5czGM6oc3QgWvz2cXybhptKidpRpliom6ZnYGp=w640-h379" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Luke at the stunning curtain in the main chamber.</i></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;">At the top of the chamber is the formation known as the church and steeple which has been abused by past cavers climbing on it, no doubt for that <i>glory</i> photo shot.<br /><br />This has become a centre of attention for restoration. I have to admit I was somewhat sceptical thinking the damage was done and whatever we could do was too little too late.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>I could not have been more wrong.</b></i></div><br />Originally Andy had brought in a hand pump sprayer and I was amazed at the transformative power of this washing the muddy hand prints off the stalactite. What was dull and muddy suddenly burst into colour showing its translucent edges.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/UZgaG6UfaDm5tmQA4B_zo805aKSxvwgIdwa9PDezbIl9D7sVDvN51v_IEDcOLxRf9BnOMXrjYyABuV5o2kKAtk2ZRFm5_3GDANAuDMzfgRJeEmbV08a6iSml2-uYeGK1Zei7aZdU=w640-h480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Duncan uses the hand pump sprayer to do the initial cleaning of the stalactite, note the muddy edges on the background stalactite, that's all gone now.</i></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;">All I could think of was, I have a battery powered jet washer I use at home for cleaning my bike/car, that would blast off the mud!<br /><br />We have had 2 subsequent trips where I have brought my jet washer into the cave and using water sourced from the stream we have begun transforming the damaged formation into something that frankly looks awesome!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="423" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/sW31jqZh0U-uV51VYH0r-fp9w1SStwqItUMd6MJd1dO8b3yM_1WmcF5acQ_y1q98NycxrOTE4JV9IPevesGE3ocazgqOcWoNY2DcAXzjU-XrLukAOoRe45D-T7e1YMhazyIaYBGh=w640-h423" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Duncan using his jet washer, note for comparison the mud covered front of the base of the formation, much of that has started to be removed.</span></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;">This formation has suffered significant abuse in the past and it will take several further sessions to restore it to its former glory for future cavers to enjoy.<br /><br />The jet washer used was a battery powered <a href="https://www.worx-uk.com/pressure-cleaner/">worx hydroshot</a>.<br /><br />If you know the route, the main chamber can be reached in about 30 minutes from the entrance. No ropes\ladders are required to get to the main chamber.<br /><br /><hr /><br />Access restrictions:<br /><br /><b><i>Since the cave blockage in 2003, land ownerships have changed and all previous access arrangements (e.g., in Tim Stratford’s book) are now obsolete.</i></b><br /><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: large;">Llethryd Swallet can suffer total flooding, sumping the entrance series for extended periods. Passage instability exacerbated by regular violent flooding can add to the excitement. Cavers entering the land and caves do so entirely at their own risk and risk assessment. The caves must not be entered immediately after a period of heavy rain, or when significant rain is forecast. In winter, water backs up from ‘terminal’ sumps and submerges all access passages for long periods. </span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: large;">The issuing of a permit is not a guarantee that access will be physically possible.</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: large;">Due to the seriousness of the cave no novice cavers are permitted. Several tight/sinuous sections in the new entrance sections have a ‘size limit’. Rescue from flood entrapment or injury would be problematic.</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: large;">All cavers are required by the landowners to hold BCA cavers’ insurance.</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: large;">The caves (within an SSSI) are gated and locked ( NRW and Landowner stipulations). A key will be made available on-site on the booked days only for pre-booked, permit holding parties (1 per day). Groups are asked to be considerate to others in the caving community by not booking multiple days at this stage in the re-opening process. Evening trips will be possible.</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: large;">Keys must be returned to the on-site key safe immediately after each trip.</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: large;">Access is free. We hope that groups will support and comply with the arrangements making this possible.</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: large;">To avoid conflict with other landowners, access must be via the car park at the south end of Green Cwm (Parkmill), walking up the valley and crossing into the Llethryd Barns land at the south end. Detailed instructions will be given.</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: large;">There is no right of way to the cave entrances and the agreed paths are only for use by permitted caving groups.</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: large;">Full updated instructions and a (conditional) permit for Llethryd and Barns caves can be obtained by email. An illustrated instruction sheet showing surface access, routes inside the caves, and current issues will be sent with each permit.</span></li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: large;">Please use this address for enquiries: <a href="mailto:llethrydswallet@llethrydbarns.co.uk">llethrydswallet@llethrydbarns.co.uk</a></span></li></ul></span></div>Hornbyddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11955053422642525977noreply@blogger.com2JV2H+43 Llethryd, Swansea, UK51.6002939 -4.122257351.599960692790077 -4.1227937418029788 51.600627107209917 -4.1217208581970217tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9073699539353090932.post-35932360315872779472021-09-03T21:00:00.006+01:002021-09-03T21:11:01.430+01:00Bath tub temperature caving!<div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">Team: Duncan Hornby, Simon Lowis, David Mullin, Claire Vivian, Clive Westlake, Tomasz Zalewski<br /><br /><br />Dates: 28th August 2021</span><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/u7YzjiQDkLZn2DQGV2m2UPkEs5hpjvs0Ybyn4zLYGwUjiE-3ffJyE2GSFhw7sc-kBB8JZZtDVOrizUeiWTxifCjFLcq96D2z1GNTT6a1P8urDpZrE5i5DpF6HPak7YRPy-14PeUI=w501-h640" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Passage in Little Neath River Cave. Photo by Tomasz Zalewski." width="501" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Passage in Little Neath River Cave. Photo by Tomasz Zalewski.</span></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><hr /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">So the 28th August 2021 was a big day for SWCC, it was the 75th anniversary celebrations. With many friends meeting for the first time in probably over a year there was much caving to be done before the hog roast and Brian’s shiny cock award...</span><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="470" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/gzbpeEWKCkgaYQMhOYG2kP8b2ISdas0Ov4uF_O1uihqvMzXsYRYOe8buQ3rzXGbupstnq6jlO2OhODRJ0-1JxY8JCjYdNxRKYYzmEzFm132ioOGVZ-oNeCwdEdiKSWc7GTmscGh9=w640-h470" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Brian's long service award, conceived by the late Chris Grimmett. Photo by Graham Christian.</span></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Whilst many ventured into OFD a few of us took advantage of the dry period and hot weather to enter <a href="http://www.ogof.org.uk/little-neath-river-cave.html">Little Neath River Cave</a> lead by the dream team Clive Westlake and David Mullin! <br /><br />The cave is about 30 minutes drive away from Penwyllt and you can park <a href="https://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?x=291185&y=214026&z=115&sv=291185,214026&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map&searchp=ids&dn=615&ax=291185&ay=214026&lm=0">off the track near a bridge</a> as shown on streetmap. You need to pay a good will fee of £1/pp at the Blaen Nedd Isaf Farm just up the road. You can download and print off a cave survey found on the UBSS website <a href="http://www.ubss.org.uk/resources/proceedings/vol18/UBSS_Proc_18_2_314-316.pdf">here</a>.<br /><br />The entrance is at the base of the cliff just before the bend in the river upstream of the bridge. It leads immediately into a hands and knees crawl in a key-hole shaped passage. With the river flowing directly into the crawling entrance you are instantly soaked and at one point up to your neck in it!</span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/SueOSC6vzsdQILdU1f2bX851mija2xrf5SA8XLvdnJXmkH3swRdL78xOX0jft-td07tirn1O5p4cM-oW37X642lbCCkj0M1mv3E7zIOMeA6BnYgpKg9LIn_gwjYo9WifSNSxTrPW=w640-h480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Claire enjoying a refreshing dip!</span></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/gJ5SvlP0Xu7n22mKi5T5Zva0j5kz_M1oEKyhxbxSXIm2XVW-7UvDjGVkZnoC32QW-0eFdxuP4FgsKgwGNJq8WvCleo5yOVgwDGkO-bCsHSeqDGncUvehIhFPjwsgsIIPGkfcLwX0=w640-h480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Thumbs up from Tomasz!</i></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Now I would say this entrance would be very cold and miserable in winter but today the water was warmed by the sunshine and it was very pleasant indeed, a first for me for UK caving.<br /><br />Thankfully the crawling passageway soon bursts out into a large stomping passage. With Clive sounding out passage names we eventually arrived at the canal, a very low section that is a floating/crawl for some distance. I would suspect this sumps in high flow. After the canal we entered Bouncing boulder hall where Clive took his rather impressive photo using old school flash bulbs!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/vFihgPKdrAqMAQjMZ147BIrE0fIA47asHLeKBPVGYMb2aQ_o214JsDRJPpQmgLMXDutDT2Sf2Nrbez2XfiZ3pOjFay2tjLjHHjPftyd6KqOGBqOWHmVv38Xzl3SaQ6YkIQyQoCzV=w640-h480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Bouncing boulder hall. Photo by Clive Westlake.</span></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;">We then carried on to Sump 2, the end for non-divers. The passages generally remain fairly large until the sump.<br /><br />We returned to the entrance via the canal by-pass and took the opportunity to photo a wonderful set of stals.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/hSRuakmHNiAHnzes75-wKxcxukGs7Dsycd4Fg_IGxXbdpLgikGAiMwvZ4mw6IXQh33AlU6B-QKd2_yf0cDl-jzEnu1ITZeXAHBjdYvgM2a_VQ4SH9MC2NC4sfF-g-8sKejfEB5RZ=w640-h480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Clive preparing his shot. Photo by Tomasz.</span></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/GIy3iHoE2JKn28MmtBzVfDfXGms3XlmbWZUAxwpt6yFyukXC98ScPivkx9NR2N0v2vngI139lPHSCa2R-g-JHFMmfPK95-R6cSWvtiLpXAEpDa_NPx1jFmN8OcmUdV_WmyZEJN9K=w480-h640" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Claire at the stals in canal by-pass. Photo by Clive Westlake.</span></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;">The crawl out of the entrance would be very challenging in high flow as you have the full force of the stream against you, but today it was easy, warm and not too many spiders...</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="403" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/BBF0dWFlPmJlFMHTOUNLRXmBnpg_zzCIHdcYBYB-dGOWNNgoNIQigcDyWXoI0e-BMDMRYUkpmcyoCVel2rZnkEzZBhKhhjAK_XyGyyzBm27USDm6spKVTi5IV8bCQueFIOA4nblb=w640-h403" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Clive exiting the cave.<br /><br /></i></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="377" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/uTcYHracLHdGWQfELTa9ZRL2JH-AC1hZHqG4KO6C0S_VVueaHFnYjzLuLYKPIS72DzIhquhVpON8fnE5p2_7smmNbrBYfJcQKqWcUPtvbBlY9sLAV4IKCqZySISDIaDdNgmuEC_d=w640-h377" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">David resting on the cobbled side bar opposite the entrance, river Nedd Fechan.</span></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I had not been in this cave system for probably over 5 years and had forgotten that after suffering the wet gnarly entrance you are rewarded with some impressively large passages. A great trip for summer.<br /><br />We made it back in time for the Hog roast and plenty of beer drinking!</span></div>Hornbyddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11955053422642525977noreply@blogger.com0Unnamed Road, Aberdare CF44 9JG, UK51.8129182 -3.581717151.811591634621237 -3.5838628672119142 51.81424476537876 -3.579571332788086tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9073699539353090932.post-20779856430489523612021-05-09T17:49:00.000+01:002021-05-09T17:49:27.173+01:00The Mysterious Pitch<p><span style="font-size: large;">Team: Lisa Boore, John Roe and Claire Vivian </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Trip Date: December 2020</span></p><hr /><p><span style="font-size: large;">Like me, you will undoubtedly all have walked past this hole at some point when you've visited OFD2.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJmGpjYuO_3ns7Ndu12mCfIs8SIc5M7QfnPVtK4q9vx4jvK4BeRGYhjmu6E7IrGP71sfysUK2BJMDpdifDgG4H7ZuyEev3RO1rtPpXt3r3FaJdOBT6kygrPJv8ymyJFQFA5XkVet5s7eI/s2048/hole.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJmGpjYuO_3ns7Ndu12mCfIs8SIc5M7QfnPVtK4q9vx4jvK4BeRGYhjmu6E7IrGP71sfysUK2BJMDpdifDgG4H7ZuyEev3RO1rtPpXt3r3FaJdOBT6kygrPJv8ymyJFQFA5XkVet5s7eI/w480-h640/hole.jpg" title="The mysterious pitch!" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">It is on the left between the mini traverses behind Big Chamber and the passages in to upper Arete Chamber, so really near the entrance to OFD2.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Le_zfQdDoifkOZ89d2GWngt45hrh2q7sVpm2axIxYCOes7NAZFeIC0-xEixQq2-61SuyLlWUgHx2DnZ6PAcw7Hyhofg9TlQI1qGWdBED-16Lpdizd9HzeRpiBWE_HTbVPFTlG9KKmsU/s2048/20210509_153544.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Le_zfQdDoifkOZ89d2GWngt45hrh2q7sVpm2axIxYCOes7NAZFeIC0-xEixQq2-61SuyLlWUgHx2DnZ6PAcw7Hyhofg9TlQI1qGWdBED-16Lpdizd9HzeRpiBWE_HTbVPFTlG9KKmsU/w640-h360/20210509_153544.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>The pitch, just around the corner from Big Chamber </i></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;">With our evening trips we have been looking at going to areas in OFD none of us have been to before and connecting places via unusual routes. Having seen this pitch, but never been down it, this fitted the bill perfectly for the 3 of us. Being so near the entrance, it was also ideal for an evening trip and we were really lucky to choose mid-December mere days before the last Covid lockdown began. </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAeHoCVwk9evLc123t8NVQcI89LniHa_ndbjr-6FdxSqTfGbORpwHDpwlbaknzXgvifOGS5Q1anNDxE3FmQIeFpRyCj2K0SepBH3eHfY58-KyGiusUj6DVX7nPctv3Cys5pq0sIIY5cvo/s2048/John+abseil.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1368" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAeHoCVwk9evLc123t8NVQcI89LniHa_ndbjr-6FdxSqTfGbORpwHDpwlbaknzXgvifOGS5Q1anNDxE3FmQIeFpRyCj2K0SepBH3eHfY58-KyGiusUj6DVX7nPctv3Cys5pq0sIIY5cvo/w268-h400/John+abseil.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNsgRm3T0oAOjL5nhijtoIvik2MOE1fJD37NBIFSKDpXttlVZcF36SnfbwlRiuA8PfCv1I3ZOfMm9nmlu6EpYMjgBpgysMa4iOizuo6sn-QpTIrvDJWLOKgSJ5GI7TitDm7ExYUG4gD7U/s2048/john+rigging.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNsgRm3T0oAOjL5nhijtoIvik2MOE1fJD37NBIFSKDpXttlVZcF36SnfbwlRiuA8PfCv1I3ZOfMm9nmlu6EpYMjgBpgysMa4iOizuo6sn-QpTIrvDJWLOKgSJ5GI7TitDm7ExYUG4gD7U/w300-h400/john+rigging.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;"><i>John rigging the pitch</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The rigging was 'reachy' and not straightforward, but John rigged speedily and we were soon down the first part and then on to the next 2 sections of it. The survey shows it as a P29, but there is also a P25 shown very near by and we were not sure if this was also on our route, so we had brought enough rope to cover both and some spare, just in case. It turned out there were 3 drops in all, so we were lucky to have enough rope with us. I should have written this blog months ago, as I've forgotten all the precise details; but I remember it was possible to rig the first 2 using the same rope as they were shorter pitches and close together.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXRYnmwfCbhcIYLvabvzNxAMj58-iSs8786DDGmTL4fYU1mLhkaeeY-HpB1JSoRmZ8wcjkR9rv3EbPKbeYEGBpwht_6kEl7x0lM-ty7fmc-Ty9_5EBUIQe1XybkV0IGNg6kLACxU6qbB4/s2048/lisa.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXRYnmwfCbhcIYLvabvzNxAMj58-iSs8786DDGmTL4fYU1mLhkaeeY-HpB1JSoRmZ8wcjkR9rv3EbPKbeYEGBpwht_6kEl7x0lM-ty7fmc-Ty9_5EBUIQe1XybkV0IGNg6kLACxU6qbB4/w480-h640/lisa.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Lisa at the top of the 2nd section.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">The last section is a fine pitch, but there is a lot of loose rock at the pitch head to be careful of. The pitch brings you down in to the Labyrinth on the route you would take if you were travelling between Arete Chamber and the Columns. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_JeKqF8VDL71dNGgZOmIwU2JTTI_F49TydF7kUlNA6CzJuObARs-GenC9hiETpHH4N90oLYFRVH-VHzEjO3taxUc9yo9vil7CteLdo9v7hPg8sGRNWtGIQCIYDM4u3K9HUgbJMUywQKw/s2048/abseil2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1368" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_JeKqF8VDL71dNGgZOmIwU2JTTI_F49TydF7kUlNA6CzJuObARs-GenC9hiETpHH4N90oLYFRVH-VHzEjO3taxUc9yo9vil7CteLdo9v7hPg8sGRNWtGIQCIYDM4u3K9HUgbJMUywQKw/w429-h640/abseil2.jpg" width="429" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Claire abseiling down the final section in to the Labyrinth.</i></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>Claire Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958326669257209359noreply@blogger.com21-10 Powell St, Penwyllt, Swansea SA9 1GQ, UK51.8258153 -3.661109951.823161995651958 -3.6654014344238282 51.828468604348046 -3.6568183655761719tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9073699539353090932.post-37717022684074131082021-05-08T17:31:00.002+01:002021-05-09T17:36:01.088+01:0050 and caving!<span style="font-size: large;">Team: Duncan Hornby & Claire Vivian</span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Trip date: 4/5/21 & 6/5/21<br /></span><hr /><span style="font-size: large;"><br />So... I've finally reached the big 5 'O! Tradition dictates getting friends, family and all my caving chums together for a big party.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Unfortunately for me, COVID stomped on that idea and although lockdown restrictions have eased up, there is no way I would be allowed to party with my friends... 😟</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Thankfully Claire came to the rescue, saved me from a lonely birthday and dragged me underground (to be fair I didn't need much persuasion). Over 2 days last week we visited 3 caves on the Mendips.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">So by way of kick starting the SWCC blog for 2021 I invite you to join me in my some what scaled down 50th birthday caving trips!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fairy Cave</span></h1><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We parked at the <a href="http://www.cerberusspeleo.org.uk/" target="_blank">Cerberus</a> hut, got very lucky and bumped into a member staying there who informed us the code to the padlock had changed. Armed with the new code we headed off to Fairy Quarry to do the <a href="http://www.mcra.org.uk/registry/sitedetails.php?id=462" target="_blank">Fairy Cave</a> to <a href="http://www.mcra.org.uk/registry/sitedetails.php?id=493" target="_blank">Hillier's</a> through trip, a trip that Claire has never done.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0FzajstLwOGP0yBlZ6lIVoOh6ap09S2-jigtPHJe1_GgdN603vYn2XIT4XjqGO-SgSTpfbKHM_dAF3-nFlOeqgv5iXiG91m_lQSXT_wrG2bfQZ78jXUspZ_VTF_zFBVcxA8EJ5BQilnA/s2048/P5041849.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0FzajstLwOGP0yBlZ6lIVoOh6ap09S2-jigtPHJe1_GgdN603vYn2XIT4XjqGO-SgSTpfbKHM_dAF3-nFlOeqgv5iXiG91m_lQSXT_wrG2bfQZ78jXUspZ_VTF_zFBVcxA8EJ5BQilnA/w640-h480/P5041849.JPG" title="My birthday cake at the entrance of Fairy Cave" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>My birthday cake at the entrance of Fairy Cave.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Keen to keep reminding myself it was <i>my</i> 50th birthday trip I kept the candles...</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsZu-cq_Eu-Uw1D8rKTgU0nefx6DpJ7CQj-yp6RIde6SWZtgHy0vK2LJomDsVwm5u397cstKVHjc7lsjekwWy_TiNBuN7DNm5JNDelDdCIULjTvco7-2hyt30LaWm0XMD4dQErdgOoT4A/s2048/P5041926.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsZu-cq_Eu-Uw1D8rKTgU0nefx6DpJ7CQj-yp6RIde6SWZtgHy0vK2LJomDsVwm5u397cstKVHjc7lsjekwWy_TiNBuN7DNm5JNDelDdCIULjTvco7-2hyt30LaWm0XMD4dQErdgOoT4A/w480-h640/P5041926.JPG" title="Squeeze" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">You try getting through that squeeze with candles!</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We made our way to the connection to Hillier's, the flat out crawl in a puddle, which seemed like an obvious place to celebrate...</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX1n6vPzI9Ze3VgQcKzz2xvMNP1UtOEBzq787408J5nz-ky5g72SIMbZxVmOPu9kAlXtDFpUWrv2JQsf54y-VVvXk1xhYU6rz_Mv0KwryzqatyB8_iEyPOXmhLNshXezh3uagcjFeDHVI/s2048/P5041951.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX1n6vPzI9Ze3VgQcKzz2xvMNP1UtOEBzq787408J5nz-ky5g72SIMbZxVmOPu9kAlXtDFpUWrv2JQsf54y-VVvXk1xhYU6rz_Mv0KwryzqatyB8_iEyPOXmhLNshXezh3uagcjFeDHVI/w640-h480/P5041951.JPG" title="The damp link" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Yes, I have lost the plot...</i></span><br /><div style="font-size: large; font-style: italic; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">So it was now time to sing happy birthday! Click on the video below to join in.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzV0axOh84dqdrn4ZIiuwjX2Lb6_8f1FqQnnvdWdwziNjAwT6ekk4GXWNq3FFLsX8cPdJpZEeaZ6_tigXHVTA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">With my birthday candles finally giving up we entered Hillier's, and headed to the pretty Cambridge Grotto.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPdeJqEULWntyepAXb1YCYtrwaaVhm2MdX8zcRhEADZOTYzNakBl0kGTf7BqwbsrY6jDu2B1bOThNBstpFrAhODPCrkUyC7XZks2UZdmXI4ldDV-ymtuzAgeiBIG4wD4gFVlmHVvK8WEQ/s2048/P5041976.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPdeJqEULWntyepAXb1YCYtrwaaVhm2MdX8zcRhEADZOTYzNakBl0kGTf7BqwbsrY6jDu2B1bOThNBstpFrAhODPCrkUyC7XZks2UZdmXI4ldDV-ymtuzAgeiBIG4wD4gFVlmHVvK8WEQ/w480-h640/P5041976.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Cambridge Grotto formations.</span></i></div><div><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja2YlDqN81EgtkUMNAOJndNQtLo61rH_FKyIAwhoWooRONH7mwOSMOo9LcSX6KAfCqw4lrRQgm8tSQ0sSfiGrQbI3N6qa4PynoG9WL3uGMkJeiGKTgWdgrseShJBNpzMh2DoT3dUs3KIE/s2048/P5041962.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja2YlDqN81EgtkUMNAOJndNQtLo61rH_FKyIAwhoWooRONH7mwOSMOo9LcSX6KAfCqw4lrRQgm8tSQ0sSfiGrQbI3N6qa4PynoG9WL3uGMkJeiGKTgWdgrseShJBNpzMh2DoT3dUs3KIE/w640-h480/P5041962.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Cambridge Grotto formations.<br /><br /></span></i></td></tr></tbody></table></div></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfFOQFW9N1s9j6SVD6_rYxWyiPMTLR7wgxZZfkAj2TFePRqmItCRL9obSJ-F4hNrZ8xZ0DpVGUGA1VupBsT-2ml4UAVhryl4-9mM0rcZ9B1R6nuypctUdrvW7Irh4eJ7-qkDDNIJxEzUs/s2048/P5041999.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfFOQFW9N1s9j6SVD6_rYxWyiPMTLR7wgxZZfkAj2TFePRqmItCRL9obSJ-F4hNrZ8xZ0DpVGUGA1VupBsT-2ml4UAVhryl4-9mM0rcZ9B1R6nuypctUdrvW7Irh4eJ7-qkDDNIJxEzUs/w640-h480/P5041999.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Claire back lighting a curtain.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Running out of time we quickly headed out passing through Tar Hall and the spider infested entrance to exit into late afternoon May sunshine.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bath Swallet to Rod's Pot</span></h1><div><span style="font-size: large;">2 Days later we returned to the Mendips to do the through trip. This is a short trip but with lots of variety. The entrance of <a href="http://www.mcra.org.uk/registry/sitedetails.php?id=5" target="_blank">Bath Swallet</a> can be found in the first obvious depression on your left after the end of the track.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAks8h8FKR2I6PUs86MUGJdpqennndEAPSlUhsLNs1tlTU943fq2jbl3zqmDlXs2csWSBZIknbrUO2qwlhP9DD9zS9Dc2hkrNMxkHhJktszoznBCmF6SJYY35za7jmeCpwDvxG2Rx6f2Q/s2048/P5062020.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAks8h8FKR2I6PUs86MUGJdpqennndEAPSlUhsLNs1tlTU943fq2jbl3zqmDlXs2csWSBZIknbrUO2qwlhP9DD9zS9Dc2hkrNMxkHhJktszoznBCmF6SJYY35za7jmeCpwDvxG2Rx6f2Q/w640-h480/P5062020.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Claire and I at the entrance of Bath Swallet.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;">After a short scramble and crawl you get to the top of Shower Pot. This is a nice pitch, good for beginners, although the start of it is a bit awkward. There are several P-bolts and naturals to rig off at the pitch head and a 25m rope is more than enough. Having descended the pitch we leave the rope but take our harnesses.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTjWN03EvyhEtEXCxT-G12IfHdY9i9-y59RQ2UVxQIZfeS7GmyJtOyZs4aoIer44c1H2ssW5Lkyg50uIwX1fq614O6YOyB78gU0E-oXbpYWOkOseno7lCYUH-ySRW4N7mzyzsdp3yxyA/s2048/P5062032.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTjWN03EvyhEtEXCxT-G12IfHdY9i9-y59RQ2UVxQIZfeS7GmyJtOyZs4aoIer44c1H2ssW5Lkyg50uIwX1fq614O6YOyB78gU0E-oXbpYWOkOseno7lCYUH-ySRW4N7mzyzsdp3yxyA/w480-h640/P5062032.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Descending Shower Pot.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;">At the bottom of Shower Pot (with the pitch behind you), turn left and head down the obvious hole in the floor. Some crawling then you pop out at the bottom of Purple Pot. There thankfully is a handline in situ as purple pot is a bit slippery.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQD1rFDpoFYbO7UZcwNjs7TMtb_VTM9yVD9SiUHPA_GGjDvVIOr3j6eF1VR22jXgTwN4vEJkbx_ZvofMtKVq-FobY6mtlvQ214oRhsp77G9Xj4_ArLhq6N-oJQZ9_RDs6TEiddYQEIpY/s2048/P5062050.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQD1rFDpoFYbO7UZcwNjs7TMtb_VTM9yVD9SiUHPA_GGjDvVIOr3j6eF1VR22jXgTwN4vEJkbx_ZvofMtKVq-FobY6mtlvQ214oRhsp77G9Xj4_ArLhq6N-oJQZ9_RDs6TEiddYQEIpY/w640-h480/P5062050.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Claire climbing out of the top of Purple Pot.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;">You eventually pop out into Main Chamber in <a href="http://www.mcra.org.uk/registry/sitedetails.php?id=45" target="_blank">Rod's Pot </a>and then it is a steep route finding ascent out of the cave. On the way back to the car I popped back into Bath Swallet and retrieved my rope.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Swildons Upper Series</span></h1><div><span style="font-size: large;">With the through trip completed we headed over to <a href="http://www.mcra.org.uk/registry/sitedetails.php?id=240" target="_blank">Swildons Hole</a>. We decided to keep this trip shorter and rather than blast our way down to sump 1 and back we were to explore the upper series and tick off as many circular routes that can be done.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUCkiF2KZ-x6R_yJbio-N_vE-0YHzHwk4OxJqM4ayDNO-irKIQx1xdPVvlltxbLvN16ih6wEwhii-wI1EjdrJ4PGXM1TDAv309knNDkM9PaYdXlZ1KcycIc-7rKobBDrljHbwkvsT2A1E/s2048/P5062051.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUCkiF2KZ-x6R_yJbio-N_vE-0YHzHwk4OxJqM4ayDNO-irKIQx1xdPVvlltxbLvN16ih6wEwhii-wI1EjdrJ4PGXM1TDAv309knNDkM9PaYdXlZ1KcycIc-7rKobBDrljHbwkvsT2A1E/w640-h480/P5062051.JPG" title="The entrance" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Claire and I at the entrance of Swildons.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;">We are both familiar with the short dry way in so we attempted the long way in and ended up in a reasonable well decorated chamber before connecting with the main stream.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGMsGdWSEMTA_akbKm1Oggj7ZSv_enKYd9SrE6K4rf8ZgJ77OxcRrYFOtD492MU65fNuIcKu_g4KVrjBiRvWTVq75G6wf-8ZPDx8XeY6iFpTTsYETLe-_n8yQ4rlXaDBSNdkMFkiudORE/s2048/P5062059.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGMsGdWSEMTA_akbKm1Oggj7ZSv_enKYd9SrE6K4rf8ZgJ77OxcRrYFOtD492MU65fNuIcKu_g4KVrjBiRvWTVq75G6wf-8ZPDx8XeY6iFpTTsYETLe-_n8yQ4rlXaDBSNdkMFkiudORE/w640-h480/P5062059.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">A chamber in the upper series of Swildons.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;">We then headed back out along the wet way out, which by its name implies you get quite wet! A word of caution there is a fairly tight squeeze along this route near the exit, large people will find that very difficult.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Although this trip was short it was really useful to link up sections of the cave and now provides alternate routes in/out.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">So I hope you enjoyed my birthday caving and it will be great to read about others caving as more people get back underground?</span></div>Hornbyddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11955053422642525977noreply@blogger.com1Priddy, Wells BA5 3BB, UK51.255458999999988 -2.67889451.250087667719242 -2.6874770688476564 51.260830332280733 -2.6703109311523439tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9073699539353090932.post-86946915738233895152020-01-30T18:23:00.001+00:002020-04-22T23:01:13.140+01:00Another Year In The Life Of A Cave Videographer<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here's Caver Keith's traditional annual caving roundup video. It contains some previously unseen footage.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It’s not been the most prolific year for the studios in terms of videos completed, but it has been a very good year in other ways. Keith's completed a couple of commissions, gone back to his roots, won a prize and an award, completed a behind the scenes video which had been in the planning stage for a couple of years and got his best ever viewing figures on YouTube with over 10 million caving video views in 2019.</span><br />
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<br />Keith Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684152871673218803noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9073699539353090932.post-59493697832997173162020-01-28T22:12:00.000+00:002020-01-28T23:01:02.619+00:00Skyhook and beyond<span style="font-size: large;">Team: Chloe Francis, Duncan Hornby, Tim lewingdon, Helen Stewart & Claire Vivian</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Trip date: 25/1/20</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A few years ago Claire and I had the privilege of supporting a Freem filming trip beyond the sky hook at the top of Midnight Passage. It was quite an adventure and a part of the cave system I had certainly not visited before.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Last weekend a team of 5 got together to have a crack at the same route and hopefully lay down the foundation for future exploration in that part of the system. Helen, Tim and Claire had all passed through this section of the system on alternative routes but only Claire and I had been down the big pitch leading to Splash Inlet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Claire, Chloe and I had to be back on the surface by 6pm as we were attending the <a href="http://www.wcms.org.uk/">Wealdon</a> AGM Club Meal at the <a href="https://www.theabercraveinn.co.uk/">Abercrave Inn</a>. With that in mind, Chloe, Claire and I packed the ropes the night before to save time in the morning.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">On Saturday Helen arrived at 9:30am, we all did the obligatory tea/coffee/faff, shared out kit and were on our way to Top Entrance by 10:45.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/mf9uZvft1W2GVYzjDZJRwwMJU7442q08ZyGAnSTeMCTgsvamJbjpGo3GV9NOcaX9alnLQEj-ix-x4fz2VFA3-6U2wYp8TFNoUZMYwLEet1buk-9ZmAZas-nMCM2qGhl7X2XC_JKv" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Helen, Chloe, Tim, Claire and Duncan all looking sparkly, energetic and ready for adventure.</i></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We powered our way through OFD II and arrived at the top of midnight passage collapsing in a sweaty heap ...Well Tim and I did! The ladies were of course barely out of breath! I really do need to get fitter!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/L0QMu71Yo1mZ1jC9TsGI9I_-OCCNtliQEddTWht9CMRkCHXzYQvy8YuDZ-Puxc0pvCDo-Hv2Li5Ssdo1siuhfRvCCe-yrq06h1RS6YpjhhQk6E6R-2EHxaOKnUAqd-lVY6NbjAjx" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;"><i>Team having a short break at top Midnight Passage; Helen gets a power nap during the 1/40s exposure...clever party trick!</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Whilst catching our breath I was told of some cool fossils just around the corner. I can’t believe I have never seen these, I must have walked passed them dozens of times.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="387" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/9Ja8_dXkoEYWjLVg7067Q5w1Jf078zVSbHoVRdJX2--pZG9ubpOxVikm0cIXNeFJLbpFRigHbIVuD4QXGChXANRGBe3OBPiFAlWJVB2iSiL1msFxaZfhSk_KaqsSq15XRyDinEFe" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;"><i>In a small alcove where the team had stopped is a band of limestone with many impressive fossils.</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The week before this trip I had been contacting various people to get a better understand of the rope lengths needed and top tips in rigging. The skyhook pitch has a loop of string that requires one to tie a rope off to it and pull up your rope,</span><span style="font-size: large;"> it was suggested a 40m rope would be enough, with length to spare.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/AGM6IzlYqrFVnYZ5Xc1UKLYKHGmFSolfJ9ZN7gMcQ-3U6fGXF9AtgLA8v1v90oy5XnaC02LqKZNpaizLM5kneKVDl6ArbbljLUUiM9bLP8x_HTWB1RxrJYmVpilUEAjyCmbKGwS2" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="360" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;"><i>Claire, Chloe and Tim waiting to ascend the Sky Hook.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="513" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pUCj-CTNOwbFaQ0dml2pzcPBw7knWywpFQ3BEc0XgA2MuoLhxBYvuqOjYXGXxclnO5fB_qAPtrTh9QCCz_TPOaOJ3tYf5UhyzZnuDSG3sHB_1hyPGMTvnjBmUk_FmnoiS07P0LZT" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;"><i>Tim at top of sky hook.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/lrNw6W5hr_UU-FT6UjxrEna3AFxJ1djv6E91w6i_LvncZh8PVXbVJLeuwzdPD1yv6hU1wMdZdasuQT8QnaezLOqIhvHU1IwMSLgYTl6b-bVw84AP0B23nCb8npLxUOO5X37qRZ78" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;"><i>Chloe stepping off the final traverse line at sky hook, Duncan in foreground.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/6LXP_uUrmm0CpyctLFM1GRBuhz1KHOeNfwjEXb4t9K1cIF_gnJXY9NMjukhK05_k6BI9Pc8k1Jy9riDIuU0CdeVM8awZ9i8TA8VAbnCeD8qCf28UNI9FZaHcWK1NmH_kEGyG1kXh" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;"><i>Claire next to the curtains at top of Sky hook.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="507" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/74oMbYFLw6Fqsl-gMt9B3LDtU1hypQInNmut3KT73ekPYiXtZanPowiO3p6EhpR00FdfiQ88_AwqdM59nrlFxjl-UJIbOZorHhh97LLdd5I1jS0ELwqcFUL2sotppUp4Px8byvGh" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;"><i>Helen prusiking up to sky hook.</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">On our way to what is identified as pitch “P20” on the map we passed many pretty crystal pools and in one place a fantastic curtain.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="416" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/G8HHIt3jpHUeJ2tcQxAJxbBCnCgngMgUmkUJBl4PZSQwufbHW_Efa10lYT2gq--4Gn-08-EOL9cnPrEMVxe8zSSLa9HEw6NadaxriH2OV4yL4yo0kZoQi6c73Ta3Fr7xSdJI47ZZ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;"><i>A close up of one of the many crystal pools that can be seen in the passages beyond the sky hook pitch.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="510" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ljxKnZmiU8ZseBOn3dsMYQZl_h3hF4-gnz5SxXRrxe1EpUgzQatEPOEjhi_KMRp6Yn6ZLt41pJCndHrjGAnTGQpL0n812EvteTFMHHz5JfU5Lo0RDshLEa16yX8HFuxSuCs6u6Vd" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;"><i>Claire and a curtain, back lighting provided by Helen.</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We finally arrived at pitch “P20”, we had a 55m rope and we backed up to a hole in the left wall, a small stal boss on the floor and this lead to a traverse line up to the two hangers in the left wall. I did a figure-8 off the final bolt for the main 20m hang. I don’t know if these hangers are “permanent” so it is probably prudent to bring a couple of hangers with you if you have any. Claire was the first to descend, no stopping her!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="360" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/5ZSSzNd0lRF30QfxlFZGtwB1c9oW4H5ttoNpVljeAsha16qMhMVHPFO4IVPJngM6zli-uXsukBgb6neZwdenYxXTfkq1UM2qrt9nz46Td5rndEsyuQ7kdCOZSNkAQJ9vxADY3Qj6" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;"><i>Duncan rigging “P20”.</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">At the bottom of the pitch is a very obvious “window” for the next pitch, which is marked as “P8” on the map. We had a 25m rope for this pitch and rigged off two boulders on the floor, 2 long slings were required.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">There is a small hole off to the left as indicated by the arrow in the image below; you could go down that, and indeed Claire did, but I struggled to get through with my SRT kit on so the rest of us quickly abandoned that idea in favour of rigging the window. Be aware there are a couple of rub points (on both routes) so we used our tackle bags to try and stop this, would have been better to use proper rope protectors.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/iBqhQcUPqv_irUKPLA7NFSuBQjfaeZekimRHEzRCVeXOMagjZpX-ApS2KLjfh6zaDYk8HaVj68OII0JbalxJlIy_ysQ3STWBJF87bQWTx1KJyTL3F87WSgl0GlNgLoGFf2t-2XAW" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="474" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;"><i>We went through the obvious window to descend the “P8” pitch. Arrow indicates the location of a small hole at floor level offering an alternative route down “P8” pitch.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/hKyIdgSwKDHeRsOJcsK125QP5r7H8bErq9M2T3wUP_lQF8WYivUs7YxY1wgOI-HOVnjtTZ7nrW3vRpeWF7E3ZmwDri2UZ3SCHDEIJ7eSagj-WuMtGe_VV9laDdgjl1dMjpX_3VAT" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="585" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;"><i>Claire prusiking up small “P8” pitch. Arrow indicates where you would have popped out if you had crawled through the smaller hole.</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We all excitedly descended and were ready to explore new territory...but then one of us looked at our watch. With some regret we had to turn around and start heading out as three of us needed to be back before 6pm.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/ZAL9x6MAkKCTiqJeeTtMlpyJVw-IDu942ZmtWIx52za2q5a3z-B7OTwacSlmoxXZFfCF5xKboJ4M8qSLvNgT6le9vWB-cN-1uueDP64PdBcqfXd4GJKd1xDjWSwpEK2QL1p-PejA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="360" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;"><i>Duncan looking a bit knackered after prusiking up”P20”</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I personally felt we had achieved a lot, we had found our way to exactly where we wanted, whilst a strong team of experienced cavers it would probably be fair to say we did not have extensive knowledge in rigging. We have all done rigging but usually under the watchful eye of someone with lots of experience. So to be able to get ourselves down the pitches without any incidents was an important achievement!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Another lesson was just how much rope we needed, for P20 we brought 55m but 40m would have been fine even with our backing up to 2 naturals. The P8 pitch we brought 25m that could have been just 20m. So next time we will bring a 40m and 20m saving the weight of 15m of rope! In total we used 6 slings and 8 Krabs for rigging and rope protection. These stats do not include the skyhook pitch.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And finally I had forgotten just how tiring it is to carry a full SRT kit, ropes and rigging. I was knackered when we got out!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">For the record we made it to the meal! :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Trip Time: 6 hours</span><br />
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Hornbyddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11955053422642525977noreply@blogger.com21-10 Powell St, Penwyllt, Swansea SA9 1GQ, UK51.825832118106021 -3.661150932312011751.82337861810602 -3.6661934323120118 51.828285618106023 -3.6561084323120117tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9073699539353090932.post-36336143313467853092019-11-23T15:32:00.000+00:002020-04-22T22:57:56.437+01:00Provisionals' / beginners' Weekend, November 2019<span style="font-size: large;">With a record breaking 30 people to arrange trips for, this weekend was a huge one. We had 18 people completely new to caving and 11 who were within their first year of starting caving with SWCC.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcwE5XyoVnmdrjqLrgl2AH-lFw6gqV8y3sHchbQVijE6GWFcnQ0fUcUaAQXFQ4tAfyaJld9RjcwB4k34Ow7XukOzty1jPhKXNPCkb3SH_S-pudRahYJmXMzi2jqfoD6DkolzSy-jQyOTk/s1600/20191102_094315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcwE5XyoVnmdrjqLrgl2AH-lFw6gqV8y3sHchbQVijE6GWFcnQ0fUcUaAQXFQ4tAfyaJld9RjcwB4k34Ow7XukOzty1jPhKXNPCkb3SH_S-pudRahYJmXMzi2jqfoD6DkolzSy-jQyOTk/s640/20191102_094315.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meeting bright and early on Saturday morning to kick the weekend off.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">8 separate trips took place on Saturday to different parts of Ogof Ffynnon Ddu. With the streamway high, all trips stayed away from the water but with over 35 miles of cave to explore, there was still plenty for them to do.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH_Pdk9IScBo-A9gXCxZRTISQZ5obzMtzs1zrnlZM-4lrD8tuRWMNLAuo88mBaNrpUXtCYtmrnw7q9g0yCrOx_N6KW9IoliGWH1XyuOPidivsNPgS7_6Xubq4zgo-w1nz8FVw-wmXcXvM/s1600/20191102_104157.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH_Pdk9IScBo-A9gXCxZRTISQZ5obzMtzs1zrnlZM-4lrD8tuRWMNLAuo88mBaNrpUXtCYtmrnw7q9g0yCrOx_N6KW9IoliGWH1XyuOPidivsNPgS7_6Xubq4zgo-w1nz8FVw-wmXcXvM/s640/20191102_104157.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tomasz, Luke, Bev, Bob and Judit raring to go.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSElguO1t6VFBTNbGyqLQYZHpUWRIC2qFRndIOO4EDDDMwP0jAxFv9F0zfsE7Ix9Ck2rvfimkeP6j2C0qjIc4wCQMrH9cxet9nOOOwZmqlJBPw2ZHcrPi5rwfNYu0v8Hjp6ReapIkUW78/s1600/20191102_104725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSElguO1t6VFBTNbGyqLQYZHpUWRIC2qFRndIOO4EDDDMwP0jAxFv9F0zfsE7Ix9Ck2rvfimkeP6j2C0qjIc4wCQMrH9cxet9nOOOwZmqlJBPw2ZHcrPi5rwfNYu0v8Hjp6ReapIkUW78/s640/20191102_104725.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emily, Antonia, Bill, Josh and Malcolm about to go to OFD2.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2nGyaMUMUpZiX6y12c2xoxsz3qKHFAAcOZiJRovLd4PgKGoDIdnSYC-bt58xMYCZTw1N1VPnurX8e99K0nFB7KCMJ-PD8Sw8mOBCeowxUK9oRxATF_cxggrZHp82ex90VnsrTJq7L378/s1600/FB_IMG_1573428034428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2nGyaMUMUpZiX6y12c2xoxsz3qKHFAAcOZiJRovLd4PgKGoDIdnSYC-bt58xMYCZTw1N1VPnurX8e99K0nFB7KCMJ-PD8Sw8mOBCeowxUK9oRxATF_cxggrZHp82ex90VnsrTJq7L378/s640/FB_IMG_1573428034428.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Darren, Celestine, Helen, Paul, Aga and Anna </td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The trips proved to be fun and challenging at the same time and will best be explained in the words of some of the participants.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://swcc-blog.blogspot.com/2019/11/provisionals-beginners-weekend-november.html#Sian">Sian's story</a></span></li>
<li><a href="https://swcc-blog.blogspot.com/2019/11/provisionals-beginners-weekend-november.html#Emily"><span style="font-size: large;">Emily's story</span></a></li>
<li><a href="https://swcc-blog.blogspot.com/2019/11/provisionals-beginners-weekend-november.html#Suze"><span style="font-size: large;">Suze's story</span></a></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://swcc-blog.blogspot.com/2019/11/provisionals-beginners-weekend-november.html#Paul">Paul's story</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://swcc-blog.blogspot.com/2019/11/provisionals-beginners-weekend-november.html#Aga">Aga's story</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://swcc-blog.blogspot.com/2019/11/provisionals-beginners-weekend-november.html#Tom">Tomasz's story</a></span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<hr />
<h3 id="Sian">
Sian</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclWu9Vkuc4vbr5LN6F3VVT8Eow1kViR-iyvb4rSPh6LvPsD605xiDsxZPCq5Hv1hqsaPvPaHGj7GYiYOikxowhVgi8kzwbSOHi-SsH_-4je9ujnNGEJcmw6t3902ntdJAu4hWLIXqEL4/s1600/OI002307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhclWu9Vkuc4vbr5LN6F3VVT8Eow1kViR-iyvb4rSPh6LvPsD605xiDsxZPCq5Hv1hqsaPvPaHGj7GYiYOikxowhVgi8kzwbSOHi-SsH_-4je9ujnNGEJcmw6t3902ntdJAu4hWLIXqEL4/s320/OI002307.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sian in her first crawl underground</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A dark, dreich and dreary 6 hour drive in the fog and lashing rain to a weekend underground with a group of folk I didn’t know .... what was I thinking ? Such were my thoughts as I drove the journey from North Devon to the SWCC. Over the last few approaching miles, visibility was next to nil and I felt like the only person around post apocalypse. Finally arriving I entered the clubhouse and immediately felt welcome and at ease. Food and a good nights sleep with fellow female newbies saw us eager to face the caving adventure the next morning.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The club was packed, we were assigned experienced leaders and different caving trips. Us newbie rabble were kitted up and finally off we went into the unknown. I was fortunate in having Claire and Pete as leaders. After a short trudge uphill we arrived at Top entrance .... and then the magic began.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIygB1eKxIxW2zz3eHD_QFdCX4M5E6fQJcUec4UrVbKMtyOKH6GJjNK7lhJ9OUnJYHTRQ84ZbaqaES3VbmHkVX7pWwyiHK_5led2o1Ym6pi9iXTIp0e6SUaMJB7-yRhtM36qB_4wXvF2s/s1600/OI002300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIygB1eKxIxW2zz3eHD_QFdCX4M5E6fQJcUec4UrVbKMtyOKH6GJjNK7lhJ9OUnJYHTRQ84ZbaqaES3VbmHkVX7pWwyiHK_5led2o1Ym6pi9iXTIp0e6SUaMJB7-yRhtM36qB_4wXvF2s/s640/OI002300.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michelle trying out a squeeze</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">What followed was 5 hours of walking, climbing, crawling, traversing, squeezing through, squeezing around, standing in awe ... all skilfully led by Claire who was seamless in her instruction, pacing ... and friendliness. I felt safe.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiALZLc1Q6XmEYEMWzNPIhnWvZY0mc7ZdfRfCmaPz_yJ74zH44XdO-sh-J3W8BFfLtJuARQ8MRVwIBQfpy7B0wPYYA2S5NcCRCOdIwidWa8qGf2F8PW0gGdmYfUc0f5Ua1SDUTL76N6gjY/s1600/OI002223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiALZLc1Q6XmEYEMWzNPIhnWvZY0mc7ZdfRfCmaPz_yJ74zH44XdO-sh-J3W8BFfLtJuARQ8MRVwIBQfpy7B0wPYYA2S5NcCRCOdIwidWa8qGf2F8PW0gGdmYfUc0f5Ua1SDUTL76N6gjY/s640/OI002223.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Suze climbing near the Labyrinth</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">By the end of the trip I was exhilarated and my body felt well worked out! The evening was a blur of camaraderie, food, welcome hot shower, beer and fireworks. A real friendly time.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQrVAXhY7VgpXd5uWKe_7MY2TJTtIsAZIrBwviu8za35-GDxbRW1OV9O8dOmcATL4d2vm2wevWTks5QAthuVnlw8oZoKTOAu2mRbV9W7VZIhOOwO3L1_Ujdh4W8LpCqdm6VZ7kEKDUGcc/s1600/FB_IMG_1573428321923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQrVAXhY7VgpXd5uWKe_7MY2TJTtIsAZIrBwviu8za35-GDxbRW1OV9O8dOmcATL4d2vm2wevWTks5QAthuVnlw8oZoKTOAu2mRbV9W7VZIhOOwO3L1_Ujdh4W8LpCqdm6VZ7kEKDUGcc/s640/FB_IMG_1573428321923.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Pinata game</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The following morning, having found muscles we’d forgotten we had, some of us stayed to do a second trip. This time we entered through the bottom entrance ... and a completely different caving experience. Who knew that sideways rolypolying was a creditable caving technique?! The route was more technical than the previous day which was great for confidence building and enjoyment, again ably led by Claire.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGBkQfIE6J8DNXl6VhPKIPAL5skzNulnosWtijLVImTPi3o8hi_L0wLp9WKGFbx9aAQUfG-EV1vMZcgn2ooPwwdwymKpE3dLM85xhA_R-j55c5Nwa7V2jpAlO6aMh7ZxYqn9-CWlQfn_M/s1600/OI002321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGBkQfIE6J8DNXl6VhPKIPAL5skzNulnosWtijLVImTPi3o8hi_L0wLp9WKGFbx9aAQUfG-EV1vMZcgn2ooPwwdwymKpE3dLM85xhA_R-j55c5Nwa7V2jpAlO6aMh7ZxYqn9-CWlQfn_M/s640/OI002321.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sian trying out her first wire traverse</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">The formations and features we came across were awe inspiring and the shared knowledge on their formation, stimulating. After a good four hours or so, as the newbie of the group I emerged completely thrilled at everything we as a group had done on the trip. The caving bug had bitten. The weekend wound down after a steaming shower with post trip banter over steaming tea and cake. What a weekend. For anyone considering venturing into the underground world, I really don’t think you could improve on a SWCC provisional weekend for its friendliness, caving experience, competence, bunkhouse facilities and all round fun factor. I’ll be back!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<hr />
<h3 id="Emily">
Emily</h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9t9U6HvO0nI4E3mJ6DG3YyT9Xqnx8auylhUKJCdDvLvgNn8_pYN20cQ5S5WhrtWCWyARlcWc65o8elMhxv0NGbppXRK3FqGmWcl4MDWWPSXjoWSQ15XRPk1deoY1tUNqAIKeNXbSvYU0/s1600/FB_IMG_1574377281156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9t9U6HvO0nI4E3mJ6DG3YyT9Xqnx8auylhUKJCdDvLvgNn8_pYN20cQ5S5WhrtWCWyARlcWc65o8elMhxv0NGbppXRK3FqGmWcl4MDWWPSXjoWSQ15XRPk1deoY1tUNqAIKeNXbSvYU0/s320/FB_IMG_1574377281156.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">This past weekend saw me take on the magnificent caves in South Wales. I’m a member of a Facebook group called ‘Love Her Wild’, which is a group for women who like doing all sorts of adventurous activities, and I saw a post offering a beginners' caving session with the South Wales Caving Club. It sparked my interest immediately, and I signed up. Living up in Warrington I figured I could save money and the environment by seeing if there was anyone who wouldn’t mind car sharing, and thankfully there was. This made travelling down to the club a lot less intimidating. There really was no need to worry however, as when I arrived I was met by a lovely bustle of friendly faces, and people eager to show me around and chat about caving. I met some really interesting people this weekend, including people who had been caving for decades and had actually discovered some of these caves themselves. I also met people who were digging to discover more caves, as it’s known there are many more that haven’t been unearthed yet (I found that prospect quite exciting, yet the feel around the group was somewhat less enthusiastic due to the physical effort needed for such a job!).</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi41p4te2TKLsEmsdvmS0ePLmjovBlET-NJFxafyC4uF4jat_LfJUMsBjW4IFe0dd42kTCuIVA1hqLmkqAtJ_HidHa-BF6x7-6TRyvgkSYtHaYg9QaCWt1BmPh0rdr1Qk6cnuOtyGvxZyQ/s1600/FB_IMG_1574524327160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi41p4te2TKLsEmsdvmS0ePLmjovBlET-NJFxafyC4uF4jat_LfJUMsBjW4IFe0dd42kTCuIVA1hqLmkqAtJ_HidHa-BF6x7-6TRyvgkSYtHaYg9QaCWt1BmPh0rdr1Qk6cnuOtyGvxZyQ/s640/FB_IMG_1574524327160.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Viewing underground formations </td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This particular weekend was a great one for beginners to attend as it was the annual fireworks event for the club, and this brought out many of the usual members. This meant that we newbies were in good hands, as the wealth of knowledge everyone had about the caves was vast. The group sizes were kept to a maximum of six people, and with there being somewhere like 30 beginners here this weekend, that meant there were a lot of groups and therefore, many experienced cavers were required. I was given a kit list before I attended which consisted of mainly old warm clothes, and wellies. We had the option to bring our own kit if we had it to save costs, and luckily I had a climbing helmet I could use and a head torch (though I would discover later that torches that were good for night trail running, were not as good when used underground). What I didn’t have was an oversuit. This was a really thick material and provided a form of protection for yourself against sharp edges of the caves as well as protection from the mud. I was able to hire this from a local activity centre. Extra kit which might have been useful I discovered, were knee pads and neoprene socks. Luckily for me only my feet got wet this weekend, but often caving can involve travelling through underground streams, in which case a wetsuit is required under the oversuit, but because of the recent rain, those pathway tunnels were not safe to visit this time (I’m definitely going back to try them out though!).</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The caving club has a big kitchen where you can cook your own food, dorm rooms with bunk beds separated male and female, and a ‘long common room’ where everyone chills out with a nice warm fire. This room has a massive map or ‘survey’ of the caves, so you can see where you’ve been. On Saturday morning we all met here at 09:30 and were allocated our caving teams. We then donned the kit and headed up the hill to the caves. Once inside I could see the difference my head torch made compared to the experienced cavers, but mine was good enough to get by. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Throughout the trip I was given lots of information regarding how the caves were formed and the science behind the structures we saw. The actual caving consisted of walking, climbing, crawling and pulling yourself over, under and through the muddy rocks. You had to use your whole body to do this and often you were straddling chasms or jumping over big holes you could easily fall into. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlL6EhbMc5sFC3Jx1ndboLXOoo5ZJeGGSc534Zs2nBpwf-fq4Hn7pOrWiSzBhU_8ktvRnrYMG9JVYJBRCWvPXBhw7Y7ibSi_4qebMxZMqg_KJzXahAD8OfTO9pqN-JaF6GQt6eggxJzt0/s1600/FB_IMG_1574524395081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlL6EhbMc5sFC3Jx1ndboLXOoo5ZJeGGSc534Zs2nBpwf-fq4Hn7pOrWiSzBhU_8ktvRnrYMG9JVYJBRCWvPXBhw7Y7ibSi_4qebMxZMqg_KJzXahAD8OfTO9pqN-JaF6GQt6eggxJzt0/s640/FB_IMG_1574524395081.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Darren traversing above Salubrious Streamway</td></tr>
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<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">In this beginner trip we didn’t use any rope or do any abseiling, but often caving can involve using these techniques to allow you deeper into the caves (definitely a must do for my next visit). All of the chambers/routes had interesting names, such as ‘Gnome Passage’, or ‘Brickyard’, or ‘Corkscrew’, which aptly described the locations well. We were underground for many hours and were advised to bring a snack because of this. I had absolutely no idea where I was the whole time, and immediately thought how easy it would be for someone to get lost if they didn’t know what they were doing. Often the path would seem obvious, but it would turn out to be a tiny hole facing the other way which you had to squeeze through to make progress. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2jJMjw1w_p747ZhoYtpBmU6vQLGxC2oVIzuVS5u68wQpXoyjuNCRDtUn5YMSldCtQCbxnbmHzJ8uoRG7ENX8FbrjBxC2SSd_DpA_dYTzqTr7u0VotmRCSVybAolAipGgvcgo2s5vocRs/s1600/FB_IMG_1574524319889.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="540" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2jJMjw1w_p747ZhoYtpBmU6vQLGxC2oVIzuVS5u68wQpXoyjuNCRDtUn5YMSldCtQCbxnbmHzJ8uoRG7ENX8FbrjBxC2SSd_DpA_dYTzqTr7u0VotmRCSVybAolAipGgvcgo2s5vocRs/s640/FB_IMG_1574524319889.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Admiring a crystal pool</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We bumped into a few groups along the way and the community spirit shined through once more.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">After the day’s adventure we hung up our kit in the drying room ready to explore again the following day. That evening we had the fireworks event which was pretty spectacular despite the wind and rain, and then it was off to bed after sharing a communal nachos and chilli (with veggie option).</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Ork2tcjhwaL0lpZgtemtdkeO-uvphFQpzQiMsEZHCYb9XvIXNVaU1nyKWFr8QpybOIy9chdKY7ptTKSIqxgJx13Dk3nedeAHrFGJamTyzAQSBZKEFq6MvbseIjxO5Lzj79ZL22Q5AnM/s1600/FB_IMG_1574376852147.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Ork2tcjhwaL0lpZgtemtdkeO-uvphFQpzQiMsEZHCYb9XvIXNVaU1nyKWFr8QpybOIy9chdKY7ptTKSIqxgJx13Dk3nedeAHrFGJamTyzAQSBZKEFq6MvbseIjxO5Lzj79ZL22Q5AnM/s640/FB_IMG_1574376852147.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">The SWCC club hut with some fireworks</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I was sad to see that the next day many of the beginners were headed home instead of caving again, I never discovered whether it was a logistics thing where they needed to get home, or if they’d had enough, but I was eager to get back down in the caves. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The second days experience for me was a bit different than normal, as I was assisting some people practise filming with their brand new camera. This gave me the opportunity to try out some things with my GoPro too, which I’d never have considered previously. Unfortunately, because I had to get home, the second day of caving was not as long as the first, but it definitely gave me the bug to come back again and do more exploring. There are caves up closer to me in the Peak District and Yorkshire, so no doubt I’ll be visiting them soon to have a good old explore.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, if you’d like to try caving give it a go. There are things for all skill levels and everyone is so accommodating. Thanks for a great weekend South Wales Caving Club, and hopefully I’ll see you again soon.</span><br />
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<h3 id="Suze">
Suze</h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Paul and I have been caving at another club for a couple of years, but decided we wanted to get involved with another slightly bigger club and SWCC seemed like the ideal solution.<br /><br /> So, we duly arrived for our first provisionals trip, on a spectacularly wet day even by Welsh standards! Stomping up the hill to OFD2 it managed to dwindle to a cold drizzle which made the walk a little more agreeable, and our group gathered by the familiar hatch to the underworld. Having sustained a few injuries and still getting physio for a recent car accident tis was the first trip I'd been on for a while so I was both looking forward to it, and also a little anxious! We had a look at the survey as a group and then, we were off in to the hole, straight into that peace and darkness that envelops you underground.</span><br />
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With two novices in the group we did the standard "pure darkness" lights off moment, and then we were off into some great little passages, climbing up and over boulders, and onto a passage that was admittedly not my favourite with a lovely gap in the middle to straddle, and a bend with a small void which made me question why I'd put myself through this again. But after having a word with myself, and some words of reassurance (also known as "get a grip, you've done this a hundred times, now shift it") from Paul, we were past it and into the next chamber. </span><br />
<span style="display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; word-spacing: 0px;">Being short of leg, the next challenge was climbing the waterfall at Arete Chamber, not hard by any standards, but it's a bit of a stretch if you haven't the height for it! But the reward of the formations at the top was worth the effort!
We eventually ended up at Salubrious which I loved and Trident and Judge which were great to see and grab some photos.
Then it was time to turn back, and head towards the outside again. We left the novices to head on to a couple of other chambers and passages with our other leader, and headed on out with Claire, having a look at Gnome Passage on the way out, and the Wedding Cake (which is more like a dropped Wedding Cake actually).
Outside the sun was glorious, okay it was absolutely hammering down, and we enjoyed a very wet walk back to the hut to clean up and grab a cuppa.
A great trip, we had a fantastic time meeting new people and starting to learn more about navigating OFD2.
Thank you so much to SWCC, and especially to Claire for her outstanding efforts organising everyone on the Saturday morning!</span><br />
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<h3 id="Paul">
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<span style="font-size: large;">It’s not easy trying to compress a whole weekend of fun into a few paragraphs.<span style="display: inline; float: none; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span></span>Where to start… well I have to admit I have visited the SWCC HQ as a guest not so long ago (where I found out about last weeks beginners weekend in the process) so on this occasion I managed, despite the thick fog en route, to avoid all the fun and games of Google Maps insisting you should be using gated hill roads to get there (coming from the Brecon / Sennybridge direction).<span style="display: inline; float: none; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span></span>Being a complete outsider to the sport, I have to say, I was completely taken back by just how big and organised caving actually is. If I’m truthful I didn’t really know what to expect that first trip to the HQ… but a impressive, purposely converted row of 10 small cottages, in what seems like the middle of nowhere, probably wasn’t it (and I mean that in a good way, of course). I’d clearly underestimated the popularity of caving, the size of SWCC and more importantly the facilities it has available.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Viewing the Trident </td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="display: inline; float: none; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px;">Despite probably living close enough to be able to have driven down each morning for the 9.30 starts I decided (following several recommendations) to stay over both Friday and Saturday nights to experience the post caving fun and games and I’m glad I did. Friday evening was certainly the quieter of the 2 evenings but I felt I’d learnt a lot very quickly through talking (and also just quietly listening) to members in long common room chat about caving until well past my bedtime.
</span>Having hired some kit from down the road and been sorted into groups and appointed a leader for the weekend Saturdays caving experience consisted of a tour around OFD 2… some parts of which I had seen before, the majority though was a whole new experience and one I thoroughly enjoyed. Everyone had different ideas of the worst bits of the day and it certainly pushed comfort zones for some but we all completed the route and made it out safe and sound with some patient encouragement from the leaders. There was a noticeable sense of achievement from everyone in our group whilst walking back down to the clubhouse though it was clear everyone was left with varying degrees of eagerness for more the following morning.<span style="display: inline; float: none; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
Saturday evening started out much the same as Fridays… plenty of caving related conversation in the LCR to start with followed by even more entertainment, despite the foul weather, with an impressive firework display which literally kept everyone on their toes 😂. An excellent 2 course communal meal of nachos and Chilli soon followed and was very well received before the LCR chat resumed over a few pints of beer. Saturday was certainly the busier of the two evenings and with plenty of lubrication it wasn’t long before vocal chords were being exercised… a hilarious spectacle for those sober enough to remember it 😂. Retiring even later than the previous night, tired from laughing so much and with several beers on board I had a good night sleep!
I may well have been one, of only a few, arising Sunday morning bright eyed and bushy tailed and keen for more caving. Sadly, the rest of the beginners in our group, through work & family commitments etc wouldn’t be joining in on Sundays caving trip. </span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLBkKN52HoGUuAIFx67H_0sWNIFuhKpU6iYF9jeVTpx8NkAeRfUjUOuv6WyagS0Nf9spBRwFByJQMihDee5T4CcDU2Suhdop08i1_jzEvJ_lKHu25jmbagms2eF2d3ET7ylzDNUtP6M-o/s1600/FB_IMG_1574376514478.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLBkKN52HoGUuAIFx67H_0sWNIFuhKpU6iYF9jeVTpx8NkAeRfUjUOuv6WyagS0Nf9spBRwFByJQMihDee5T4CcDU2Suhdop08i1_jzEvJ_lKHu25jmbagms2eF2d3ET7ylzDNUtP6M-o/s640/FB_IMG_1574376514478.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paul's Sunday group. Celestine, Helen, George and Paul</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">After a little re-jigging of the groups we soon on our way down the road to OFD 1 for a “dry” / high level / escape route trip. It’s hard to put into words but this lower system, seemed to me, to have a whole different atmosphere and right from the off proved much more challenging and consequently even more enjoyable than the previous day. Navigational “oversights” on the way back out resulted in what was, for a few seconds, a completely confusing and disorientating (but at the same time hilarious) situation of arriving back at the same boulder choke we’d passed through not 10 minutes or so before… much to the two more experienced leaders amusement at the back… a very good lesson learnt and made for a trip that I will certainly never forget! The walk back uphill to the club house brought the weekend, and what a weekend it was! to a close.<span style="display: inline; float: none; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">
Roll on just a week and having enjoyed the experience so much I’ve made my application to become a provisional member, already had another mid week trip to OFD 2 and bought some gear for next time so you can safely say I’m hooked…
It wouldn’t be right to conclude this without a few thank yous Firstly to SWCC for welcoming a bunch of strangers to the club and running these beginner weekends… without which many wouldn’t get the chance to try caving at all. Also I must thank Helen & Celestine, the leaders of our particular group, for giving up their time to show us beginners around though, of course, they are just a few of many volunteers who obviously work hard to make these weekends a success. Lastly but perhaps most importantly a thank you must go to Claire for organising it all… I can only imagine the amount of time and effort required to coordinate everything make the weekend run so smoothly.
If anyone is reading this is in two minds about giving caving a go, especially at one of the SWCC beginners weekends a go I can only say do it! You won’t regret the experience! </span></span></span><span style="display: inline; float: none; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<h3 id="Aga">
Aga</h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I had a great day. It was very challenging but I was able to finish the route with the help and support from our guides, Helen and Celestine.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paul, Helen, Anna, Aga and Darren outside OFD2, Top Entrance</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Going underground is a very unique experience, you get to explore an environment that is beautiful and very much off the beaten path.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmt3dve_9DgLsZxNB7aQm3j6JKKrTUQTQN10P3zOzAMs6P1K0377buLenbnB91qr9RzRJGeUKedbYBaolWNxg0YQTR2PuNBMgx0HM5DqIl7t8LMKcvOwVobaosoZYFDZHcPJMvG3OBNwo/s1600/FB_IMG_1574524314168.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="540" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmt3dve_9DgLsZxNB7aQm3j6JKKrTUQTQN10P3zOzAMs6P1K0377buLenbnB91qr9RzRJGeUKedbYBaolWNxg0YQTR2PuNBMgx0HM5DqIl7t8LMKcvOwVobaosoZYFDZHcPJMvG3OBNwo/s640/FB_IMG_1574524314168.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anna at Swamp Creek</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The trip might not be easy but SWCC is a very friendly community that would make anyone feel welcomed and at ease.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0sY3T4FnzD_rmF_ujp8yvPfo7TQm8lm0OsshX47biEiRiWAn4_kxM_2lsZtlFbilWav4KSvipMnyXfaER5vd6zdr_kuQOVgvgLila4_O-PThSayHAepO9ssIaXOuwyT6DEZi0Wi7A-s/s1600/FB_IMG_1574524347026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0sY3T4FnzD_rmF_ujp8yvPfo7TQm8lm0OsshX47biEiRiWAn4_kxM_2lsZtlFbilWav4KSvipMnyXfaER5vd6zdr_kuQOVgvgLila4_O-PThSayHAepO9ssIaXOuwyT6DEZi0Wi7A-s/s640/FB_IMG_1574524347026.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Celestine advising Aga how best to approach a climb</td></tr>
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<h3 id="Tom">
Tomasz</h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thank you very much for the great weekend with SWCC. I am very impressed with everything I have seen and experienced. People are fantastic, caves are epic and the club very well organized, especially your organizational skills are just outstanding. My mind is still with you guys at Penwyllt and underground. The commitment of the club committee and all members to organise the provisional weekend for beginners and bonfire night for everyone was just unbelievable, caving trips, food, beer, heating, fireworks, accommodation and entertainment, everything spot on. I would like to come back as soon as possible and get more involved in your activities. I look in the SWCC blog, and the things you have done are amazing. I am very excited about becoming part of your team.</span></div>
Claire Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958326669257209359noreply@blogger.com01-10 Powell St, Penwyllt, Swansea SA9 1GQ, UK51.825832118106021 -3.661150932312011751.82337861810602 -3.6661934323120118 51.828285618106023 -3.6561084323120117tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9073699539353090932.post-30903218346443789942019-11-01T17:39:00.000+00:002020-04-22T23:00:57.781+01:00Alton Towers <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Team: Tash Brudenall, Jess Burkey, Keith Edwards, Jane Sarginson, Claire Vivian.</div>
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Now where do cavers go when they aren't caving? I bet that's the question you are all asking yourselves. The answer for us at least is Alton Towers on the wetest day of the year so far! Fast and thrilling rides with the added fun of painful rain hitting you in the face as you zip through the air from 0-100kmph in 2.5 seconds on one ride. We only made the mistake of sitting in the front row in the heavy rain on one ride - and feeling like we'd been through a pressure washer afterwards.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7qv5lsSup8E4lUTUK-6qAR408W5p98F0ZwfXfVmefZzujKqE3bWKtEnm1Ej7_RGVjq1cWjw4q2yiFq2g1U1jZW_lv0mxU0Tmg3ja1EpJNwMLaj3baBn7lVGeiw_a8g3QuR0LvPbEjq2E/s1600/20191026_123004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7qv5lsSup8E4lUTUK-6qAR408W5p98F0ZwfXfVmefZzujKqE3bWKtEnm1Ej7_RGVjq1cWjw4q2yiFq2g1U1jZW_lv0mxU0Tmg3ja1EpJNwMLaj3baBn7lVGeiw_a8g3QuR0LvPbEjq2E/s640/20191026_123004.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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What rain? This is Alton Towers!!! </div>
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The fun had started about 30 minutes after we left Mark and Jess' house. We had factored in queuing a lot at Alton Towers as it was half term, but we had not considered the 4 badly flooded roads we came across on the way to Uttoxeter. Jess drove admirably through the water as the rest of us watched the bow waves dispersing. What a star of a car! Only a couple of little coughs and hiccups from the engine before we got a Wetherspoons breakfast.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJoXfipHnsgtF1tgwr6e8G-y6EuNqOlfKDfDuSiSR72EA0TxOOhJS9OZrKvv6U10ILaNEuaOUIgeDm5-4MrjT1X6-zCn1qGrLpooo2sX8m79ZLuQ96RHeOVr5FwrYTyB5sVHEMl7X8tp8/s1600/20191026_160916.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJoXfipHnsgtF1tgwr6e8G-y6EuNqOlfKDfDuSiSR72EA0TxOOhJS9OZrKvv6U10ILaNEuaOUIgeDm5-4MrjT1X6-zCn1qGrLpooo2sX8m79ZLuQ96RHeOVr5FwrYTyB5sVHEMl7X8tp8/s640/20191026_160916.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
All smiles! It really did stop raining.<br />
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The closest thing above ground to a Longwood-August trip occured as the rain hammered down on us while we queued for Thir13teen for over an hour. Trench foot set in and we could feel ourselves gradually losing feeling in fingers and toes. To relieve the misery, we went for lunch to take the chill away and dry out a bit.<br />
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Jane, Keith and Jess watch the mighty Oblivion</div>
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After lunch, it was like a different day entirely. The sun came out and there was even blue sky. Perfect Autumn roller coaster weather!!</div>
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Smiler does its thing (there are 14 loops)</div>
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We went to the X-Sector for some of the biggest rides in the park (Smiler and Oblivion). Barely 15 minutes queuing for Smiler for all 5 of us using the single rider queue. Result!! </div>
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Nemesis zooms past the queue. Would you believe it! The ride is 25 years old this year, having opened in 1994.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David Attborough meets Nemesis</td></tr>
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As it got dark we got even more excited with the chance to ride all these amazing rides in the dark! We all stayed until the bitter end, leaving the park at 21.30 and having been on every ride there, except the Wicker Man wooden roller coaster, which was closed. Oh well. Guess we'll just have to go back again to try that one!<br />
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Trip time: 11 hours of theme park fun.<br />
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The team take on the spooks in "Duel"<br />
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Even more flooding on the way home. Jess and her awesome car once more came to the rescue and showed those floods who was the boss.Claire Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958326669257209359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9073699539353090932.post-9019722552563265122019-10-27T22:42:00.001+00:002019-10-27T22:49:43.282+00:00Top trips and “collector pieces”!<span style="font-size: large;">Team: Chloe Francis, Duncan Hornby, Stephen Johnson, George Linnane, Sanita Lustika, James Meredith, Paul Meredith, Helen Stewart, Phil Thomas, Claire Vivian, Hwyel Protheroe-Jones <br /><br />Dates: 18-20th October 2019.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Authors: Chloe Francis, Duncan Hornby & Claire Vivian</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="595" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/BZfVMvLnS2ovyM_H7J0WJlPiPKBVlpmoyOYRlBZEyHua5Ed4IgrZ3PUQKy_byGeUiefWhWFkVHrBT0aARuqqdhdOFlk5YNODHj4f6YtChSb_jahMeM1igairKj4lF67z6_bzDwhP" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Sludge Pit Hole team in a part of Main Rift passage.</i></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">On arriving at the <a href="https://www.mnrc.org.uk/">MNRC</a> hut we were greeted by the hut warden, David. We were able to obtain a variety of keys which gave us the opportunity to pick and choose our trips. Then for some, it was an obligatory visit to the Hunters Lodge!</span><br />
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<tr><td><img height="480" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ZetDGsdVMEBeQDJQR6o_Vwgi14To1Gu0hNGuc-ysc-Om3Ejxl7z0HGmsNtCbgSu-q1X7sfcosh2d3y_u5Gwe2pqswYtiEUh00Bvh0AFVulCEW41Uc0qI_WqLAhFyrKpvgWdPxfHl" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">A sneaky shot of Chloe and Duncan at the Hunters.</span></i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="360" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Y9H84lXzuofulJiLyrChBi2AMnyWDOc4STSH7zqmvd5yDJV6kzFmxrbl6HSMsKlqufHSztn6LflgimPMUXtVkSkQpyw5hBUPB0qKdG0NF3LDOspv6w3IG99gOKe4n_6U9gGCkc3g" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The team at the MNRC.</i></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />Saturday</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Three trips ran on Saturday each have their own report:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://swcc-blog.blogspot.com/2019/10/top-trips-and-collector-pieces.html#chart">Charterhouse Cave</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://swcc-blog.blogspot.com/2019/10/top-trips-and-collector-pieces.html#gbcave">GB Cave</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://swcc-blog.blogspot.com/2019/10/top-trips-and-collector-pieces.html#sludge">Sludge Pit Hole</a></span></li>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Charterhouse Cave</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Many thanks to Peter Hall, local Mendip caver who was the guide for this trip. Photos by Sanita.<br /><br />The cave seemed to have two modes - you are going through a narrow-ish bit or you are comfortable to walk, where subjectively it felt like most of the time you spend in the narrow-ish bits of some shape and form. Never the less it was great fun and a well worth trip. Like it says in the cave description, the first proper formation you come across is the Curly Wurly Stal which you can partly see from a hole in the wall of the passage first and once you turn a corner it turns out to be even bigger and nicer looking. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/rOBHiFn1pI15ONkVqejDt5ECcwWQt2jE0Vs0khK_PkjDKtgOJG_ABeaKRKqEZFc40KbnmbZHKBfnBsoS1zVGTPJHPWVjB5c33ywrlZMbnZYdEEL4nSBVyOTE65wKLX4rA5DIhgWW" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">The Curly Wurly Stal.</span></i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our next stop was the Splatter Chamber, where we got to hear about some theories as to why the splatter is there. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Wm4SWMaOkjV63GGOFiZ7zMIP1JW_cPxIqVryqILIbMhyF1CJ0poLJsUpRDyS2yzTzNhu8MgRyPmhcl5aOcB6XSmvZlhmOMRD4ad4rLgQPBgyz9wmbqo85p5JrunSCz8ml3vliPNy" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Splatter Chamber.</span></i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">After some crawling, we came out in the Grotto of the Singing Stal. You don’t tune into it straight away but once everyone had put their lights out, you could hear it ‘sing’. It sounded like a happy squirrel munching on a nut or something. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img height="400" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/U-onS3Yx_KnHAapznB8JYhD1b4vlOAOmWt-GroLpVF7gKUcWe3wFHuWZuJEQw4Xk8CtOzBlk_KDln5dhzvRM9BfHGMnEQ585N9vZbkFLpNBdOH6LHqmNLoILRjX6WkuLK0TBemX-" width="300" /><img height="400" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/fBCPOrG5q-ltrh4y1YakPQ5PvSXx5c8vMPYAb2tjIFNQsLfToC_MxcDQ1m88OsI9ZHt3Fz5eOBksK4k2v-NmV_vyLkRsdvttQ6DrWj5vPlLHqtRCSbRQVXW5ypfukjgF0myD47P2" width="300" /> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Grotto of the Singing Stal. The stal sounded like a squirrel munching on a nut or something.</i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_CtJc-LC-fMTOYKAX-vVNODLi0LO19SApA_StwEOkz9Q9re1x3s82B7w0TJIonhKZzkT83knVwidkowWaywGH8Y2FwhtFidlsLUU4AEVc9F5fpUvfcl6xGJuLBmSE3bqMS_4NCyG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>A fossil as fat as your finger!</i></span></span><br />
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<tr><td><img height="482" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Z-v0DoBWX-jylRhjnEad_baaVX5I_rwbSi79_kVAyyc-vBrhJTGl9t4jZzkpuHbHKNwtOaBuOcnokYZfo0GmXEZSoz86KyY1jDqMQFmMeCsxknIWjEXfTQ-P0DKz2qcDNveeKTg8" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Little splatter formation.</span></i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;">Unfortunately, The Narrows ended up being too narrow for one of us so we had to continue as a party of three. Past the Narrows Frozen Cascade and the Blades were the most impressive formations. </span></span><br />
<div style="font-size: x-large; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><img height="640" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/m-lujcuTL0_vm7vyy3s21-ceVRa8QV2ZFYdiOLmzIHUv4n1HFbKhE1D-L7o5BZn3-eTyPFl5xG7n2pR53MPq4c7_7k0bvwGujFIqtPwYgFV_P3oc5ccoXQPLg3EFQXg1CR25FgrB" width="480" /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: x-large;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: x-large; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img height="640" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/1ulTCDtrMFjyor_hdUvjCcM6La1CDij7wq_ThAZwYrBgfDfEYdjzi12lmbYJfw_BCWRiZJO4fUv2zD763hP83nPovDTkafbBCg6LSDthf3YU1VXgIwZYoXbrxM0cz-d1205pQ2CF" width="480" /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: x-large;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/kwqf1Gqiell3U4MNSyrKuSGFHW8Kdbq2Ioup7pzPnlBOwAmiHbSKkvDy8XSkz9tVb8mK-MDCHnh1tmzjZ4cY3K3eAbDsWZhdFiltf6i8hLDFJQTy1w0h0A3J4pM6_D2L_zQbuvy_" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The Blades.</i></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="font-size: x-large; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">As the cave description says Portal Pool sumps from autumn to spring. Though Peter started to water pumping process, we wouldn’t have gotten much time on the other side, so we opted to not go through the Portal Pool. Instead, we had a listen to the strange noises the air-bell was making...</span><br />
<div style="font-size: x-large;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz_9FLkK8GRcK4Gb-tCbWD8_gjbwnmNmEDeZDmScYyQw7nkgUMBQ1wS9hiTcdjB6NXQZIi0pxjYk95cXWBl1Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Turn the sound on your computer and watch the video to </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><i>hear the weird gurgling sound the air-bell made.</i></span></div>
<div style="font-size: x-large;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">We then had a quick look at the Timeline passage with the crystal pool cascade and then made our way back at a leisurely pace taking photos of all the pretties.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img height="640" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/BKD-IbSVJiWJTLkBDGo0GDVxJaTlc5B-X2abQ16EJ8y0Jj_w6Tl-NA0NrFv5im76dRzJQOHcnodTWk8obP0z8wZ6dMOmDO0_ZF5_KngtF21L1srUyzAy5M3UYui433bqokvezVAX" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The Frozen cascade.</i></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img height="640" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/8R9CQOZDZsjhBUAS-4W75kPaulx1VmUf_UtTIl6WCT5SvjZxyAtjwsyWSoQOFfq7f32AKsDYoBm7Vfr5Om_l8YDsMzcUFeB59gVRZq97Wo6CGEnv8pi9Elcc2EPFAm9PPUXAYsKX" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-align: start;">The formation opposite</span><span style="text-align: start;"> Frozen cascade with Peter Hall in the background</span></span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img height="480" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/mDwcpjew8vaKnNULmRmCqxTkdk3c-B8-ruG4MVGsB8wQCYhyQYwLH7bveOnH0r4l6YmYzLh41B_J6vqASqJy0j6HSrNYUruNx3xRpGjyqOONQ3kZtCE5InBGYBUpj7yzqzf4A8gX" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Little helictites before we turn around and make our way back.</span></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img height="640" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_GEvwAS_rwt_mAnoHVLnk2TDi2jzmk6fj5p_E_ySLDzSXHGRMNrCZqtW2Dv9mXZC_4A0dJOXpTTWCKZKskdhjJckg32-LeyUSsaYmRugNP7VB_jHbjkJ5KqPvZTyAZ3fb1XntnEC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">The Timeline. This was our turnaround point next to the Portal Pool after listening to the airbell which was making deep, industrial factory-like noises. </span></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">On the way back we had a quick stop at the Citadel to look at the Blobs. They were strangely pretty for the fact that there was not much there in terms of shape or size. </span></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_u10RMJi1Ym8430oIElAT-EX8w6AjRpnZ1RuqBjLgl6OFmeltdnrMaNEVOkCh2crqNIqVPgSwdtsILa_29FPummnqN0BQLZYI0ehyoKsndYAexojsyr63z9l651A7Cj083iFyxcl" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">The Blobs at the Citadel chamber.</span></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Trip length: 4-5 hours leisurely pace to the Portal Pool.</span><br />
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<hr />
</div>
<div>
<h3 id="gbcave">
<span style="font-size: large;">GB Cave</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">As this was Hywel's first SWCC trip and first visit to the Mendips we thought we'd treat him to the splendour that is <a href="http://www.mcra.org.uk/registry/sitedetails.php?id=141">GB</a>. Massive passageway, plenty of formations and a waterfall to climb. What's not to like about that?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/gLrJPBfrxYU56yqeDDh-nVU5VBWD9YOTyqyFsJ_ltodRAsTtjzpjXkMV6OyhpG5PmPYHp4rjuPPkkirQxtwzFoLOk1fOH8uEsGE8k4Mr0Et7UCxhOFdfdSatP3GZHrENEwnXa0vE" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: start;"><i>Helen, Hywel and Chloe at the entrance.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">The rain in Wales the previous week had been tremendous and it had almost been impossible to see through the windscreen at times on the journey over on Friday evening as the rain was torrential. We were expecting GB to have a lot of water and so decided to do the round trip with a couple of short extensions. We thought the duck into Ladder Dig Extensions would be impassable, so didn't bring a ladder. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/lu1qSgrk2WFgIp9gkQCgXFTvy0tv7DbKtwqh3YD9sm9bxZNuCnEx-o-Zghitx83hqJlOKjZOl3T8yOmmKFK7gD2BwtpNORq1ZllmmR86e_jafBJCkQx8bIhPdyY4UyTd8gysNN9t" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Helen, Hywel and Chloe on the Bridge.</span></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">But we were wrong. We went to have a look at the waterfall and could see that the water was nowhere near the level we were expecting, it was quite low!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/KqbvESkMYrQlxth9scjvRNV-MN_bNK376lo7xn2gDmNAK6D5f1341BW8eed3ZpknKCTGvhfm6dzucwxjAaOq4zCWiKNYm1muc1SsoTJpCKl_3QnFI5qQsHSjUfFtC0kEPQ-CUVfy" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Still enjoying the sights of GB.</span></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">We were committed to the round trip now so off we went. We put Hywel at the front of the group for a lot of the trip so he could have a go at exploring the cave for the first time, without just being led. All the group were capable cavers, so it didn't take long to complete the circuit. It was great to have GB to ourselves on an Autumn Saturday afternoon. The only people we saw were a student group we met at the entrance as we exited the cave.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/K0HnVZaLkw2ufVsn34LSjUScyVlHrnLyd95Z2URhrCr3roztcNw_DzUpZKB2UIJS_sihSeOVeNezTyBbkdHj1433hqQAfdm9ZwBrBTfWAvxkzNntlzNdx-N7yOht6XVmlRqF3vM9" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Still smiling!</i></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/S6adXM791WV42WCLawPoBUn3GAVUhBeOwO2ZGCkv-fRbZP7LboBicrIQgj4fB2NLuhSMt2sTJyGmU3EawqD6HkMpFkvk2gYmQlO_5RaH8Scv1szEge18I_3jwFCNsD-Ng6ZF0Kro" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Hywel climbing towards the end of White Passage.</span></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img height="640" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/WI1JaOhEfMy1yJ4KquMoXuKQSaPFtDuVfvQDKlhxyYKHc70Hklj4237TFm8Es-n32Fd9EPrtoTA6IXkUfoJAixkF9x9iPxujOx04ttPzV2UY4Bxhs-aEfNLFGZ6NZdKSo1frL2hA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Chloe enjoying the wet grovel.</span></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/phIpiZeqbeQGyV7mSZpoRF3CCHfeOYWzvGVvQHEzwBqTQQLf6kgmqIZOei8duGiYiiyOabWOzl7S9IjQQfdNRfVQOUmJALULOSb54M_YmgTleHl19tEO3U5qgiXFWHYfr_Iot0HF" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Chloe admiring some pretties near the entrance.</i></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">The sun was shining brightly when we got out and although we were tempted to go and do a second cave in Burrington (Rod's Pot), the lure of lunch and a walk won out. We went to Blagdon and walked around the fields and lake instead.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/rNCs69O3F5Dl8CIoqhtU2Ioqz3fbm39YHv_ogUq7izXilAhjgks6_Vh6TaZvBdlFPonn53w2REqS2Yu_vSdfAqiqCuiw2h4WXlxyKkHgt91D_9Bk03HcZE2e2DbtGUW8n5Q-EV9i" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Blagdon.</i></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">Trip time: 2.5 hours</span></div>
<div>
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<hr />
<br />
<h3 id="sludge">
<span style="font-size: large;">Sludge Pit Hole</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">For much of my caving career this <a href="http://www.mcra.org.uk/registry/sitedetails.php?id=229">cave</a> has been closed to cavers. A few years ago a change in land ownership meant the access to this cave was improved and is now accessible if you can obtain a <a href="http://www.cscc.org.uk/">CSCC</a> key.<br /><br />Whilst not Mendips longest system it is a sporty cave and you can easily pass the time exploring the various routes and bitter ends.<br /><br />The entrance is tucked away in an overgrown depression in a field just up the road from the Wessex Caving Club.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/nppLXmlfI4jP10TpS2hNofenXWArIkPXxeCGH_PMCWc4oADsVqmIcVwYGrPU0qApuw-DciCs3D03n6bSc8i4aKvlG0T9_TX73cyEoZeQ-w7htVD_x7ze8YpSa6h14A4DYmjtq-Ks" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Entrance to Sludge Pit Hole.</span></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">A short scramble leads to the 8m pitch. It has a couple of P-bolts and a convenient ledge, so a nice pitch for beginners or people less experienced in the dark art of going up and down wire ladders.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="502" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/9u5eLX-4olvrKXIHMJ-LCcyZhymY80gDXUtNazxpzjjF5AT5Q4kjAZgHOlxTte9gI7Bw30hcWq3bIzt0XBS3PH7J2RXINM8ax5vdI1xi5lMRw6RRTOCs7tVU-oPUEOSsx_gd-vSz" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Stephen about to climb main pitch.</i></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="458" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/BL2hgeAIpp_yco0sAg2s1XUsEMkcseCeKkNz3bCihOhQCp_NW8zXHch0oCOeYtp8VWjuZOAwkL6MBJpj2i8u4EezG4V1lD_41VIoxixbrbKIaGeyW4kfCXoAxo6HwKnilltnLy1M" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Paul at main 8m pitch near the entrance.</i></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">We followed the obvious way on which lead us down the steep main rift, this was some of the larger passages within the cave. It terminates at a sump and a particularly dodgy section of the cave with the roof seemingly propped up with a stack of rotting logs. Eek!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="508" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/yN2_r1p21bC3DQQhQVqhaeGarlJ3ujzqD6Ze8esipLgxB_daVJxl2T43Vq7g-d1-6IR02EcVK0X9Hg8DrtC-iHeXO-TPotE1zfnptD_p9uKUxUIhCx0bVPj1yu3J9eUZAh8M0L7A" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Group resting at the sump at the end of main rift passage.</span></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><i><img height="560" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/r-Z0QV_SIXmDXIqYOBoag4gNTnk_ADEjSfhrgJgYvM9Ns61p3ZnGPqXEuY3CSESi-8WpNevkA_Guypi83oGZkCvWPdT1rI_dWTN71loE27MojtijOY4BEOB0MOu7PsssfwUnJd5x" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></i></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">The roof seemingly held up with a stack of rotting planks, this is a few metres away from the sump.</span></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">We then did a variety of routes, initially via Aragonite rift back to the entrance, then back towards the skeleton series via the maze and finally back towards the entrance via the shale series.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_sk06mBIHXttL-b5JGChnIfOwkJUvqA6eZBBrXjDoMt2YDlyjrM91_ofPqubUeqDdInoh6x-O7oAjeCV9kVLdgCzbW0i2VygDYMSi98B83PK5ybZRVntvpi1koXXnFkVnIjwo3cj" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="471" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Team in Main Rift passage.</span></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">It was a lot of fun seeking out the various routes and trying to connect parts of the cave. As the system is quite small there was never the fear of getting totally lost as you would do in the much bigger Welsh systems.<br /><br />But word from the wise going UP shale passage towards the entrance is quite cramped and arduous, definitely would be much easier going DOWN it! <br /><br />Trip time: 4 hours</span><br />
<br />
<hr />
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">Saturday Night</span></h3>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The mystery of the elusive Ploughboy</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We stayed at the MNRC, which happily was in walking distance to a pub: The Ploughboy. We knew the walk was tinged with danger, along a busy main road in total darkness. Taking measures to avoid any pre-pub injuries, we ensured we were suitably equipped with high viz jackets and head torches. Marching in single file along the road felt like being on a weird school trip...heading for the best destination ever! Eventually, after about 20 minutes, we reached the pub. James un-clenched his bum cheeks as we re-grouped in the car park. Ah, safety at last! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Imagine our devastation when we realised the pub was closed. There were no lights on. Nobody was there; the whole place was completely deserted. Horror. Dejectedly, we turned around and trudged back towards the hut. Duncan called the Vic, who reckoned they could just about squeeze our party in. I was now hopeful that my Saturday night dinner would not consist of soggy, half-eaten caving mars bars and instant noodles (must bring better food next time). </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">On arrival back at the hut (the walk felt longer on the way back without the anticipation of destination pub), we figured out who was going to drive. Helen S volunteered to take people in her very lovely and fairly new VW Golf estate. We eagerly clambered in, our mouths watering at the thought of the delicious food which awaited us. However, due to a flat battery in the car key, Helen’s engine would not start. Everyone exited the vehicle. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Eventually we managed to arrange everyone into cars and off we headed to the pub! Helen made some calls to try and resolve her key situation - the issue was solved the next morning with a trip to Wells to get a new battery. We have a great time at the Vic, with plenty of food, beer and good company.</span><br />
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<h2>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Sunday</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Taking advantage of the cave keys, two trips ran on the Sunday:</span><br />
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://swcc-blog.blogspot.com/2019/10/top-trips-and-collector-pieces.html#singing">Singing River Mine</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://swcc-blog.blogspot.com/2019/10/top-trips-and-collector-pieces.html#attborough">Attborough Swallet</a></span></li>
</ul>
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</div>
<h3 id="singing">
<span style="font-size: large;">Singing River Mine</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Ah, Sunday. The perfect time of the week to relax; tolerate your family; catch up on televised sport - or, in the case of a hardy group of SWCC members - explore a disused mine! The order of the day was </span><a href="http://www.mcra.org.uk/registry/sitedetails.php?id=891" style="font-size: x-large;">Singing River Mine</a><span style="font-size: large;">. It’s peak activity was in the 18th and 19th centuries mining calamine: the ore of zinc and lead.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The mine is located in Shipham, in the back garden of a house down Folly Lane. It was a strange experience to open someone’s front gate and walk through their garden in search of underground adventure.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/zZQmCOzMqq1yGl6dtVoM0if6xB2KlC9oq06y0AFVOKypq9fiD5q3RrCkitcriLFDwXow_NI5Cuyb6SbWngLh71IfpYWIuFeemRITc9LXWrf3U-gX7UlqKBdOpK-Fd3QLMdPAUfHx" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The Dream Team about to descend Singing River - photo: Helen Stewart.</i></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">Phil rigged the entrance ladder pitch and one by one we descended. I paid very careful attention as we explored the complicated labyrinth of passages, mindful of being able to find our way back in time for tea and cake. Although we had a copy of the description, none of us had bothered to read it before entering the mine. In hindsight, this would have been very helpful.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Eventually we found the lakes - woohoo! They were wonderfully clear and blue. As nobody fancied getting fully submerged, it was time to turn around. It would be cool to take a raft down next time to sail across.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/HiU6aOEaTpDzZpzyk76dWFzjBn4VwOonS9P3niEnTbTmoSQ2iy7q4jOg5oGE-OvHPj8jcs4fY2XODJuhBTUov9ve4yYgcn_byVIEY7PFt3psd5HLzBkefiOfIR_B4Q07Fwqn3eOh" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">View of lake.</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">Trip time - approximately 2 hours.</span></div>
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<hr />
<h3 id="attborough">
<span style="font-size: large;">Attborough Swallet</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">Yet another collectors piece to tick off, </span><a href="http://www.mcra.org.uk/registry/sitedetails.php?id=97" style="font-size: x-large;">Attborough Swallet</a><span style="font-size: large;"> is a short drive away from the MNRC hut. Parked in a lay-by, crossed the road and a short walk into a depression to a bright yellow concrete entrance. Can’t get much nearer than that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is yet another small cave with no fear of actualy getting lost. Cotham Hall is the largest chamber with a few routes leading off into various tight, wet, gnarly crawls.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-LIpIsG99ZK1IuZf4szSsIO7OZyyFSVqlX88idnmk75q2z8XUFbTald3rZj9LQV_8ACDMn9OMScFYHCzG7Bl5qsDLtxiyajmd4TAvm7R0Lz4M_rW-eJtHXiPov8M5TJf2rtRnV7m" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Stephen the mole!</span></i></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/pqP7mINsYrwizMceMmtOse3dpsOabnB9GlLdMlNRi1_UJ97cfTW42N6jlR9AtLxQYJcSgu48oFBuViYIDGrayuOGG4wRb6GvRnmTigX1rcCoUD6-rebijTj6h40r_qne9zQiq7eu" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Team Meredith at entrance of Attborough Swallet.</i></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;">Claire was leading the group as we got towards “Twist and Shout”, hesitant to descend a climb Claire crawled out to let me have a look. By virtue of being too large I had to partially descend the climb so I could turn around and get out of the crawl, it was at that point I realised the climb was much easier than it looked so called the others to continue. A few metres on and the tables were turned and I was hesitant to commit to a climb but Claire was small enough to get down it and work out where the foot holds were.Stephen jumped at the chance and quickly disappeared down into Watery Rift which terminated in a flat out crawl in a stream.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We then returned to Cotham Hall and explored Nasty Nasty which was a grim crawl into a wet and muddy tube, most of us bailed out on that! But Claire and James went out to sample more of the misery and reached a climb down that belled out at the bottom before throwing the towel in and going back to meet the others. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We then headed out via a tube connecting Cotham Hall to Happy Mondays. This short cave is a great Sunday trip if you wanted to get away early but still get a bit of caving in.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/SNFVb8JQ3lAMUmkXBuPPWuJ9ZRdkJUJxsBZC7qQ-rt6oO1B4ESkUvuQUO-bZwDjfDjC3k-awdzW3lDnyZAc4B3I3v95nLk-AU_a1wGTTYdvAc4U_WTD_9irFaKcJ1GyBXipfXqM-" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Paul squeezing out of tube which connected Cotham Hall chamber to Happy Mondays passage.</span></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/FjgwvpMTvo0WIB74Djk6fE6C-2Z6SfXWL_14XReu_KH-bnZ431LIfWTWH0CIbvsrHLWjG7kZrBR9bJ9qJHOP3TqqHhfgyU4PRm2WMMiYV6-r7g7RL7mn0LtPrLNRDEWasGXcxDnw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The rather muddy team at entrance.</i></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">This was the trip where we also found monkey, soon christened 'David Attborough', abandoned in the lay-by near the cave.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/Bq46FS3Il59aio4l8CeioD9f4JdoZBCAl6fXLH-P4xfMF-lpwOpr8uP5lDK9q0-l6yA9mjuj9nAXqVhNvy2PhMkr8Nhp_MLqGpeJpXVH-Gyizd0-Hr0dqFdAGvuVBXoqKiiu-nMx" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="360" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">The now “unofficial” mascot of SWCC?</span></i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">Trip time 2.5-3 hours</span></div>
Hornbyddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11955053422642525977noreply@blogger.com2B3135, Wells BA5 3EZ, UK51.242145499475 -2.589468955993652351.239660499475 -2.5945114559936524 51.244630499475 -2.5844264559936523tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9073699539353090932.post-29630049607861571322019-10-12T17:11:00.003+01:002020-04-22T22:55:17.905+01:00Northern Lights, Ogof Ffynnon DduA trip to Northern Lights in Ogof Ffynnon Ddu has got to be one of the best caving trips in South Wales. The caving is varied and adventurous with a few navigational issues and just the right degree of challenge, and the reward for those who undertake the trip is to get to see some amazing cave decorations.<br />
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Filmed on 6th July 2019.<br />
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<br />Keith Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17684152871673218803noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9073699539353090932.post-38241611911222528942019-10-09T13:01:00.000+01:002020-05-13T23:43:39.897+01:00Adventure Queens Weekend 5th - 6th of October<div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Last weekend saw the Adventure Queens visit SWCC's HQ for a weekend of underground fun. This blog post contains some trip reports and pictures from the weekend.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi050UdceEY8x9WvHHOclTCUxDc9tUIKngBZAd6p5Rvm6XifazezQNFAyp64cK7_Tl-CkeWmUgDq3cg99DREZgGTyGrgyEco_npKI8pRx4fJdFhnMQp31LQx1mu6n43YfsVAnP_LiIud6k/s1600/Team+Picture+.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi050UdceEY8x9WvHHOclTCUxDc9tUIKngBZAd6p5Rvm6XifazezQNFAyp64cK7_Tl-CkeWmUgDq3cg99DREZgGTyGrgyEco_npKI8pRx4fJdFhnMQp31LQx1mu6n43YfsVAnP_LiIud6k/s640/Team+Picture+.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: start;">Sunday morning group shot. Photo: Claire Vivian</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br />Trip Report - Chloe Francis</b><br /><br />Mission objective: to show how fabulous OFD is to the Adventure Queens & improve my navigational skills. <br /><br />Team: Moi (Chloe F), Claire V, Helen L, Cat and Natalie (Adventure Queens). <br /><br />We reached the entrance at 11:30am after an excellent amount of faffing. With me as the leader, who knew what lay ahead: would we spend hours doing loops around Big Chamber? Would I accidently catapult the beginners down Edward’s shortcut? There was only one way to find out… <br /><br />After spending a few minutes with our lights turned off inside the entrance, we headed to Big Chamber Near the Entrance. After the mini traverses, we took a right turn, then another right turn. I made everyone climb in and out of the prisoner pit - then I went down and through to see where it connects to the brickyard. <br /><br />We came to upper level Arete, and then turned right towards the Wedding Cake. After peering over at Arete, we went to investigate the delicious formation. <br /><br />Next obstacle was the corkscrew. I gallantly demonstrated how to negotiate going down this - everyone was very impressed. Claire decided that Cat and Natalie could do with a good crawl, so into the hole at the bottom of the corkscrew we popped. Crawly, crawly, crawly sandy crawl. I think everyone was having a lovely time, especially through the very narrow bits. <br /><br />The crawl ends near Swamp Creek, so we went upstream to look at the pure white formation, then turned back to visit the Judge. Here we spent time admiring this rather impressive formation. Then to the Trident, where Claire regaled the tale of how some eighties cavers knocked the end off and it got glued back on. <br /><br />At this point we bumped into Bob’s team as they stomped up Salubrious. After exchanging pleasantries with the other team, we turned left towards the crossroads so we could check out Selenite Tunnel and Shatter Pillar. At Presidents Leap, Cat decided that she didn’t like the look of the traverse - so I stayed with her while the others went across. While we waited, I sang songs about love, heartbreak, death and, of course, caving. Luckily the others speedily checked out Selenite, so Cat was not subjected to my full musical repertoire. <br /><br />We retraced our steps and headed down salubrious - the traversing bits not phasing Cat and Natalie in the slightest. At the elephant’s molar we left Salubrious and began to climb back up towards the corkscrew. At the top of the climb we sat down for some chocolate rations. We decided that a good stroll up and down Gnome passage was in order, so we had a leisurely amble down there. On our way, we bumped into some very shady looking characters: Grimmett, Clark, Paul M and James. <br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">No beginners trip to top entrance would be complete without flailing around in a muddy puddle in the hope of admiring something pretty. Therefore, the last order of the trip had to be the mini columns. Everyone had a brilliant time sloshing around in the mud; seeing the formations was definitely worth the effort! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1vEDSMITpxbgJ5ZkA0VY75T2hQBW2Z103BpcF0N-j0glEG_yijxW5gULbq1oBTNmryc2upSHxYZ3HK8fzuuIKJhLOcwxIbPgut5ne91nUVYzho8vRxa8GHLbsMdch3Ys2Xz665JNJeU/s1600/71490303_10157807852058057_6451759160332648448_o.jpg"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1vEDSMITpxbgJ5ZkA0VY75T2hQBW2Z103BpcF0N-j0glEG_yijxW5gULbq1oBTNmryc2upSHxYZ3HK8fzuuIKJhLOcwxIbPgut5ne91nUVYzho8vRxa8GHLbsMdch3Ys2Xz665JNJeU/s400/71490303_10157807852058057_6451759160332648448_o.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br />Cat and Natalie admire the mini columns. Photo: Claire Vivian<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK9PBlXCZ9rNmQ-1TA-aWc6MkqD9kjXzeH8BriCnA9DEaH23krVHLmRPsNi65YWOzomtOk8sfnUlo8LLdOMupwYMAr_7_Fbi8i_mZXqsUxmJ_02qvQAddTeODcm_i3641BagjG54CMVQo/s1600/Chloe+F%252C+Natalie%252C+Kat+and+Claire.jpg"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK9PBlXCZ9rNmQ-1TA-aWc6MkqD9kjXzeH8BriCnA9DEaH23krVHLmRPsNi65YWOzomtOk8sfnUlo8LLdOMupwYMAr_7_Fbi8i_mZXqsUxmJ_02qvQAddTeODcm_i3641BagjG54CMVQo/s640/Chloe+F%252C+Natalie%252C+Kat+and+Claire.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />Chloe, Natalie, Cat and Claire. Photo: Claire Vivian<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQSHFpKmeOwYq-NldTVBGqhZv9es-tE4OaeFrtZbL7gXnP7U-9Z9S5hkuZnuPO0cTRVd1DQCQt7N5CeJoS8WAsD4M5aBginFB2hQ70M5fmBS-hYweEyJ81zg4JphlI4xUnF8MgLw9CGQg/s1600/71577594_10157807850438057_7658560381127753728_o.jpg"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQSHFpKmeOwYq-NldTVBGqhZv9es-tE4OaeFrtZbL7gXnP7U-9Z9S5hkuZnuPO0cTRVd1DQCQt7N5CeJoS8WAsD4M5aBginFB2hQ70M5fmBS-hYweEyJ81zg4JphlI4xUnF8MgLw9CGQg/s400/71577594_10157807850438057_7658560381127753728_o.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br />Natalie taking to caving like a duck to water. Photo: Claire Vivian<br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Wearily, we began to head out of the cave. We joined a queue of Cardiff freshers waiting to exit the cave: it was like Everest but underground. Exit time: 15:30 (ish). Time underground: 4 hours (ish). </span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<b><br /></b><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Trip Report 2 <br />Trip: OFD top entrance <br />Time: 3 hours </b><br /><br />On the Saturday morning we kitted up a bunch of ladies who had never tried caving before and took them underground to show them around OFD. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Our group started with a bit of traversing to get comfortable. We then went past the Wedding Cake and down the corkscrew. Along the way, we stopped to marvel at Trident and Judge and had a wander around Swamp Creek. Once we got to Selenite Tunnel there were plenty of fossils and smaller formations to look at so we spent quite a bit of time there. Our next stop was the crystal pool followed by a Frozen River which was our turning back point. Along the way we introduced Sarah to squeezing underneath the boulders, traversing, climbing boulder choke and bridging. On the way back we found a fossils happy face near Maypole Inlet and finished it all of with a look at the Aven before navigating our way back out.<br /><br /><b><i>Photos by Sanita Lustika </i></b><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0XVV2BnRwMiAYnU9ARERoAdiYlt13NTMonFJvPvzVmXkJaOzhuPZX8yJzu7lvq5UAZj0kG62RRtxVJjtKlQ22vsuFxNw4zUapd1y3-uLHZ3-WtIdukw7um7Lkuy85QXTva7AYsZNTm7g/s1600/IMG_8917.JPG"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0XVV2BnRwMiAYnU9ARERoAdiYlt13NTMonFJvPvzVmXkJaOzhuPZX8yJzu7lvq5UAZj0kG62RRtxVJjtKlQ22vsuFxNw4zUapd1y3-uLHZ3-WtIdukw7um7Lkuy85QXTva7AYsZNTm7g/s400/IMG_8917.JPG" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh27W_tPbsmhyphenhyphenTBBCKm9e2Y_58STGeqS8wkYh4lKegrfC2Z0BAl_NVWUb1GF4jAsDV05oQnuDDIISQ4VHJYuPcEiZXR6U-g22ZmZMm10Oy3IszBDZf7OhnbgpX0vrLmqGwp0xeMJcD7-Fk/s1600/IMG_8947.jpg"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh27W_tPbsmhyphenhyphenTBBCKm9e2Y_58STGeqS8wkYh4lKegrfC2Z0BAl_NVWUb1GF4jAsDV05oQnuDDIISQ4VHJYuPcEiZXR6U-g22ZmZMm10Oy3IszBDZf7OhnbgpX0vrLmqGwp0xeMJcD7-Fk/s400/IMG_8947.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJJRLf2IvHYEJr6TaVpEuc11rhCYL_xb4iNOaqGEBmfDsGBvZ5pqyW9lCfyJATqqk6vmPxuvZUIWHNK2DJnXxlc7ocCJFLSIX7Ft3m6EC9t95ajxhbOnPYFfU3CWEtyTiX6D4WcI41-c/s1600/IMG_8955.jpg"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJJRLf2IvHYEJr6TaVpEuc11rhCYL_xb4iNOaqGEBmfDsGBvZ5pqyW9lCfyJATqqk6vmPxuvZUIWHNK2DJnXxlc7ocCJFLSIX7Ft3m6EC9t95ajxhbOnPYFfU3CWEtyTiX6D4WcI41-c/s400/IMG_8955.jpg" width="300" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg87ktOQiKrTMUWAXgATYsrai-telc17xa8sEHoS19FiD7nuIM-WDhUuNsDsn0T8OoldBTp75S6_7a2zqdBNNxzVuXDUq43LPvMhtQElQzaNbtFWLMZ91PDdbD8xxYl9kDCSh0hBRkUS24/s1600/IMG_9015.jpg"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg87ktOQiKrTMUWAXgATYsrai-telc17xa8sEHoS19FiD7nuIM-WDhUuNsDsn0T8OoldBTp75S6_7a2zqdBNNxzVuXDUq43LPvMhtQElQzaNbtFWLMZ91PDdbD8xxYl9kDCSh0hBRkUS24/s400/IMG_9015.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPWIjM7hVbvI7tTsrIvcqkwLSMW5aSP_X_SLl9s9mCx-OcLkhP73Ph9PE7T77JbZl8R9lYrpJc5Y0U9z9EKvMRVlRfPG1JVTXR-TiIG1qVeJeHGdUcXiOc9RoIL974SXj3EBxHCFBiZCU/s1600/IMG_9016.jpg"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPWIjM7hVbvI7tTsrIvcqkwLSMW5aSP_X_SLl9s9mCx-OcLkhP73Ph9PE7T77JbZl8R9lYrpJc5Y0U9z9EKvMRVlRfPG1JVTXR-TiIG1qVeJeHGdUcXiOc9RoIL974SXj3EBxHCFBiZCU/s400/IMG_9016.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi59glwLeIx7xTpb09p6GY9ReDOJaTOOHJkkNznDPSlq8z9rMHNPrUSjgv2-3vY8uNOMfmctIY89FMLtspI3zw4aVi6cgaMUT32kp0YdZdoTJh8Ouh63HXuc9kT95LtrvPGa29zdbcj_qk/s1600/IMG_9021.jpg"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi59glwLeIx7xTpb09p6GY9ReDOJaTOOHJkkNznDPSlq8z9rMHNPrUSjgv2-3vY8uNOMfmctIY89FMLtspI3zw4aVi6cgaMUT32kp0YdZdoTJh8Ouh63HXuc9kT95LtrvPGa29zdbcj_qk/s400/IMG_9021.jpg" width="300" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqYI8IfFUss179hkAEF34hum_AVMXt9LlnD5vl6YjY5mtxUVhVGh2gS3NpENGLQPAZDZbd8Owr_gQRlthl5_ydv2fEHg9mnsl5Wox7dLy3Ue3Ynd0hs_N1U6PzTHrnrQ2cT1A8JWERP_o/s1600/IMG_8940.JPG"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqYI8IfFUss179hkAEF34hum_AVMXt9LlnD5vl6YjY5mtxUVhVGh2gS3NpENGLQPAZDZbd8Owr_gQRlthl5_ydv2fEHg9mnsl5Wox7dLy3Ue3Ynd0hs_N1U6PzTHrnrQ2cT1A8JWERP_o/s400/IMG_8940.JPG" width="400" /></a></span><br />
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ChloeFrancishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10841097745135808207noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9073699539353090932.post-68585930578988714942019-10-09T12:39:00.000+01:002020-04-22T22:57:15.427+01:00August Bank Holiday Tiger Weekend<h2>
Weekend Round Up - by Chloe Francis</h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I never thought I would ever lose sleep over salad; but as the August bank holiday drew closer, I began to regret my laissez faire approach to certain important event components. For example, a sign-up list to know numbers for catering might have been useful before very late the evening before the event. The wonderful (and very patient) Chris Grimmett emailed some pertinent questions in the weeks leading up to the bank holiday such as: ‘so where exactly are you having this BBQ; where shall we set up the beer and how much are you charging for food’? None of these questions I really knew the answers to. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">By Friday night I had been at the club for two days and had a reasonable idea of how I was going to feed 60 people. However, on hearing my plans to “wing it with a bottle of Bombay Sapphire”, the Soup Dragons Annie Hallihan and Amanda Davies, plus Elaine Hall and Hayley Meredith offered their guidance, moral support and an endless set of skills. Friday night was fun: there was a great atmosphere in the club as the car park got fuller and fuller. I went to bed much later than intended - after persuading everyone in the kitchen share my extremely strong whisky with me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">On Saturday morning groups gathered together and headed underground. There was a fantastic array of trips happening, thanks to the organisational brilliance of Claire Vivian. Over the weekend these included: Draenen, to War of the Worlds; Pwll Dwfn; OFD2, to the Traverses; Top Waterfall; a Pendulum Passage pull-down; an OFD through-trip; Dan yr Ogof - both the round trip and to the Far North; Pant Mawr and a Daren Cilau through trip. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As cavers set off towards their caves, I drank tea and tried to see through my poor, bloodshot eyes. An expedition to both Tesco and Asda down the valley ensured that we had the food needed for the party. Meanwhile, back at the club, Graham and Harvey negotiated BBQ transportation from the Stump to our HQ. Many thanks to the Wealdon for lending us this monster piece of kit! The day passed by in a salad-y blurr of chopping, slicing and grating. Thankfully, the magical dragon’s cupboard contained a food processor, which helped enormously with the coleslaw making.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">With the glorious sunshine people naturally gathered outside the HQ to bask in the late August warmth. This made it easy to round up helpers to move all the benches from outside the cottages to the BBQ location by the dumper truck shed! BBQs were lit, salads were piled on plates and delicious fruit crumbles were demolished. It was lovely to see everyone sitting outside together, sharing tales of the caving adventures which had occurred throughout the day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thank you to everyone who helped make this weekend a success - especially to Claire who coordinated the trips and to everyone who volunteered to lead.</span><br />
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Trip Report, by Tim Ball (Shepton Mallet CC & Cerberus SS)<br />Daren Cilau Through-Trip: Bank Holiday Monday 26 August 2019</h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Which did I prefer, a through-trip in Daren or War of the Worlds in Ogof Draenen? A close thing to decide upon since I visited both thanks to being guided by Tarquin Wilton-Jones over the August Bank Holiday weekend. Overall I’m going with Daren. It’s closer to my heart as a Mendip caver, and in Draenen I get boulder-fade.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I’d not visited the cave for…not sure, at least 8 years I should think, maybe 10. But the entrance series isn’t so bad when you’ve done time in Mendip. How many phone line junction boxes were there? I couldn’t remember, but I learned that it is 8 by the time you get out at the other end. Only three wet grovels, being the immediate entrance and also a nicely coloured and profiled section around half way plus Stal Squeezes near the finish. Just like caving at home!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Tarquin wanted to see Old Main Chamber which I’d not visited before, and I’m glad we went. Rift Passage leading up to it had a couple of entertaining climbs before reaching a small chamber and then onwards through a welcome (easy) phreatic-like passage into the enormous Chamber itself. Massive with a flat-ish roof, and very mud coated on all of the large boulders.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I can’t believe I’d forgotten how long Jigsaw Passage was. In fact, I can’t believe I’d forgotten the general large scale of the cave. Everything is big in one way or another. Tarquin gave us lots of very interesting commentary about the cave creation and how this related to the features we were seeing – I’ve never been underground with someone so knowledgeable. If only I could remember more than a tiny fraction, but at least I now know something about cryogenic cave formation (cryo-stal and cryo-calcite).</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Epocalypse Passage was even larger and had the best formations for me with some huge selenite needles and thick mud deposits plus the White Company and then a detour into the fabulous Urchin Oxbox. Seeing really is believing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Past The Kitchen and into Antler Passage and one memorable hairy climb/traverse where I made a conscious decision not to think about the depth underneath me, even if only for a short distance before posting myself carefully through a calcited aperture having formations close by. Up and down, up and down, with the Passage really giving more sense of the vertical scale of the place. Some of the fixed aids were comedy! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Eventually we turned into Busmans Holiday where the scale increased in width once again. Did we see condensation formations here? I can’t recall but that is another new formation type (to me) that I learned from Tarquin (thanks). Finally into Price’s Prophecy which reminded me very much of Gnome Passage in OFD 1. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And then the sting in the tail. Which is worse, the entrance crawl or Price’s Dig? Well I know where you get muddier that’s for sure. Up until this point I was clean! And I can’t believe that people used to free-dive the sump (now by-passable). </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Finally out into daylight and a cuppa brewed for us in the car park by some friendly folk staying in their camper van. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It’s been too long since I’ve visited Daren, and this is a classic trip which everyone should do. Don’t be put off by the entrance series since the rewards are worth it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Many thanks to Tarquin W-J for guiding us round, and to Claire Vivian and Chloe Francis for organising the SWCC weekend.</span><br />
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Dan yr Ogof: The Far North<br /> by Dave Eason</h2>
<span style="font-size: large;">After the festivities of Friday night, and a hard days digging on the Black Mountain, I was apprehensive to say the least about the Far North trip! However, this is a classic trip that I have always wanted to do since I started caving and eventually found the enthusiasm. Tony Baker was leading this trip, so this was my first time on a big trip with Tony, after spending about 2 years digging with him! This was my 4th time into the cave, after helping Phil Knight with conservation work in recent times & a first time in for Lee, Ariana and Sanita. Soon we were all ready to go and set off at about 9:30 A.M. from Penwyllt. After quickly kitting up, we were soon walking past the tourists and heading into the cave by about 10:00. With water levels low at the Giedd on Saturday, and the weather being fine, I was surprised to see how much water was coming out of the resurgence, with it's mildly peaty complexion.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Within about 5 minutes we were at the end of the showcave, and stomping off down the concrete path towards the lakes. The water was a couple of inches over the path, and it was a bit higher than I've experienced here before. A strong current was felt crossing lake 3 and climbing the water falls, making it interesting! We shortly got to the 1937 Series, and stomped on through here. It's a shame to stomp through, as there are lots of interesting features to look at when you have the time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Once through the Long Crawl, we made our way down to the Lower Series of DYO II, as this was a first time in for three of the party and it was well worth a look down here. The mythical, mysterious passage shapes never fail to impress me. After about 45 minutes we were eventually up & over the Camel and at the top of the Abyss, peering down.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Onwards, we headed towards the Rising. We needed to re-rig the pitch into the Great North Road, and had to pick up a new rope, that was stashed by the Battleship. We paused at the rising, spent some time untangling the new rope and got our SRT kits on before making our way up the ladder, then up the rift climb to the hole at the top where you post your self into the Windy Way. The short, very draughty crawl, ends in a traverse over the top of a 15m or so pitch followed by a short pitch down into birthday passage. We were all taken aback to how pretty this passage was, and Sanita spent some time photographing the very fine, delicate helictites here. Tony rigged the 14m pitch down with the new rope and we all made our way into the Great North Road. The sense of remoteness suddenly hits you here, and you are committed to the trip, now in DYO III. You look ahead into the absolutely massive rift passage ahead (sometimes well over 40 m high in places near Pinnacle Chamber), with the stream flowing, and it's awe inspiring. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We headed onwards, before popping up into the massive Pinnacle Chamber where it gets large enough that my light wouldn't illuminate the end & sides of the passage. Climbing down through the boulders took us into the Meanders, with the most incredible horse shoe bend carved into the passage. This part of the cave is not so much controlled by the major fault, so has a less linear nature, and is more carved in great meandering passages. We were then stomping along all sorts of varying terrain, more fault controlled again, with perfectly flat roofed straight, rectangular passages and boulder, gravel and sandy floored streamways, ever getting bigger and more impressive. The passages get sandy, as you reach the big sand chokes where you make your way up the 17m North Aven climb.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">At the top, we passed the most amazing layered sediment banks and complete fossilised coral reefs in the roof, before reaching the starting gate, where immense avens rise up above you and 20m sand banks rise up in places at the sides, all the time with various forms of the streamway running loudly under the floor. The floor is either sandy, or made of rounded sandstone cobbles, or a mixture of large limestone blocks, or all three!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We eventually arrived at the immense Grand Hall and Far North Choke, where the passages get huge and immediately end, albeit with some fine formations. This is a fine, dramatic, and impressive place and certainly re-enforces my interest in digging on the Black Mountain. Being here makes you realise why Tony has been digging there for many years, as theoretically, this is all but a fraction of a larger system of caves and these passages continue beyond in some form.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">On the way back, we went via the beautifully decorated Mostest oxbow back to the Meanders, with it's crystal floors. Back into DYO II, we went back via Green Canal into the Upper Series, with it's immense, scalloped phreatic passages, carved into jet black, sparkling limestones, with high-contrast pure white & translucent straws and helictites. I've always found the acoustics of this part of the cave interesting too, having a massively long reverberation time whenever you speak.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We eventually made our way out by about 7:20 (slightly longer than anticipated) with the water now below the path at Lake 1. I almost immediately headed off to Brecon with some other members for a curry. What an amazing trip in a fantastic place. Huge thanks to Tony for leading, and thanks to the others for being great company!</span><br />
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<h2>
Top Waterfall Trip Report<br />By Chloe Taylor</h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Having not been underground all summer (I can’t bring myself to willingly crawl into a dark, wet and muddy hole when we are blessed with some rare sunshine!), it’s safe to say I was a tad anxious about embarking on an intimidatingly named ‘Tiger Trip’. Luckily, I was reassured that it didn’t mean MEGA HARD caving, just something a little more than you are used to. With that in mind, I happily scrambled into my suit and crawled into the dark, wet and muddy hole that is Top Entrance (on a particularly sunshiny day).</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">John was our leader for the trip to Top Waterfall, which, he gleefully told us, he had never actually been to before. Jane, Carwyn and I didn’t mind – we were up for an adventure! We headed for the streamway, pausing at times for Jane to take some samples for her university students. When it came to lowering ourselves down into Maypole Inlet, John said the climb up could be tricky and asked if we would like a rope attaching – later on, I was glad we had said yes! We continued on down Maypole Inlet (one of my favourite parts of OFD – it makes me think of cows!) and to the main streamway. Here, we unfortunately got into a little trouble. On climbing down, Jane missed her footing and fell into the streamway. Being an absolute trooper, she insisted that we carry on, but from above it definitely looked like it hurt.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We gingerly continued up the streamway to search for Top Waterfall, keeping a close eye on Jane and her sore arm. Not knowing how much further away it was, and being concerned that we’d miss our ticket time, we turned around. The way back was mostly uneventful, but I was nervous about the climb up from Maypole Inlet, having needed to make much use of Nigel’s shoulders to get up it on a recent through trip! Luckily, Carwyn’s climbing skills came in handy and he was able to scramble up and move the pre-attached rope into a good position for us to use, which I was very grateful for. We found ourselves getting quite shivery at this point, and I must say I was glad to get back to the club and stuff my face with cider and grub at the brilliantly organised BBQ<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">! </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">_________________________________________________________________________________</span></span></div>
<h2>
Pwll Dwfn Trip Report<br />By Alan Walsh</h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The sweatiest part of the trip was undoubtedly the long slog up the hill from the Dan yr Ogof car park, even taking into consideration that we only got changed into our full gear at the entrance to the cave! While Bob headed in first to get started on the rigging, the rest of us basked in the sunshine, with Morgan following second to assist Bob where necessary. Stephen was third, eager to get some practise in with the new design of Petzl stop! I followed up at the back, pausing for a ‘milksop moment’ as he lowered himself through the awkward scramble at the cave entrance and failed to find a foothold without assistance.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The first pitch was described as being climbable, but this certainly didn’t look the case while descending. It looked a bit more hand and foot friendly from the bottom but the rope negated the temptation to try it out! The second pitch involved a rebelay for practise, where the cave helpfully offered me a small ledge to push off with my feet to release the short cows tail before testing the descender!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The further pitches offered a chance to practise passing deviations. I only made it down 4 of the pitches, somehow doubting the efficiency of my ascending technique to the extent that it felt like the mouth of the cave may be out of reach! I started out first and experienced a unique blend of surprise and annoyance as I found I was ascending the rope with a speed and efficiency that I no longer needed to be ashamed off, so could have easily managed the final pitch. In the swing of things even the rebelay was far quicker on the way up! Inexplicably the tight climb at the entrance went smoother for me on the way out than on the way in, while Bob seemed to find the reverse was true. It can only be assumed that my body had detected some deficiency in my bones during my four pitch ascent and decided that not a second could be lost in obtaining some vitamin D!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Overall the trip was a fantastic opportunity to practise SRT close to SWCC, which I didn’t know existed a few days before, finished off by a discussion over the merits of snap gate, screw and twist lock karabiners on the stroll back to the car park. It was only after Bill returned after his second triumphant ice cream hunt of the summer (of the ones I am aware of) on Sunday that I regretted not partaking in one myself!</span><br />
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ChloeFrancishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10841097745135808207noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9073699539353090932.post-70266055393228612872019-09-07T12:00:00.000+01:002019-09-18T11:06:58.924+01:00Down and dirty in the Forest!<span style="font-size: large;">Team: Bill Buxton, John Cliffe, Duncan Hornby, Ollie Jones, Sanita Lustika, Sally Richards, Richard Sore, Anna Stickland, Claire Vivian</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Dates: 6-8th September 2019.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Last weekend saw a trip to the Forest of Dean with two teams: one visiting <a href="http://www.zen159313.zen.co.uk/rfdcc/sites/caves/big_sink/big_sink.htm">Big Sink</a> the other <a href="http://www.zen159313.zen.co.uk/rfdcc/sites/caves/otter_hole/otter_hole.htm">Otter Hole</a>. Some of us stayed at the <a href="http://beechesfarmcampsite.co.uk/">Beeches farm campsite</a>, a convenient base for accessing the caves and Saturday nights curry in Chepstow.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/472xcRfTxFvgloE4HsxA09ekZYJ1XKgQf9DI62gts6i1D4ddjJb9odXr5czB4UYNgxLp534lglt8Nf2L5os3QAZjK5n37wZVkxxnR99YfKg4rzfm8TkNlHXR6Cu5En72tarUlJqN" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Otter Hole - Photo by Sanita</i></span></td></tr>
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<h2>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Saturday</span></h2>
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<hr />
<h3>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Big Sink</span></h3>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is a cave that has been on our caving radar for some time and this weekend was our first trip into this seldom visited system. John kindly offered to lead it. Alarm bells should have gone off; in an email exchange with Paul Taylor he referred to it as a <b>tough trip</b> and John said last time he entered it his caving friend <b>vowed never to return</b> … How bad can it be?</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Hcgxk0hxcevUzGn2VfnUBjGxUorKpvkshvTRhQJFkTFV97R8pm1kHywfSXS0TyZ_xGF5qmVOIjCR5XzWK2mdy_KSmY47B7wvxNjeW1VzVAKDrz221-yktFyOw2sWd5iu1CMc_ITg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">John unlocking the entrance to Big Sink.</span></i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Duncan post trip rating - delete as applicable:</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">This is an arduous trip with serious implications for a rescue</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Just shoot me now you’ll be doing me a favour</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Hell will freeze over before I ever go back in that cave</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">It was a nice relaxing bimble of trip with no stress.</span></li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/r3ADOSz5YO-A1rM-fDOaxh8MZfunUcSI8tuZ9XZCWILn0waTao2Sf_gbKS8oQHQ9prXD57J4Uc9rQbk5DHJtez5_kmxHirO5q3HyWcYuAvwgYuUiuVjVOtPO5HxSR-HOEHRIVpvO" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Duncan when he was still smiling before he met the 200m rift.</span></i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The entrance is another one of those amazing scaffolded sections which leaves you seriously impressed by the amount of effort the diggers had done to open it up. It was also extremely rusty, wooden planks rotted out and loose boulders held back by nothing more than our collective will power.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/eX0ski6In9VPZFQI42Lt1yvWjaocHJyAtDO81zkyzLPHLEYcnboAQiIVZvTyHh_9S_qUJ0y4KzqXEqS8l_UhoPYejZm9kOx8zkpXm2JbYqYgXSgviiV2HkIQqztTRbdC4rngK3R0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">The entrance shaft...</span></i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/T1z6iORp7AnJX4F-S9BSS5nYC4g8HlvUPNmkuGl3JnPmkAWGZHPIhVUUegYFkjDliGHsUm-x3DecTBfT6NfTAhjO2BOMxMVeuLsiLHg5rHZXZ_6fG6JRKCYS0pwCcIgnoWb4P2b_" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;"><i>The time-honoured road sign in any dug out section...</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A short crawling section leads to the top of a 14m pitch. Bolts are a bit rusty but it gave a nice clean hang, ideal for people wanting to learn SRT. We had a 27m rope backed up to several other rusting bolts and had length to spare. Suggest you use a maillon on the main hang. The pitch descends into the impressive first chamber.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Ym8NkFy64xRIjHqGXNFx_2BIatPvF-Khgiyr61-Jr5s2wXozJYUFldIcP-t7vcrqaOWAbUVPTFW80qximgrNyq0QzjK2uv7DlGUMQYCU23nb6tZhx9quvjSe3fqJjlh7rNoDZ_s4" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">John at the pitch head.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/SLAxHPlgw2tfvn4zLRzzDhlEZMtlQDKEV5Sh2xWiUK1aThgrcXdgLz8whW3D9AE3imCt--wCCkyCc4MevZ5CJAfSvFDs0DsXEdCzjOvJjxun69xdZue5WwO6W6hiEczVeq7Xq4_v" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Claire descending the pitch.</span></i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">With all down and SRT kits removed we walked about 5m around the corner to discover it closes down into a tight gnarly rift…</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This rift is the <b><u>show piece</u></b> of the system, 200m long, impossible to follow at a constant height, it required 200m of thrutching at multiple levels in severely restricted space. Anything that could snag did, it’s also a suit shredder! I (Duncan) am about 1.7m tall and of average build (and a little bit overweight). This was right on the limits of what I could physically fit in, anyone larger than me would find this even more difficult if not impossible. With committing horizontal moves over 3-4m drops it was frankly constant fear all the way until we finally exited it.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/dhGaJ5uy54Kiv2NTi1tpKVuq497WUgcbf5AocgGnvno14JcHeZSv39BSbRie_kKGP04zkc-7tb1ma1lzOeoH_icemH4UgYH6Vhwc6_qzKX5sdv5nIvp40NKYGICIv0_Ubz_8glDF" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;"><i>Duncan in a section of the 200m rift (such an innocuous name…). Here he is having to thrutch along at roof level the only space large enough.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/JLT8TZsLTAMuwGB37oQ2znv8zKl3h7TSEyJtKWzWGJY-o_8W2SHMu4Y1d8X0COsAF6ljXpYtNBBsWSDPajnzHSYVu8dwvCcTUXDhtzLIJkyL_V_7Xri0W5oPbxCqWkK9uQ6rS2-x" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;"><i>Duncan moving horizontally through rift whilst not trying to slip down further into the rift.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/SUmN3M0btAS5mdZcBMBSS0MQ0DHZRo4c2RDwQz1a_e_nG7gSpPCrikTqsR5Mdy6JLxauM9r9odFlAzo25Wj3nPNxnOg7w9frNW552fjPnIgVlExOx1ImO_jEuCaqONEhPBQ8Bgk1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Claire’s hand for scale, it’s going to be tight!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/FjqMeRqvgmNzJW8osDEq-hm3jfVX4H4BGmLh7eikg-CZofmTManonZ-BoaY0ZQj_MsU65QgcwmmZScEprwOn0tsifePul1xrPrDrt-RNV1xuqSA5Tjeb6XGIrr8514kRhqbgiPil" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;"><i>Duncan in a section of the rift where he can actually stand vertically!</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/YO55ToeBWCkyXaQEdybs7JBApQR4cz5MOkWB2H6LGlwqKGKvPiZkjVx5o7WwWBz47r74f2qm1tzOHz2a1v2GOQWXVP6JKw8-glWKW6MkfVpZvT4jCHRf7Y4ANyy5eSdDYltwPpmw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;"><i>Sometimes the only space large enough is at the bottom of the rift.</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Claire says if there are people out there who do not like the Daren Cilau entrance series, then don't come here, because the Rift is more awkward and technical than the Daren entrance series, especially with tackle sacks.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="400" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/8Ru9G8zpuwyXRGX-39F9xpJ2zY72wZ2xh-CQ2LQdWZ14TPKEk0P2fJuSgV_HIAra9Lq2uZ2FhYxGk5Gzzk4xpfyQdx1QFrMRqKV5chmB8LOCBj05TshdrZOg1ftAPMXTdjUXFfmD" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;"><i>Duncan half way through the rift and exhausted. It's a dry cave, so that's pure sweat.</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Of course, John and Claire seemed not to be phased by the experience. Not impressed! (Claire says give the smallest person the bag to carry).</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The exit out of the rift is awkward and requires a 5m rope as it is over hanging. An in situ rope was there but this cannot be assumed to always be there. While the rift is great for short people, this climb is not a friendly one at all and Claire was not keen on this.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We visited Yorkshire Pot, an aven that apparently does not lead anywhere and then onto Formation Passage via a set of flat out crawls.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/N6LFZ_4NrcGI_GZJsSoYiiBQyYKuag5qWcqGWmUWd-WLfEzFyyu_-B-rtIH3pgiLJOUfr_U-7_Lu9S_gp5C92Qo04YKGau3AoQAb9D3s5UT9VaeBFqcgiK6DuNaJmxPeTzN7utSm" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;"><i>Mud formations at Yorkshire Pot.</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">After admiring a set of straws, the sort you past and give no acknowledgement in say OFD, we headed out.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/KszoZFDu2XehQ97X9lG3nNuL9oOKN5rF1c4JZeR-sjTR-9pOcvCM7rRW7xGUOjBQeE3RmNTSY8Pma4D_g-7wJnMg2JW-hSmBAd5Y4OS9_KyytPaLac2sEKiNtTdhAaXAWAD-Bosm" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;"><i>There are formations, but all Duncan can think of is the return trip through the 200m rift...</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/XsJBzQGVGLPdnjDv0D-jBjqld0NVT2G2fJGzVL66eLcnbIVv69pz7Fcus7llmElu3FHtF9znWoZQHJvcaK3c5uiM1A1iTRbfa-rsk21Jz6mOUVSs-0FYhXjF1NBYLs2wiZr0rwqL" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;"><i>Claire in Formations Passage. Not a bead of sweat on her!</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">With adrenaline fuelled fear I entered the rift for 200m of straight up misery, weirdly it felt quicker getting out. Man was I glad to see the pitch!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We retraced our steps out, exited the cave and found Bill chillin’ out next to the cars.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">For route finding the cave is essentially a Y shape so you can’t get lost, get stuck maybe but not lost!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Duncan suffered, several days after knees were still sore and a horrible rash appeared on his elbows! A recent visit to the Doctors suggested it was some sort of contact dermatitis.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/qOM1G40yblE--uC3HfLQUi2T4tBPoQiAZHahdnP7uSm1Y6-VSSRXcVDorwBxkg61VxETcbyMeE3Og2vOi_g5vbx3OIqdtIDaWFGqajvCxjDby4LfkfxVX49_orQN3oJx3i_CybuR" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="383" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Duncan's arm - itchy rash on both elbows. Doctor says it's contact dermatitis.</i></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/uNs0vfsaqB4tS8YDFY2E1ngopcYC5F5F6vnKOr_STTHCakrURFeGzk_Z6_LFMImtbCwyqKQ-5D5Msg9PN24JSMddCd74rdyJYIxVqn4_TlYg_Q7PpEnulTXzHgzbSJk6n3e2fTXX" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;"><i>We survived!</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Trip time: 5 hours</span><br />
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<h2>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Otter Hole - Over the tide trip</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Trip time: 9-12 hours</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Group size: 7 people</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Report and photos by Sanita</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We started about an hour later than we originally thought due to one of the group being stuck in traffic. So our way to the cave was at a brisk pace and then a full speed to the sump to make sure we get there before it closed. This involved a lot of sliding in the mud. The very slight downwards angle helped to slide, but you don’t really notice it until you are coming up and it suddenly feels way more difficult than what you remember. After all the crawly bits we got to the sump. There was way less water than what our group leader, Henry, had expected. This made getting through it a way more pleasant experience (as much as getting stuck in the mud can be.) After the sump we got to the area with a river and brushes, indicating it’s time for cleaning up! This marked the point past which the pretties began and, oh boy, they were well worth every bit of mud we accumulated on the way in and out. We took our time to make sure we don’t have to spend a lot of time waiting for the sump to open in the end. Possibly too much time as we reached the end of the cave at around 5pm. Our callout time was 8pm and at a speed, it takes 2.5 hours to get back out. At this point, we split into two groups and the race to get back out began. While coming in, I was shining my light on every pretty I spotted and trying to capture as many as I can, going out I only ever remember muddy rocks, a lot of them!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The following photos were taken on the way in and speak for themselves, a cave full of amazing formations.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Cl8vA7wb9Nc73DWmsGUCchT3f1VHxl3NmYK5cb7TMxkQgxwXt0CUElH4z1YmnWR_46TlA5hPnrlWGE6IOFnTfibpTysLEufuOq0sHEpClGMHRCrtC6kS6NGtk4aSnv_jopnTpbr5" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;"><i>Anna and Sally taking photos</i></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/J1bnM_4WFZZsZIoUfYWj709Bk7gj_SCylb0D19-BbdnLMcZDdUN7bPFEJ9H5ywww1NVfI_gZMdtikKVtkzQHokB1w-NqeK0cOowLFqiJAlvPGExqZzsTYHUKI3M96Q6KUTO5AeW7" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;"><i>Sally taking photos in a comfortable spot.</i></span></td></tr>
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<img height="640" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/lMN48330_XyOy-fyvSy2374PCicqWT_ijnjSXZrYCvxMvc5sXGdxqPm77zWIk35rsM-BwMVIwOE8Ml5suMYsqjplRTjPUY5FNZ1pqLO7PE9oBJfGlgKU7Xx5LjJw4eB9wnLOqN0K" width="480" /></div>
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<img height="640" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/VTw8TEfuz1KFd1akpvwucVoVfaRdbQcuREJT1d2FRs3qHavVlqID7UTGB2OPzoIiVrz5S4Fuz7d3Mmel-H3Oo0liRyGXKEleFv-Pkc8t0cf2sAnkSPS9WLW8PaDTVi-KQwdmmN1k" width="508" /></div>
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<img height="640" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/TE-q6gKum309XLBfJu7Ne4luviBdsCkEJvfyl9YB6lomaRAz1XEin3IesK0cEU4QKoMFZqj68pLq0ig0Ucx3JvtxjN1qSIn19YwkAdZnkQlCTKrZkV0nbwz-7rjAL99B3L0w1XqF" width="480" /></div>
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<img height="640" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/0tadI-sTLC3fBOi_tuIZsOjeutNt_HeO5PcJYD_Oe4QGgM0cTEZ2JX0UKtQ84F2gq3lB6ZuyJV6zv5Jnp1XE4GphckEnA3RAmONH663myHDzQlX050pZTNPcclgpfXWqu_C7xGwX" width="480" /></div>
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<img height="640" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/oaDwn9Xeb9qhAJFfRWKh-kLsNZnfDesuMkLX6U61synTfHpwHw_8VsJvqFvivYKuycOJIqNIWtz9RpCzRtKsEJfrPFJe06OHuVP5JslD8h8Wq18z6ovH2H-PtOIPH4r4FP84NEVt" width="480" /></div>
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<img height="460" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/30OenjKKYTuCV_zR2WuNF42tpEoEksuarV1ltof71ky5KzFaIpCk-xknka68W6hrJTxMWEu-3wHrmWhlpZTVZstiqPFoCZGoYdAHTctKe4Jv2IPQLXlV3PxeGE5hhc66DaupsSM1" width="640" /></div>
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<img height="640" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/q2k-EBsZWziyqs5iZBFTPXFOd6Tlx10gc1xD0_aK3EINL_O1tgnFVJesTUb30pbKJ32oUrT6sO7fRMMGG4E9qZsHcSaBb1NVyzjmc5ISMqi2o0wSRkKT8TJpLAU5jEAjA_8lXsY0" width="559" /></div>
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<img height="640" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/TWaRYbyGNgNG9uUz-93XV6Bnjk0LoQ0YOR7U3OjS9jknaz1iYWdXqycfUCa_BcjH4xHZ7orlf5BqILSujfhGaTOT_wBH25uvM9dD7bzXwPD3xtIiLjAo5ZCXZyf6pcWNktpeJUEy" width="480" /></div>
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<img height="640" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/2O638Zj2duxCNVVah0LYsfLIdNT7vJLOEPjcANdQ6-pCW_xokz9BJAtoYIvEPnogD-tTBfzvIcmvQ3_CHDk5g-8_XhgFAZIYA5narGZT1CN1oYn74SUvJhlWIwZUksnsEH7D--gZ" width="480" /></div>
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<img height="640" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/rQNuVBjYxDE2xthNUreIfJu7s7dLHo_OUQLvIT23t2sCcjscJvA8RkvaCBd10_5xLR8Uh_PUurbKH76bWASAb706-CNnou73Sh0V2PqdnfkEhUSR-2Rt_bQw9aDrr84IsXcoH0ht" width="480" /></div>
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<img height="480" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/QWsPeP0HXv6K4jKsZLrq9eXQD5qqyw4e5__ATXJnY4siYIg05hJeZI07RjN-b1nvo9YC3DyhBh6G33-cbb7FtTxdB7QCm9J21Z1gEw2tuhUn8KKZ-9aw86BCurNfr1fXjguLICFg" width="640" /></div>
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<img height="480" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/zYFynR0byfm4knlC2PjsnWyUc2BKtItAYEtNDG26bifKlKPFDWVX1JRwCQvbPe66eeyjZGSO6VUgL0wefXvcHyfR7RDUsj3tMR8PlAo-uEwG-AcgkuOVCBoBGbvMT0b1wuhlupJH" width="640" /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/gewRyIfsQtTgOHeB9I_-xWKrcZSn9OqLeK2Y52989zmPPfHrWeJF1of3MIAwAujN-o7WeOzR8iGJ-yqD6y0RyluNt51j7gKkXj8Zdz1hr3hTf8ys3-r0gBxfr65y1CNI1E5XOQmb" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="360" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;"><i>Anna showing the muddy side of Otter Hole!</i></span></td></tr>
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<h2>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Sunday</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;">With everyone feeling too trashed from their Saturday adventures everyone elected for a nice stroll at </span><a href="https://www.royalforestofdean.info/wye-valley/symonds-yat.shtml" style="font-size: x-large;">Symonds Yat</a><span style="font-size: large;"> as the weather was nice and sunny. We walked to the spectacular view point, had tea and cake then Richard showed us various climbing spots. These were all trad-climbs (no bolts in place) and were hidden away in a wooded section.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/lvr7Z_na255AT86B2LZ1fiJEJmZMQDSboC8UWbWMmbRK59KibFWdwH6Su8XjJEhikc1x4Y66a7tfAlWumliLwGU7gOCgLOzXmO-a8cNv26Nu9WBF1bHccz66Am3yGqoUs51cnTiK" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;"><i>The view point at Symonds Yat.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/PtMInJMQuU2f_dstc04XhHrS0KfPPZ8i0Tt_j37_tZ_p8owv89suRUEJZmf4fO-U7Dp48zrQC61y_p6QmaYZvHtSctCBD1qEZi1OJAZ3gw_zTfvLmoxM1kaVf3HdhvuXH_TgD3Gv" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;"><i>The gang (Duncan, Claire, Sanita & Richard).</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Eventually we had to go our separate ways and Claire was yet again let down by our wonderful modern rail system so rather than leaving her stranded in Chepstow I dropped her off with Sanita at Bristol Parkway for what I can only assume was an epic journey home…</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/vRzt52qfblPsTtx_83K7dQCEZgyBCU0r9jL_hhjVyiP0CNJYkNarEA4ufFiNDAQA8n_YemEfjEUvWTo2H_cL1QpvRbZKdhmdRqs4RdzQtjO1kKyiSOtLCPRjTg8msItiOinRzCuZ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">We even managed to do a short through trip near the climbing walls!</span></i></span></td></tr>
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Hornbyddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11955053422642525977noreply@blogger.com1Beeches Farm Campsite, The Beeches Farm, Miss Grace Ln, Tidenham Chase, Chepstow NP16 7JR51.702078 -2.655050999999957651.692244 -2.6752209999999574 51.711912 -2.6348809999999578tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9073699539353090932.post-775150104048029862019-08-31T11:00:00.000+01:002019-09-08T22:31:24.703+01:00Llethryd Swallet Dig<span style="font-size: large;">Team: Andy Freem, Chloe Francis, Duncan Hornby, Peter Kokelaar, Gareth Smith, Val Bednar, Claire Vivian<br /><br />Date: 31st August 2019</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />About a year ago on a visit to <a href="http://www.ogof.org.uk/tooth-cave.html">Tooth Cave</a>, we noticed a small depression full of cold cave air, near the sediment choked original entrance to Llethryd Swallet. <br /><br />As cavers it was too much to ignore and a quick ferret around quickly exposed spaces between boulders underneath. This looked like it might provide a way round the blockages and regain access to one of Gower’s largest and best decorated cave system.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/7doByZ_gq6I7j1RXD5r_s-5MWGJweOm3L75rU1YOZ9A8oWNhydtk3FnvGALaDkPPkJ7khMpav3slP2Oh9lpelIyW08yDJ0_lv0080pmxQfPX7AxKAUZTl1Jiy2NrdFF_RmkU-M3S" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">5 of 7 all looking clean and keen to get digging!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The site is on a SSSI. The landowners enthusiastically gave permission and applied to the NRW. Agreement to dig was also enthusiastically given by the NRW! This is allowing us to attempt to open this new route into Llethryd but also to expand the research we are carrying out on origins and the age of karst features in the area, which is on the southernmost edge of the last glaciation.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Fast forward a year and on a perfect weekend 7 of us descended on the dig site. I was blown away by how much Andy <i>et al.</i> had progressed the dig. A year ago it was a small muddy hole, now it was a clearly defined entrance with a surprising amount of surrounding rubble.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/mEO8NGWPzpAveX9ldKjbi3pgos99LpvjwZgLqT0xwLfpWJdtvyqugHV8b2HYzJRkkfyx8N7FNWwYymSzzqOW_LW0cWkfGxoxW7RExg_Ci-s648hnYl-0QnzHJWeBXxwYIMeHXlux" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;"><i>The entrance, already much work has been done bringing waste to the surface.</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Therein lies the problem, the digging team had hit the age old problem of where to put the rubble in the now 30m long cave as they dug. The primary objective of the day was to move as much of the rubble to the surface which was then used to reinforce the ‘bunding’ surrounding the entrance. This was part of the requirement from the NRW who do not want the new entrance to ‘pirate’ floodwater from its normal overflow course down the valley.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Sd6UhdvX0T3vgJFqfaJxcN5bahIRLRUHHeeBP3Hvt0CKh-kvLAfzbqBS1LH01lLz1rsqSzsNddVMfB_FYP4J73ttBmneR-yOZX-gq63JtyfziXklbUMCU62jwiCV0fX4VfOsIPYm" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;"><i>Peter at the top of the improvised hauling line, cable is tied to a tree further back.</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A conveyor belt of 7 people spent much of the day bringing the rubble and mud to the surface. A drill was used to break up the bigger boulders.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="360" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/MV8G_eL6rUm3FZVK1MUFPCwWDepFB8RzLVa19Vk4uAJcfgQQ7uVt5df5CmzbQ79g_f1GC15SEK-f36urVqlrtfSeqiYznZs0ZWpahTxPrXYmEr9g7QjjZ1-p7tNjvw7fehuR8bYb" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Andy loading a drag tray</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">After a tea break Duncan and Chloe went to the dig face to progress the dig, it was Chloe’s first time and the experience did not shatter her nerves. She is clearly made of the right stuff! Eventually Claire swapped with Chloe and had a crack at the dig face.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="360" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/mrN8huaoxKGS774RqjREMRj87OtzSKsBgTMuKx2Upq2XI0WYqwF3d-8X3eT2MS2z4Lc1nd5rOLg6lGCiCmHaw-bv8Ps8GNkuTJBvMnXTNPxXQDgLAwqb7p1-ZtV1YbI9AaWx8DKH" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">The dig face; consists of loose material, mud and with a draft!</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Time dwindled away and we eventually collected at the surface to clean up the site and head back to the cars.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="582" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/iDTPKCQvcqBwwMnO5zA1jNCd_CSNZ0Bn2E7bzrrxMNqCExvrUaGn5rTtoCkv8lRFF_LsG7DLdfMQ_uHKcn1pz1uNyYnpFC1NY1Sl_iq7uthzoqUaTOMBoRdSnlZDIQYHUEyyfV0h" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>End of the day’s dig, extremely muddy and several tonnes brought to the surface. Val seems remarkably happy!</i></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/npJWI5-uYyIFL-3gm7K1RmsanR6iw5tquQmObnndAt14OA8J1dB6nJQsw3FoOOpS5eycF9uFhSFzj_BPTZ6M3Rtu3DbAFfhDHplB7eeNN9deXVmezbTIpfcdOZ0aaPXiL8a2oLOc" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Back at Andy’s home, the only way to get the mud off was with a jet washer.</i></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So watch this space Llethryd could soon be open for business!</span></div>
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Hornbyddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11955053422642525977noreply@blogger.com4Llethrid Bridge, Swansea SA2 7LH, UK51.600020382949644 -4.121927062258464551.598787382949645 -4.1244485622584648 51.601253382949643 -4.1194055622584642tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9073699539353090932.post-62409556925772777492019-08-17T12:00:00.000+01:002019-08-26T17:32:31.467+01:00Climb, paddle and walk!<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">Who:</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">Andy Freem, Antonia Freem, Bill Buxton, Duncan Hornby, Sanita Lustika, Simon Prothero, Jane Sarginson, Claire Vivian, Alan Walsh.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">When:</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">17th -18th August 2019<br /><br />This club trip was all about not caving! Fridays journey to Pembrokeshire was a pretty miserable all day drive in poor weather only to clear in the late afternoon revealing blue, if not windy, skies. We were camping at the <a href="https://www.celtic-camping.co.uk/">Celtic Campsite Site</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Saturday:</span></h2>
<span style="font-size: large;">Bill walked to Abereiddy beach and back whilst Sanita walked to St. Davids along the coastal path to meet up in the pub for dinner. The rest of us went down to the coast and spent the day climbing at the Amphitheatre, a set of cliff climbs a short walk from the campsite.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/vAbIJg8w2yoCvWOzUCg-9_HZe2aFHHvVm8EtTOYsL2USZo_9XBRqEPEO4J9kTBSsWg00JuTHCklPrLJZmCPmEYUsLY7eff9QqyIqa0kMLD4g7AuBp6cNyGWX0_1HZyMrE11nVCFM" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Duncan climbing - OK I did cheat and used the blue rope as a hand hold!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/VZ6kVa0quBfZNrhB-MMOgip1JdobT9mDJ1OloHauCiHjyf8K9egyQQOJI522s160B8dapVEX0Chc-vlG_Dc7Xz4PtTSpMJQheCGPO3Oc0hpxYMw94e8bTSz02Q83HnSKLKqJUkKk" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Andy belaying from top.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/J6TeTit4csi4QZOoFN1OmgMUGF7ukd2C2Gj9roeI0LMjgh0cOP45GkTkrYwR0o9Zc26H-VVWNaBCAvGVDuFj9fCRenZkLyhGB956GG0IsU2roWqo4i7cH0rZzbVVwLA2u3-c8w8D" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Alan about to begin his abseil.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/xfjetQhFtsssAtSVWUJVbKThgylp1cKDK1ibnYqaZW_roxl2XW1-bcuAiZnnZ8XfpvOZ1a94RgttkaZI9PlbZL5Vjhk3UdeW0iljLQfBazjJJK1WPRxxK6Dh4_kxIrzcBknJ5mpn" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Alan climbing.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/nmJ23aR38x-pxmzcB4G2Pt793YwaAAeeiWvyYyn4L0euttHxuOyFQH7hxWfOtMAQrQ652Te3PcSNEyCV5nXcc4BRDvsndYB9GQyWJshaL0woIzKrzrYj7jZBmIBz35C3UsZvCeQ6" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Jane climbing, Antonia/Simon at base of climb.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/NdnzagYAkdVUnqp9kYDBgsc5C1D1zMGu7ceTY0qdzA_o5_VIQHzL2v4H5rCVCi-3nbzuxp4ASSWVxqZ9hDOzpyTTjD5NnHJYBOen16aaChR02q4FW6TpBoeTfDd4yWaZypJGHKM0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Antonia at the base of the climb.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/wUEyFAFGSVgeS9NCo1oGU6rEKcoccH3xC5ysh9VBYOScwB_RUl52ANociK0yP5LrOgFdiOFCCNIaFifW51wkEV7WD5RoNiQwaJW8VQqYVCcXpAhQ0tLM0hZv19jIAdvYWxS_7crE" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Claire on the first slab.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/qNUe3p7OYRVfVSZIEStd2CAZLiBUw9KBu0BZEfgbNszmMMFj-_MKmRfHSkHvIrvq1HyJOZyjDwD7S_QnUwyV-GRnmD5OLTZGAShFZ3F4CaP0wUG9mqwzR4bplWHglLwuFhgOhoA0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Simon tackling the escape route.</span></td></tr>
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<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/6VZIRdK7yO3h4RD0-Sws7bGcXEyeeih6vsMP2j9nphIFi89GARvjvmWphXlArOFBk4oLeKdK5QwQq4naCVHumYRELzvIkWXSKoc2DcAokzkOSSVajuUH6VSTarefvlvV-rFJPO1n" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Alan abseiling.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/1_58vz3ewB_p2dqKpzHGwhNC-4unJBXHkEWhgNsf65DycTAirp3e64ke-qp803-RmQkJ9pp6oftjo2ChxlyHm23zqJar8wpFi1LUN9VU9AqtYf0exSqJcGIEiZ0uvJUcglvvZoWC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Jane about to abseil down the second climb.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="494" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/s78CbXznfk6HhoD5Cr1ShtCCIWns_s718vkivwGgN5uuwsY-X9fc5yWu7K3urGfUqyQba9RMnbG8nxnD4Yo2M0-mtHP5o2G37A23ue94Z-elNSlJcrD-rQMpWg2rmwSBTdD6FCqS" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Frog saved by Simon</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="143" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blw9fGhIJaZH6loEE3FsX0tEaQWNOy7Oqu3MPqeqtFtogNjZ7mIqXB0vqY0He95Q1s9HY1hUxLOAMzBohKTSyTonazYV0cGv--w2Q_GiYrHTH6s3n47UKyczl-Qa-XLApxNWFarI" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Beautiful day for a long walk - Sanita.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/ALAsdTgjuU0BkQbZCjj5wFU75iTh_zxfsGxsG_z4fJvbvr1Z33uC15eWlR2Ajbe4Li1xaT0EXX5wKrj9yT8MRYS4r5T0zQNg4XlfkBshQKNv8CMryYH4M9ztzANXHYfc2VTmoPlm" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Sanita walked from Celtic Camping near Abereiddy to St David’s. As you can see, the weather was perfect - Sanita.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="360" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/ADwLcbPwCYBxo7JL4HnYGFeSY8EhyxVrCre_HAn0Q0fMwzHUJ5daSIVHlg5uLT93IIeEnzGC53SJcp3r6yGG_XP5Yal8Y27wwA3UQ5D_gLwMJBXWgBAP_n0H8-mvfIiPaJ_se5kO" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">The team enjoying a meal out in St David's. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<br />
<h2>
Sunday:</h2>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">On the Sunday the team went to Abercastle which was a few miles up the coast from the campsite and kayaked in the bay. The choice to go to Abercastle was driven partly by a late start and that the winds appeared to have died down a little and Andy was more optimistic about kayaking at sea.<br /><br />As there were too many for the number of boats Duncan and Claire walked along the cliff top spying on the others antics and enjoyed the spectacular coast scenery.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/Cyr5hh9-NA3_Q85Zjo4T41tuzyErYaYvcZ9nM28Cdkpcz2E1CZNU_rQ3WgcaicXvBjqhQhf-gFQlI546B3qT9OhlON-j9bGGtZyxEIf_5TxMOYMiKw3ma0i6ru9hNMNcZgvKx3wM" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">A small bay provides shelter from the wind</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/OmcpvMj3aijjMBkTMVYLuWNg_u-9K5LeZUKLAJj4QqvrmorxlVisuTOun2QZ4umdMvlhJ75EznhjGfDxLbvNxm4_1vy4H5jhCBGF8l5WWz_htHGTMob8s76kEccV-av5FWfPfodl" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Alan and Jane stand up as the team rafts together.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/66erSpOrcyuBlL0MMNljm582eJ3FsGKCGPqZdEKeypL-57__nilP6DVoU5sdRPw1WkGcAGOnWK8EhoAO3Z3xy20N1z1ujCjT4ovKShURPfQS-kUE_d8Y0IPOqtxGY2WCGYbzNHXl" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Looking back at Abercastle beach</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/QbXSgYePxRGqXou53571UScLhozlwR-sEKaOG7snW2ESe0EYA3IkkuqU8tqIcV-iChHKIGVHWJOJqrW71sCjbEoO9wEcVwhsBpzyt1qknMCncB969PhoqPAutdMG1bmy0xq5Bgok" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Paddling near the entrance of the bay</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/r534pAPM6XTjPtfwQbSCw_2fXPhB5WPrXcQZM9lt-q6HDPqbLXPfKruKMRVR94G3J1-zOVufxj6mTbo8laRxkrDqSiR3hx3f63XdsfoChSfphmDh2aD5wk0vp0kYLzQAy5PhFOuE" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Jane and Andy venture further than the rest into more unsettled seas.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/BPZb7KP5G7ByOD7GRLz_N291HGdcDwNdLEsorYbURjHRcaaK1agunFmEnxeTpmN2_EApxM2mPoo-F7yd_KrjbllxK81vEd_VdYBYH8PK45cfLevoQYk-8P8o9JIAhg4alycgZbCl" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cliff top view of the Pembrokeshire coastline.</span></span><br />
<span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">A special thanks goes out to Andy and Antonia for providing the kayaks and their expertise in climbing, the weekend would not have been the same without them!</span></span></div>
<span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></td></tr>
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</div>
</div>
</div>
Hornbyddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11955053422642525977noreply@blogger.com1Unnamed Road, St Davids, Haverfordwest SA62 6DG, UK51.926272410001324 -5.220093727111816451.923824410001323 -5.2251362271118165 51.928720410001326 -5.2150512271118163tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9073699539353090932.post-21162508776636271212019-06-03T19:58:00.000+01:002019-11-07T12:58:23.993+00:00Provisionals' Weekend, June 2019An astounding 25 people came to try caving with us across the weekend of 1st-2nd June! Come and join in our next beginners' weekend. Contact: trycaving@swcc.org.uk<br />
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<br />Claire Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958326669257209359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9073699539353090932.post-34504696564733369092019-05-18T14:05:00.000+01:002019-08-25T14:18:34.061+01:00Deep under Devon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">18-19 May, 2019</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Team: Lel Davies, Sally Fielden, Duncan Hornby, Iain Miller, Simon Protheroe, Ariana Richards, Lee Smith, Blanca Usuga, Sam Usuga, Claire Vivian</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's always good fun having a weekend away in Devon. The caves may not be the length of South Wales, but there is more than enough to keep you occupied - we've been back several times now and haven't even got around to seeing the mines in the area yet, so still plenty of scope for future visits. This weekend was in introduction to Devon for Sally, Ariana, Lee, Blanca and Sam. We stayed at the DSS hut in Buckfastleigh and where better to begin caving in the area than a visit to Baker's Pit? With pretty formations as well as some technically challenging moves, this is a great intro to the area and you can even walk there from the hut.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Like a puppet on a string! Simon walks Blanca through Buckfastleigh </span></td></tr>
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<h2>
Saturday: Baker's Pit</h2>
<span style="font-size: large;">Our first challenge that day was routefinding. What I remembered as a straightforward route down to the Judge, turned out to be not in the least straightforward. I think we explored practically every nook and cranny of the cave before eventually hitting upon the Judge. With a large group, you kept on seeing people pop out around every corner in the upper series just exploring the area. Good fun! We even came across some lovely cave pearls and formations as we looked around. It was well worth an explore.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cave Pearls in Baker's Pit</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Duncan sliding down Dutch Oven tunnel</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Blanca and the Judge</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDHI3N3CDCc578ABr-4iGya5Q8Ad6250da5hvqrdwdbZY0nAvHz_np54NBnBU4PHNTEeYcpx4m2W3HGcs34Oj_VYYowdQvJjaieM2XXSCZR-7GpHJ-KAtMacV4rnD-jmjuroqhJ7zHU3Y/s1600/OI002186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDHI3N3CDCc578ABr-4iGya5Q8Ad6250da5hvqrdwdbZY0nAvHz_np54NBnBU4PHNTEeYcpx4m2W3HGcs34Oj_VYYowdQvJjaieM2XXSCZR-7GpHJ-KAtMacV4rnD-jmjuroqhJ7zHU3Y/s640/OI002186.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The team at the entrance</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHo_ZOxZ6FOVn3yzicJBNrHfTpik5ZK7R5myBoAwTvxrt5eF7P6Fw_ncFQq557TKpOl_-3tq1Bh93Swe0q0qzfh5IOn56rxpy1HNeWWJARfRgFRtQSbdvJknkrr8VSi5m-gXqA2feyhc/s1600/Devon+-+Sam%252C+Blanca.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="1001" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHo_ZOxZ6FOVn3yzicJBNrHfTpik5ZK7R5myBoAwTvxrt5eF7P6Fw_ncFQq557TKpOl_-3tq1Bh93Swe0q0qzfh5IOn56rxpy1HNeWWJARfRgFRtQSbdvJknkrr8VSi5m-gXqA2feyhc/s640/Devon+-+Sam%252C+Blanca.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">Blanca and her son, Sam. It was Sam's first caving trip. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Lots of firsts on this trip! It was Sam's first caving trip. Sally joined us on her first away caving meet. Ariana and Lee had explored Devon caves for the first time. Brilliant! Great to see so many people get involved and go caving.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Trip time: 4 hours</span><br />
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<h2>
Sunday: Pridamsleigh Cavern</h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This has a surprisingly large entrance and the chamber you go into is about the size of a school hall. Good fun for novice cavers here and those who enjoy sliding about in mud. We went down to the Lake (which was found to be around an astounding 100 foot deep when dived by cave divers) and had fun playing in the Wormhole. Great fun for a nice gentle Sunday trip before we all had to drive home. Fully recommended! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQM4xymozRCr-p2gmz3v_q2e6tve7ZQwitcPiCcFI7VjzutA7L15FPDhQzXI1Z6efodh2-GKMnAVJR8VyruWCJeYAIGbj39BK5H7cwNShSCJlr4LYIblg0-Imx-1jBISH0IWAJ_vTdWHc/s1600/Prid1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQM4xymozRCr-p2gmz3v_q2e6tve7ZQwitcPiCcFI7VjzutA7L15FPDhQzXI1Z6efodh2-GKMnAVJR8VyruWCJeYAIGbj39BK5H7cwNShSCJlr4LYIblg0-Imx-1jBISH0IWAJ_vTdWHc/s640/Prid1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The whole caving team at Pridamsleigh entrance</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjezVnVmMFWDIuG_x7AGPEVJtslMcldsl_lTtH9TnOwNi-TRlG407dhyGZmbkCnej-bYLECexvdHgIv1W5zvgU135Y_352G1d9cagvQ0XDewNFkLa0exRU3EfIp9j8fnjyhvK67aR9r6-w/s1600/Prid2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjezVnVmMFWDIuG_x7AGPEVJtslMcldsl_lTtH9TnOwNi-TRlG407dhyGZmbkCnej-bYLECexvdHgIv1W5zvgU135Y_352G1d9cagvQ0XDewNFkLa0exRU3EfIp9j8fnjyhvK67aR9r6-w/s640/Prid2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Crawling around.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_azLzo-3L4HdNFONfKc09jZMUKLxj73LkYPMdsZZEyHowgacV7ID05qTDrdkAxPFv1NkeA5WEp_SndBAxUcBsLzf1lV2NYmZm7VWMyUTviq4-f5xzPg1qKaE6dzfZzw9wpxgyNkg-VI/s1600/Prid3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="1001" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_azLzo-3L4HdNFONfKc09jZMUKLxj73LkYPMdsZZEyHowgacV7ID05qTDrdkAxPFv1NkeA5WEp_SndBAxUcBsLzf1lV2NYmZm7VWMyUTviq4-f5xzPg1qKaE6dzfZzw9wpxgyNkg-VI/s640/Prid3.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Sam near the Lake</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRWSyoKjeH49t39DdQyIt6zvffbe0Z6Hok_ey7YHYmVTYArcTNRXYBUp4I0KTQ8-yI-FS21W7UZmw_0Dd3t6zNeRZCPXgR8PwJk7KN5tjb5l6_E5XbsV6ZSWQenL5nYioVhpI8-C00EaY/s1600/Prid4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="1001" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRWSyoKjeH49t39DdQyIt6zvffbe0Z6Hok_ey7YHYmVTYArcTNRXYBUp4I0KTQ8-yI-FS21W7UZmw_0Dd3t6zNeRZCPXgR8PwJk7KN5tjb5l6_E5XbsV6ZSWQenL5nYioVhpI8-C00EaY/s640/Prid4.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sam exiting the Wormhole with Lee's assistance</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo_IquR67qe5WBEYueDnlt7gIMQRuRnMkFg6Ye0L4LU6Bl-cmgYnExw7f72SaYLwD-5IE1W2uW5lacn3pQSOg_F2Zgy5bLLGcaCM28ducnyIwg_fwC6SOmgCZyXmkwgce58lCkQ55jNqg/s1600/Prid+Lake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="420" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo_IquR67qe5WBEYueDnlt7gIMQRuRnMkFg6Ye0L4LU6Bl-cmgYnExw7f72SaYLwD-5IE1W2uW5lacn3pQSOg_F2Zgy5bLLGcaCM28ducnyIwg_fwC6SOmgCZyXmkwgce58lCkQ55jNqg/s640/Prid+Lake.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Prid Lake (Photo by Cambrian Caving Council)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtdGK2Vd5GOkW7mJRyu5uOnjV0LrvhL2jZNQfxbkVMuEuExtA4J3bZLV6gI9VG-oTJMrY-Z7GxijfCj5PDp13ziClvq3rC9t__DTsAbpThP66OYbtx-CYNnhX_up1zC-Bn-xCJsbBngY/s1600/Prid5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1176" data-original-width="855" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtdGK2Vd5GOkW7mJRyu5uOnjV0LrvhL2jZNQfxbkVMuEuExtA4J3bZLV6gI9VG-oTJMrY-Z7GxijfCj5PDp13ziClvq3rC9t__DTsAbpThP66OYbtx-CYNnhX_up1zC-Bn-xCJsbBngY/s640/Prid5.jpg" width="464" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Simon in the Wormhole</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7J_wchNMWY2V4Fb8-B54f9U1qfNPBr2Lrg2BatbscoHTZRtetoqLlPxiJ1MwtAcskd7LOF49wmb_8Q6TzstHDZr7vkJkFmvbPVaEJ-O6PbgnjxPdLsci38RWP7caaHqVJpGqGIjX04yE/s1600/Prid6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1217" data-original-width="1600" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7J_wchNMWY2V4Fb8-B54f9U1qfNPBr2Lrg2BatbscoHTZRtetoqLlPxiJ1MwtAcskd7LOF49wmb_8Q6TzstHDZr7vkJkFmvbPVaEJ-O6PbgnjxPdLsci38RWP7caaHqVJpGqGIjX04yE/s640/Prid6.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">How to get clean after Pridamsleigh!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Trip time: 2.5 hours</span>Claire Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958326669257209359noreply@blogger.com011 Crest Hill, Buckfastleigh TQ11 0AN, UK50.480831312986034 -3.783245086669921950.479568312986032 -3.7857665866699217 50.482094312986035 -3.780723586669922tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9073699539353090932.post-9883782504403287412019-05-11T12:06:00.000+01:002019-08-27T12:08:44.920+01:00Polar bears and ice caves<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">11-15 May 2019</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Team: Malcolm Craik, Barbara Lane, Allan Richardson, Margaret Richardson, Jane Sarginson, Claire Vivian</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Wow!! If you ever get the change to visit Svalbard you must go. Six of us spent 5 days in the frozen North and it was one of the best things I've ever done. We saw seals and polar bears and experienced 24 hour daylight (which I loved!). We also had a chance to ride around on snow mobiles, have a boat trip, visit a coal mine and go and explore an ice cave. Wildlife and going underground. The perfect combination for a holiday.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Polar bear photos by Malcolm and Barbara.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdPz5WZEtvu8vA8zGqSiGVMB2SahkF7pxKEEP4nDgdkCfsfJy5mA5LBYa9I9YRTuJk0QO33Q8dcNFrr2THYgV7O6u1axX2hU5mITclHkK1Hi_4pAsDfVC0mHlaJejJefZhjRzs6_i95uE/s1600/20190512_141358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdPz5WZEtvu8vA8zGqSiGVMB2SahkF7pxKEEP4nDgdkCfsfJy5mA5LBYa9I9YRTuJk0QO33Q8dcNFrr2THYgV7O6u1axX2hU5mITclHkK1Hi_4pAsDfVC0mHlaJejJefZhjRzs6_i95uE/s640/20190512_141358.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Midnight in Longyearbyen.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAAa82CvaP0gcD30bFyfRuZSZa8iw3MdpVIALo4w1ppgNHexFkltIAI3Ux3V439O6v2AxdOOke0WJYTmyZwGwnjWXFVQYGDtBTxIk1tNZoZOvSUNdx-aLNeUsFEATM12Y_-HXAVSiidks/s1600/20190512_100433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAAa82CvaP0gcD30bFyfRuZSZa8iw3MdpVIALo4w1ppgNHexFkltIAI3Ux3V439O6v2AxdOOke0WJYTmyZwGwnjWXFVQYGDtBTxIk1tNZoZOvSUNdx-aLNeUsFEATM12Y_-HXAVSiidks/s640/20190512_100433.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">About to visit a coal mine.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Entering the igloo above the ice cave.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHuo8_IOraO4M1k_KCWUWOD5rpozYOVjgYE4NehOXoT0pgjYjr9x4F3hEBR1GwLuyuwDjqXSKuBsbz325FAi1ueAj24Cl7_bFAbmR1WgrXudeEPlcHMmNkcE-4dMhefZUfvU_JX12i2M8/s1600/20190512_174010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHuo8_IOraO4M1k_KCWUWOD5rpozYOVjgYE4NehOXoT0pgjYjr9x4F3hEBR1GwLuyuwDjqXSKuBsbz325FAi1ueAj24Cl7_bFAbmR1WgrXudeEPlcHMmNkcE-4dMhefZUfvU_JX12i2M8/s640/20190512_174010.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Allan in one of the passages in the cave. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwnRNsOxFJDxyMOUCZH49ZLFjFCKGwlhBudJVXLtSRvmHZCtIaJWcZ2NsZgvUccHUm_mAqcS-bDXrROvVUhNOpCPCTDAHjx2_ME3OLswIbI5ALGdhvuSxsEfjkt3aVA21fAAT6RYdScHc/s1600/20190512_184227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwnRNsOxFJDxyMOUCZH49ZLFjFCKGwlhBudJVXLtSRvmHZCtIaJWcZ2NsZgvUccHUm_mAqcS-bDXrROvVUhNOpCPCTDAHjx2_ME3OLswIbI5ALGdhvuSxsEfjkt3aVA21fAAT6RYdScHc/s640/20190512_184227.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Snowmobile riding.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxe0eJMICY5B96FCjp6Uq_RImqsBEoPtgTi_oh8jWpdcAZeoaZHEtkjhOpHsR_viwJIR-CiZwR5TW7-M3w3UVHccFyz78jq6f_r26pywky3rhYW6N80TqE3vrbTh7YYkjELoZY5HpvHt8/s1600/20190512_165341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxe0eJMICY5B96FCjp6Uq_RImqsBEoPtgTi_oh8jWpdcAZeoaZHEtkjhOpHsR_viwJIR-CiZwR5TW7-M3w3UVHccFyz78jq6f_r26pywky3rhYW6N80TqE3vrbTh7YYkjELoZY5HpvHt8/s640/20190512_165341.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Claire, Barbara, Margaret, Malcolm, Allan and Jane ready to go snowmobiling.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIYEn7kHlTkh9QD_2faEY9Gq4mEW5Ap5Pygngyclye1AN4acfXlU7dySLziZYEBq3Y1seT-BUCWkDPhxEIQYMza0HVhkBkHDeAsX8BPfERKPB6hUeB4oH3XF4cDMJJzAzI6YCnMZwJm94/s1600/20190514_125239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIYEn7kHlTkh9QD_2faEY9Gq4mEW5Ap5Pygngyclye1AN4acfXlU7dySLziZYEBq3Y1seT-BUCWkDPhxEIQYMza0HVhkBkHDeAsX8BPfERKPB6hUeB4oH3XF4cDMJJzAzI6YCnMZwJm94/s640/20190514_125239.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Boat trip to Pyramiden</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRqOjKQ0Ut2budXQS_ypFR11GYCIdAAkLfG_-IUgp9gS50dsoC-jHDW4JoyPKpBwBpP7M4g57h6gkFl5fPIDi6ljIf3KdHatNcqqcZIVa_RWOgHzSD-tEP6QEnkCikao4tH4xsLaKB_t0/s1600/60345105_2486506451383169_4419810798314979328_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1100" data-original-width="1600" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRqOjKQ0Ut2budXQS_ypFR11GYCIdAAkLfG_-IUgp9gS50dsoC-jHDW4JoyPKpBwBpP7M4g57h6gkFl5fPIDi6ljIf3KdHatNcqqcZIVa_RWOgHzSD-tEP6QEnkCikao4tH4xsLaKB_t0/s640/60345105_2486506451383169_4419810798314979328_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cub!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebNaQO4AR19SCEKadYe7QgXofF3yQlZ1CewfyloZCY0GPOXnggBo0RgB_uEVA2xFnS_QbEgJ8w_40R12DxQHFWU_egjq-bcdCZytoOO_xCebHJepfXVp8kFryjkm3_AM7kBjFM6QmgfY/s1600/60390336_2486503068050174_3063617201782128640_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="758" data-original-width="1600" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebNaQO4AR19SCEKadYe7QgXofF3yQlZ1CewfyloZCY0GPOXnggBo0RgB_uEVA2xFnS_QbEgJ8w_40R12DxQHFWU_egjq-bcdCZytoOO_xCebHJepfXVp8kFryjkm3_AM7kBjFM6QmgfY/s640/60390336_2486503068050174_3063617201782128640_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mother and cub walking near the edge of the ice.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCN1lHL43phHU-2U6Wdk_ZRpe-3QYwgtQUM0b2u3HQDVt6ThbAfY1ESV9NRPYOpF-K_5tZpvXnKXSryabvJC7CQnto5Ow7tplLsEiefwnfNCYfnbWl4LBC8SkXQ2v98HocYypwlqGP_9s/s1600/60436376_2486508858049595_5734467766128214016_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="641" data-original-width="1600" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCN1lHL43phHU-2U6Wdk_ZRpe-3QYwgtQUM0b2u3HQDVt6ThbAfY1ESV9NRPYOpF-K_5tZpvXnKXSryabvJC7CQnto5Ow7tplLsEiefwnfNCYfnbWl4LBC8SkXQ2v98HocYypwlqGP_9s/s640/60436376_2486508858049595_5734467766128214016_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Time for a swim</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQaqPp6nSouCqRChcZf3KgSypR_hbV2sQBJthlPwGdBsc7mN2HYbiH5Vg82a4W89QQMBYC8c82vGPSWsN2HGGwvmnyfv78Wg3_ki4Oc_MwmYe_67yiyZ-ld5C7kQrtcW6vQUk9f-edZ3E/s1600/60506124_2486500261383788_4435215269752733696_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="737" data-original-width="1600" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQaqPp6nSouCqRChcZf3KgSypR_hbV2sQBJthlPwGdBsc7mN2HYbiH5Vg82a4W89QQMBYC8c82vGPSWsN2HGGwvmnyfv78Wg3_ki4Oc_MwmYe_67yiyZ-ld5C7kQrtcW6vQUk9f-edZ3E/s640/60506124_2486500261383788_4435215269752733696_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Play time!</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf_8TWGBR3y0RcUhtkO7adDqRT_YU1-A2-e5WE6lBRIsZIQizjBUi4pSXnI9uXGUpCZXVzKXYLEjWpC99c5bpHI8eE2VxwEcf2gemo793nxsU2ZNnPFy4GFCL_BRJFiLgx2GVqHgeyVVM/s1600/60599941_2486508358049645_9022653517734608896_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1600" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf_8TWGBR3y0RcUhtkO7adDqRT_YU1-A2-e5WE6lBRIsZIQizjBUi4pSXnI9uXGUpCZXVzKXYLEjWpC99c5bpHI8eE2VxwEcf2gemo793nxsU2ZNnPFy4GFCL_BRJFiLgx2GVqHgeyVVM/s640/60599941_2486508358049645_9022653517734608896_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Polar bear cub</span></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlJbiOpSWsh_Ahw6HwnJweYeNKZvCt1cnBmPRiQJ2h1xZx9kM1GyL2hqH8pcSpmo0CujqFsRZI0BhziPCArTPgnUlCqTB9I-l8SZKEwIhDteaevy6qdBkVJgfPnzvjIQ1BPvY7JCd6nGA/s1600/60801516_2486501144717033_8426554074714865664_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1172" data-original-width="1600" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlJbiOpSWsh_Ahw6HwnJweYeNKZvCt1cnBmPRiQJ2h1xZx9kM1GyL2hqH8pcSpmo0CujqFsRZI0BhziPCArTPgnUlCqTB9I-l8SZKEwIhDteaevy6qdBkVJgfPnzvjIQ1BPvY7JCd6nGA/s640/60801516_2486501144717033_8426554074714865664_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRCWZiROznPt0Y_daeKMdei5eRz_-2bTZT7IaUGQiO51voq8GfCm5SVI8NZtnNG9O2xLdtcsgupo8o9ZQ6LNkpRXi9I2pFKml5nueuzJQ2h0Ve2V0ez6gz7MmQj6twEB_r2NmW7DDhYJQ/s1600/60822498_2486507691383045_5469454587314307072_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1146" data-original-width="1600" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRCWZiROznPt0Y_daeKMdei5eRz_-2bTZT7IaUGQiO51voq8GfCm5SVI8NZtnNG9O2xLdtcsgupo8o9ZQ6LNkpRXi9I2pFKml5nueuzJQ2h0Ve2V0ez6gz7MmQj6twEB_r2NmW7DDhYJQ/s640/60822498_2486507691383045_5469454587314307072_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mother with a radio collar</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDsp5mkZxF37SoW3ysLwFWYxOrUhD_dB5Lk4_S5rT-Vay-BGlIpmtZgTt0Wemu45AQWRwF_xKTo7KvyPOY1gJtc5mTuZIxbYfnCJZ7PzXdkYFNkauawVJPx5qHEmiWc6NHAl1_dvi9N20/s1600/61021544_2486501441383670_5790377477134090240_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="613" data-original-width="1600" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDsp5mkZxF37SoW3ysLwFWYxOrUhD_dB5Lk4_S5rT-Vay-BGlIpmtZgTt0Wemu45AQWRwF_xKTo7KvyPOY1gJtc5mTuZIxbYfnCJZ7PzXdkYFNkauawVJPx5qHEmiWc6NHAl1_dvi9N20/s640/61021544_2486501441383670_5790377477134090240_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yes, polar bears have black tongues. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNkZV-3pdPiSj8J2pcyu1y6p3HibL1WIBMkyYu14fjm2Qh0cnQ0EPCGYN23HaFaAJWJV_dRnol5HQ9RGL8SyVmgtPn61JtSmeUVIRrZHEKR9bcgm_7mnQcYkmVccYoTir6GzKkXrJhFRc/s1600/Arctic+fox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1090" data-original-width="1600" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNkZV-3pdPiSj8J2pcyu1y6p3HibL1WIBMkyYu14fjm2Qh0cnQ0EPCGYN23HaFaAJWJV_dRnol5HQ9RGL8SyVmgtPn61JtSmeUVIRrZHEKR9bcgm_7mnQcYkmVccYoTir6GzKkXrJhFRc/s640/Arctic+fox.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Arctic Fox</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8tJzUByw8ER3IhwjfTfH9mydEvGVu4hyphenhyphenpxTdHQnK7qN9W5_YHVIAHezImAKMSsTl1oyRglHvT19m7AKZM82fJEQEkOp_7sJVZz56KVyfgjmjnQC7ThsJr6NWcpi0no5yJjA2LBVrliME/s1600/IMG_0418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="764" data-original-width="1600" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8tJzUByw8ER3IhwjfTfH9mydEvGVu4hyphenhyphenpxTdHQnK7qN9W5_YHVIAHezImAKMSsTl1oyRglHvT19m7AKZM82fJEQEkOp_7sJVZz56KVyfgjmjnQC7ThsJr6NWcpi0no5yJjA2LBVrliME/s640/IMG_0418.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bearded Seal</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidbHAFyo-eQUrggOuXiaWx55BPzcqYiYn6HLwAsTHpGq-USrhxbOHkvHkUMcJ_yfNYIEwyQzd7dbmWnBpADcDMbml1ZNdYfl0oius10girUggKwl3kslArqJ8d96Vil27mWLmJ51bW4iU/s1600/20190512_085122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidbHAFyo-eQUrggOuXiaWx55BPzcqYiYn6HLwAsTHpGq-USrhxbOHkvHkUMcJ_yfNYIEwyQzd7dbmWnBpADcDMbml1ZNdYfl0oius10girUggKwl3kslArqJ8d96Vil27mWLmJ51bW4iU/s640/20190512_085122.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Allan wears shorts, as usual. Even the locals were taking photos!</span></td></tr>
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<br />Claire Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958326669257209359noreply@blogger.com0Longyearbyen, Svalbard78.223172200000008 15.62672290000000478.1713282 15.303999400000004 78.27501620000001 15.949446400000005tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9073699539353090932.post-47292372318986925442019-02-20T22:26:00.001+00:002019-02-21T22:28:59.589+00:00Mega Mendip!<span style="font-size: large;">Team: Andy Freem, Antonia Freem, Tim Lewingdon, Andrea Lewingdon, Brendan Hoare, Chloe Taylor, Collin Hoare, Duncan Hornby, Liz Bristow, Mark Lee, Tenzin Lee, Matthew Jones, Jill Brunsdon, Paul Meredith, Haley Meredith, Phill Thomas, Sanita Lustika, Simon Protheroe, Steve Johnson, Clive Westlake, Claire Vivian </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Trip Date: February 9th - 10th 2019</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">With an astonishing 21 people meeting up on the Mendips there were trips for everyone. For a number in the group, it was their first away trip with the Club and it was great to see their enthusiasm! Most people turned up Friday with others arriving Saturday morning or Sunday for the Wookey Hole experience.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">With so many people turning up we had a dilemma on how to assign people to appropriate trips. With some (beer powered) fast thinking on the Friday evening at the Hunters we worked out who should go with who balancing out experience alongside new trips for new people.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/qGrlOzkUhgqIE9AaoulNVO37NIZNGg-heX75QzBwIgwdP01Ig0ZKslHrnoF_x1dzdVUDwc8IUT3zxryoGMeEyz4wwUXp6KaOHxqMlbzwuwsC2R8yvCAJsMRrfYUsNKv2rDGcofyy" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Curtain, back lit with lume cube, Upper Flood.</i></span></td></tr>
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<h2>
<span style="font-size: large;">Saturday</span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Team SWCC split into 3 teams: a group visiting <a href="http://www.mcra.org.uk/registry/sitedetails.php?id=141">GB Cave</a>, a team visiting <a href="http://www.mcra.org.uk/registry/sitedetails.php?id=240">Swildons Hole</a> and the remaining visiting <a href="http://www.mcra.org.uk/registry/sitedetails.php?id=260">Upper Flood Swallet</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The GB Cave team (6 people) had a dodgy start discovering the key that had been provided to them did not extend to Charthouse caves and they made a mad dash back to the <a href="https://wessex-cave-club.org/">Wessex Club</a> to pick the correct key. With the correct key they entered GB and made it all the way to the ladder dig extension and Bat passage.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The Swildon’s team (4 people) walked to the cave from the <a href="https://www.shepton.org.uk/">Shepton</a> and got as far as the main pitch but were deterred by the volume of water. It had been raining quite heavily the previous day, so a smart move. They took the opportunity to explore the upper reaches of Swildons, sections that people often pass through without a thought as they head for Sump 1.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The Upper Flood team (4 people) were guided by Mike and Mike reaching the famous Neverland and Pork Pies. Due to the high water levels, sections of the trip required laying flat out in 8°C water for what seemed unnecessarily long periods making for a very cold and arduous 5 hours return trip. As always the formations make up for the misery!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/nRZEC8EJb56mjbfeyKmepEEueGZG_HcXWl7tRjTSBx-ImG_m2UAWjC4CeA3s9kKPGLaenZKxWW3rtobxs8AgcxyXA0c-FitpTUwGJZ15Ct5RdWegOTtaqawuW6qKZ-ujo-wa3Hn3" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The Pork Pies, Upper Flood.</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/i_vMTDospeTEpvRsTSmyaMzLaxY_eQVQfZSLp1GAJg5ncUW8wZajokyW6tEqJ6YwlmBwF3noVuR3CRFCLaiYb-XMxkyIzwJZaOob-Wt7KYx5cO6sj8UiW0wvGYyvZ4Y2_fdswgzF" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Mike and Claire, admiring the main pure white formations.</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Freem Productions were busily filming in <a href="http://www.mcra.org.uk/registry/sitedetails.php?id=463">Fairy Quarry</a> with local cavers.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Everyone met up early evening for a meal at the <a href="https://thequeenvicpriddy.co.uk/">Queen Vic</a> then eventually head back to the Shepton hut were Mr P. Meredith showed off his caving skills using the awesome caving table!</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/YSFQm8BCqV7lSR4IUez9qi2-XBLOumeaUSA6d7ERlV5x2gene7E_M7QITm5-dvm__7phaLRVsgqjAEZ48jm6NswDgkaHBqoexA-5b06QxHTAXyKHsJJUx2NrFuCqZvT5s68iYZwg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>New Club members: Steve, Sanita, Chloe and Simon</i></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/EDn-KqZhMZYjZDUw7rZB_OHLPcSvTPMvw1ozixTNlSU5VwBtkeMRwfboRLv1mjAajeszOL81dW5zKpVVENLKJfSPQMGm4c_CtWS5Wet6rK8h-akTGvU3N35oMHYpMeUW6M4DmPnO" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Paul, squeezing one out...</i></span></td></tr>
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<h2>
Sunday</h2>
<span style="font-size: large;">Sunday was a bit unusual in that the organised caving trips were in Wookey Hole on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/wildwookey/">Wild Wookey experience</a>. Again with so many members turning up we had to split into a morning and afternoon session. It was very entertaining, introducing people to abseiling, via ferrata, classic caving crawls, a short boat ride and even a zip wire! Whilst the more experienced cavers amongst us would have been familiar to many of these challenges there were members who had not done such things so for them it was blast!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">With the trip integrated into the show cave there were classic crawls mixed in with show cave lighting which made for a surreal but entertaining experience.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/lfh7XapHDUtR5MqRurXikdxgCD_fVvdUz06j1SGoaLg0p_kULAU05GaB-DrN47UFGJOKXkGADZEJ2xMGWTU8caBZD2lFxV0USoFWHkfXz6eQFkYbGFoNZwOYKdyNHw4bVlDZwBAK" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Welcome to the underworld...</i></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/HsUMVRFPfjw04S9_WkAKKMw0ySF8NTaFS-Vll3mzHhok5TBdsrHjbGouODXe0kvmCX1RfmtB0h4BQR3Q1AZFP36xjsPq28qvZecg_NAmHH8mMN03lrAyt9mN3EqvV9-b720vxOqo" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Traversing around a lake.</i></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/NmYwNMLQMX0i3R3YTg8N61UTu7ptQRq_PwsodKir0aKhg2PAi2SRtU3buaw-9sOeHAjEhonaN9UZkZ9v8bCKmsVABUi1dZvMufY4LLVqkbGw_Z3C6Aob63x3n1XCO0kK4GIg6MfW" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Andrea beginning her abseil.</i></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="480" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/uuXzB9mGodfNyk0cFnrh13HdEYvVhU2Rqwjh2Zw1VGJ7miLiJei-McljlyL5qiP66LZl01sjU0WR1jktaWmVOS8DzEEJApjaXrmmxV_g5gyYLqsFfGyvW2KskyT8dq6l90GQoxcn" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Duncan climbing up ‘n’ out from the lake.</i></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/7008MPkFfuTxQsSt1lHW46uFaBuLjFxQlLg0_bU2iDMMTcUpXcAtscGfxPlstGU13QPHzSsEJcV5RtcJfWS-f9NE4o8j8DZTdOzZzWeyPmSLff7dQxEtUPa4FVmOLMRrko0XaUUu" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Stemple highway!</i></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="640" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/n6T0Dxk17hUv3nVPyVwC-SuXB10B28ruTw34Bcje7vTbv9vUmzfWF2CJvHD9tYhUlfcp4yCv7nkS3H8lDFIIrAstPU_OUNUGVga3DVSK4zfGEHz2ysBnoEcGsVOIu9omILx0g1lA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="450" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Formation in the part of the cave that was recently opened up to the public.</i></span></td></tr>
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<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Our guides were Chris and Becca who were both professional and very knowledgeable about the cave, so many thanks to them!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Our newer members loved the trip and are now keen to try out SRT in caving as a result of it.</span>Hornbyddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11955053422642525977noreply@blogger.com1Greystones, Wells Rd, Priddy, Wells BA5 3AU, UK51.251440303179443 -2.65487194061279351.248955803179442 -2.659914440612793 51.253924803179444 -2.6498294406127929tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9073699539353090932.post-40267364839603732712018-11-28T23:05:00.000+00:002020-04-22T22:59:30.149+01:00Black Hole's and Bear Pits<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Mendips Meet, 17-18 Nov<br /><br />Team: Bill Buxton, Celestine Crabbe, Andy Freem, Antonia Freem, Duncan Hornby, Stephen Johnson, George Linnane, Sanita Lustika, Phill Thomas, Claire Vivian, Clive Westlake. With Miri and Duncan Simey in support.</span><br />
<hr />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This was the last official club away meet of the year and with over 10 members taking part, it was well-attended. It also meant we needed to run caving trips side-by-side as there were too many people for one group. Friday saw the obligatory visit to the Hunters for a quick pint and catch-up.</span><br />
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<h2>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Saturday</span></h2>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfmKXiJQG0klHjV8ZO8-4UcuJ98J00zmov55BjjwvGK2PBjZwlaTSczMAnDOsoE3Qgift8VQI4ZqnzwjxDZQ7NP45FqxpwbSIylnw-q600GuKGap48VonNN_IxshqYUSqLuN3V8ExlhVk/s1600/OI001448.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfmKXiJQG0klHjV8ZO8-4UcuJ98J00zmov55BjjwvGK2PBjZwlaTSczMAnDOsoE3Qgift8VQI4ZqnzwjxDZQ7NP45FqxpwbSIylnw-q600GuKGap48VonNN_IxshqYUSqLuN3V8ExlhVk/s640/OI001448.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The team getting ready to enter Swildon's Hole</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6I5Xxdxu_1GS-7XbyvkfgTXgUiMDkjz3LURdMIAPKOiNmFhm6jP1YSPW3J1fx4rYX-XxngDSLlcgcKpJ0RaRfYzoLADhz8yFGYIUgaz7fcVCqh5r6kO_7oFJMM5UvbgQ12hrvS4ixZXs/s1600/OI001450.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6I5Xxdxu_1GS-7XbyvkfgTXgUiMDkjz3LURdMIAPKOiNmFhm6jP1YSPW3J1fx4rYX-XxngDSLlcgcKpJ0RaRfYzoLADhz8yFGYIUgaz7fcVCqh5r6kO_7oFJMM5UvbgQ12hrvS4ixZXs/s640/OI001450.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">George showing his love of caving ladders</span></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Saturday saw all members pass through Sump 1 in Swildons. This was particularly exciting for Sanita and Stephen as it was the first time they had come across a free-divable sump. Both passed through with varying degrees of enjoyment. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmecN02peoMfdsb2qsLpvCSZSVRql0UZWL5FOOxO8SAOQs7UHuAbMbYVtUQegFPoMGkFO3g4DcBAMldh0HSQXAHXWYH5orNMU4ar0b-YC2IzC5WHFGCYvoUnDe1yF8un1wHt7yfNvrZI0/s1600/OI001454.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmecN02peoMfdsb2qsLpvCSZSVRql0UZWL5FOOxO8SAOQs7UHuAbMbYVtUQegFPoMGkFO3g4DcBAMldh0HSQXAHXWYH5orNMU4ar0b-YC2IzC5WHFGCYvoUnDe1yF8un1wHt7yfNvrZI0/s640/OI001454.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sanita and Stephen shortly before Sump 1</span></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">From there one party moved on to explore the Black Hole Series and the other went to Sump 2 and an explore of many side passages including Barne's Loop on the return.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The way up to Black Hole Series involved an acrobatic manoeuvre up a climb and then a bold step across, you guessed it, a black hole.</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWb3Jley9wTmN7jt_tBXGVRnWRseJ3uhLCqnRyvSzmb13iqS9VdzO2k5EOUapfkMOJHBrEpXwZ_RtGNIJgqMvutGPaig4tctGYxTzlQ0vC4Y6lrBqew829pCHg3JSX3lCYs-ke9P1Zp9s/s1600/OI001455.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWb3Jley9wTmN7jt_tBXGVRnWRseJ3uhLCqnRyvSzmb13iqS9VdzO2k5EOUapfkMOJHBrEpXwZ_RtGNIJgqMvutGPaig4tctGYxTzlQ0vC4Y6lrBqew829pCHg3JSX3lCYs-ke9P1Zp9s/s640/OI001455.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Antonia showing how the climb should be done.</span></td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhow6QFAOxS71AgV5_mjon_6PxlB9R9m3Wl20EX5SQNiKGw9yssrX8IzmpCtctfTJPZ-7Hl_X7bvYNCdNEh9wPbV4bbgyDwUFvE53CqniIIwqI0qBSnqBOeA1LSC-2ocxEXzKlo1CTWmP4/s1600/OI001458.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhow6QFAOxS71AgV5_mjon_6PxlB9R9m3Wl20EX5SQNiKGw9yssrX8IzmpCtctfTJPZ-7Hl_X7bvYNCdNEh9wPbV4bbgyDwUFvE53CqniIIwqI0qBSnqBOeA1LSC-2ocxEXzKlo1CTWmP4/s640/OI001458.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Clive and George at the Black Hole.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Then very soon we were at the Black Hole itself. Clive went first across this and made it look easy. The rest of us were then ably belayed across from both sides by both Clive and Phill. It was an intimidating step, but everyone felt safe on the rope.</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBfsAGbhXL8vY3MPDpz4QUCld7_fXzUojBWvNHB24-nxy-Rxh3QfAJimDpUgLLCC6SX27zlJA_W3jBfpIVjtfH7cstfr9jFexcEYiCQk404UiKpOyIc_ltuYftwgTBxchRCOLYoIulyDg/s1600/OI001457.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBfsAGbhXL8vY3MPDpz4QUCld7_fXzUojBWvNHB24-nxy-Rxh3QfAJimDpUgLLCC6SX27zlJA_W3jBfpIVjtfH7cstfr9jFexcEYiCQk404UiKpOyIc_ltuYftwgTBxchRCOLYoIulyDg/s640/OI001457.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The bold step.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We reconvened on the far side of the Black Hole and set about some exploring. There were some lovely formations there. A trip is very much recommended to this area of Swildon's!</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPNdC9xi3fIJlsmwOn3Rz2dKE01NHf-nivOoRD6sOQXnNkpqEIHt_GLb5RIO4crKn1eONTLNcDFEIk01PhZCDhLXgpCX79wMDQZTiUU7828DesdASBPRsr4MHVVxI7lgWydwC3-rw7XW0/s1600/OI001461.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPNdC9xi3fIJlsmwOn3Rz2dKE01NHf-nivOoRD6sOQXnNkpqEIHt_GLb5RIO4crKn1eONTLNcDFEIk01PhZCDhLXgpCX79wMDQZTiUU7828DesdASBPRsr4MHVVxI7lgWydwC3-rw7XW0/s640/OI001461.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Antonia in a well decorated section.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4syODbxcwPE8oUioo5BeboQMnA37GauSFOTRVg84u62XcvyT2JXEibOTizx2ENP4qp9ctYI8Z6r4-_oo-IDv-heXK0rPhf4BGkA9r3ayOyJ0OEofSoAPfiFdswgw4VBekOAhyHVX1rUI/s1600/OI001463.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4syODbxcwPE8oUioo5BeboQMnA37GauSFOTRVg84u62XcvyT2JXEibOTizx2ENP4qp9ctYI8Z6r4-_oo-IDv-heXK0rPhf4BGkA9r3ayOyJ0OEofSoAPfiFdswgw4VBekOAhyHVX1rUI/s640/OI001463.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Phill admiring the formations.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As ever, Sump 1 seemed pretty chilly on the way back out. But we made fast progress and exited before sunset. It had been a great energetic trip for all involved.<br /><br />Trip time: 5 hours.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKKqK93lL_T9IZ_KqOxrwKB0E_h-ZvJQzkFG_kZSBhzmLFKm-UxojhPbAU9DSkxJ0r9xTMsUShAaHML8F938nxVgW-X_aid9t1V0Xlt48voKzpvocyj2vb9jmq3ojo4FeeLBs04qO1840/s1600/OI001466.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKKqK93lL_T9IZ_KqOxrwKB0E_h-ZvJQzkFG_kZSBhzmLFKm-UxojhPbAU9DSkxJ0r9xTMsUShAaHML8F938nxVgW-X_aid9t1V0Xlt48voKzpvocyj2vb9jmq3ojo4FeeLBs04qO1840/s640/OI001466.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The team emerging successfully.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was off to the Queen Vic for food that evening where we caught up with Miri and Duncan.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghvRVnqPrbU1id_flQhrareCNhu10KXkNzjsmlIdNx0Tn-0uFDUebsYhTFrsYCDpcHpCoiL4TWDnlkpnMnAFN-sbc1O1yYdlST6K8vXyzULNt9IjUXsOSG33Q6PiznRhyPhZa2Tw2EJ6o/s1600/20181117_200127.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghvRVnqPrbU1id_flQhrareCNhu10KXkNzjsmlIdNx0Tn-0uFDUebsYhTFrsYCDpcHpCoiL4TWDnlkpnMnAFN-sbc1O1yYdlST6K8vXyzULNt9IjUXsOSG33Q6PiznRhyPhZa2Tw2EJ6o/s640/20181117_200127.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Enjoying a meal at the Vic.</span></td></tr>
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<br />
<h2>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Sunday</span></h2>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Once again two different trips evolved today. Trip 1 was a visit to Sandford Levy and trip 2 was a Bath Swallet-Rod's Pot through trip.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiy44qR-LzlsbdiZT97Yo9LZD1Aqch4tZXIDBm0KGxaWnPMsCLzvkfHjin-DEG-uTGAJw8OQWgPgKEUze4fR-kK_jykv7WSvQ2Nqmo0Sye0pCFM4xdHl-XkC0pT5zLYj5nmEGKVxNbPP8/s1600/Screenshot_20181128-225523_WhatsApp.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiy44qR-LzlsbdiZT97Yo9LZD1Aqch4tZXIDBm0KGxaWnPMsCLzvkfHjin-DEG-uTGAJw8OQWgPgKEUze4fR-kK_jykv7WSvQ2Nqmo0Sye0pCFM4xdHl-XkC0pT5zLYj5nmEGKVxNbPP8/s640/Screenshot_20181128-225523_WhatsApp.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Sandford Levy team.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We explored the dig in Bath Swallet before heading off on the through-trip. The entrance abseil is a nice and friendly one. Apparently it's free-climbable, but I wouldn't fancy doing that. The rest of the trip is fun, sporty in places and muddy. Only downside is it is fairly short - but ideal for a Sunday, especially when you add in extra bits and pieces, such as the Bear Pit.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSCRUWMsCEX94PuqaEVhyOt7TLlxykWz45qs3ZOk7gLI4YQ6lDYQXBjV4QQTq86p7iX27dwkQ9TCn6Ntao2-xbW26gaqUZGQv8a9hTF1EU5iTA0u3YiEbqA8lEd9KBAglM4SdHiZxnAY4/s1600/OI001474.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSCRUWMsCEX94PuqaEVhyOt7TLlxykWz45qs3ZOk7gLI4YQ6lDYQXBjV4QQTq86p7iX27dwkQ9TCn6Ntao2-xbW26gaqUZGQv8a9hTF1EU5iTA0u3YiEbqA8lEd9KBAglM4SdHiZxnAY4/s640/OI001474.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Duncan climbing out of the Bear Pit in Rod's Pot.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Trip time (Bath to Rod's Pot): 3 hours.</span>Claire Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958326669257209359noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9073699539353090932.post-51161821506452081712018-11-11T23:15:00.000+00:002018-11-12T19:00:38.225+00:00Provisionals'/Beginners' weekend November 2018This was the biggest Provisionals' Weekend I have been involved with. We had 34 people come caving with us over the course of the two days and over 20 current club members helped out to make sure everyone had a great experience. Some were current SWCC provisional members, others had never been caving before, whilst yet more had some caving experience, but were new to SWCC itself. Well, they couldn't have asked for a better weekend to visit the club! It was a fantastic turnout with a great atmosphere and the age range was from 9 years old up to early 60s. The club was as busy as I have ever seen it, with people filling up the last available bunks on Saturday morning. But we all fitted and had a good time - despite the weather trying to upset matters!<br />
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Saturday dawned with the usual running around to get people in to groups and going underground. They all put up with me remarkably well as I ran around like a headless chicken trying to make sure all people had the kit they needed and were in a group suitable for their abilities. There were 9 groups going underground on Saturday (Sorry I missed grabbing a photo of Chris, and Phil's group). We all got underground by 11.30am and there were trips in OFD1, Cwm Dwr and OFD2 that day. Sunday saw slightly fewer people go caving, but we still sent 5 full groups underground.<br />
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The Long Common Room on Saturday morning.</div>
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Brendan, Lee, Ciaran, George and Colin about to go in search of the Pom Pom</div>
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Alex, Alex, Andy, Jo, James and Jen ready for Cwm Dwr</div>
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Alex, Nick, Sue, Helen, Rita, Celestine and This almost good to go.</div>
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Sally, Malcolm, Fred, Bill, Lewis and Josh</div>
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Edd, Roger, Neil, Pete and Inga</div>
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Antonia, Duncan, Stephen, Mark, Tenzin, Judy</div>
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Alex, James, Valentina, John, Ian and Inma </div>
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Claire, Emily, Jane, Emily, Guy and Andy</div>
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All groups had a great time underground and came back to the club hut tired, but smiling, and ready for a hot shower. Here are some photos showing what they got up to underground:<br />
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Judy, Stephen, Mark, Tenzin at the Trident.</div>
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Stephen, Duncan, Judy, Mark, Tenzin at the Shatter pillar.</div>
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Jane near the Mini Columns</div>
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Bolt Traverse, OFD1- high above the river!</div>
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The team in Bridge Chamber, OFD1</div>
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Chris and Dylan in Pi Chamber</div>
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Dylan trying out a crawl in OFD1</div>
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When everyone returned to the surface there was loads to do. Andy and Antonia had arranged to show several of their award-winning caving films, including the latest St Cuthbert's film. The room was completely packed! With standing-room only available at the back. Thanks both!</div>
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Three of our Junior members - Ellie, Emily and James - are heading to a Scout jamboree in the USA in 2019. In order to raise funds for this they were selling handmade snowman Christmas ornaments, cakes (with specially designed posters by Thomas and Matthew) and had helped cook a communal curry. Well done all of you!</div>
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Ellie with her handmade snowmen</div>
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James, Meghan, Dylan, Emily and Ellie sell cakes in the interval of the caving film showing.</div>
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Junior members helping each other out with the cake sale</div>
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Despite the awful weather we still managed to have some fireworks and Andy, Dave, Brian and all their helpers wowed us with a 30 minute display. As always - their efforts to keep us entertained, even in dire weather, are greatly appreciated.</div>
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Claire Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958326669257209359noreply@blogger.com2