Present: Anthony, Julia, Martin, Al
Met at Anthony’s place at 8.30, after arranging things on a Thursday in Swan & Three.
Drove the wrong way for a bank holiday (ie fast: also not on A66-M6). All had a large and pleasant breakfast as per normal and got to valley car park in glorious sunshine, and quite early. Changed whilst listening to another club’s antics of full blown warfare with rockets and things.
Struggled up the hill to Rowten, where a small group were just leaving. Good timing. Another group arrived as we prepared to descend. Anthony rigged frugally, using as few p hangers as possible to give the others some to use. This was fortunate as the rope lengths in the guide book were wrong. A knot pass 3m above the ground was passed well by most (given that we’ve never really done one before.)
Traversed to 2nd pitch, easily. Anthony rigged it well, but with some difficulty. This rope was also a tad short, but we got away with it. Did some rather exposed clambering over a big hole, reminiscent of Wales, to third pitch. Managed to descend to traverse at top of pitch four with some struggling. Julia chose to wait for us whilst we descended this as she disliked the traverse (which was a little unpleasant.) The bottom of the cave consisted of a wide, deep, steep sided plunge pool which was precariously traversed to reach a pleasant looking sump, complete with decoration in the form of a goldfish/coy/trout/herd of wildebeeste (for Tim’s benefit!)
As Anthony had had an epic whilst rigging, Martin and I were selected to derig. Al derigged the first pitch, Martin the second and then carried the rope up the 3rd and largest pitch, using his hands to haul the bag attached to his jammer as he had the idea that it would be less strenuous on his legs. Don’t try it – it apparently tired him out. I derigged the final bits of the cave, and thoroughly enjoyed it apart from being rather cold waiting for Julia and Martin to get up them all.
We managed to get out into blue sky (Anthony made it into sunlight), and sauntered down the hill. Changed quickly, and Anthony set a course for the Hill Inn, but his mates weren’t there, so on we went to the Station for a swift ale, and back to Durham via Ye Olde ‘bab Shop in the very busy and happening Richmond. Unfortunately my sense of humour appears to have left me, hence this boring write up. Hey – perhaps the chancellor absorbs it through his hand when you shake it graduating, killing two birds (or fish with one stone:
- All graduates lose sense of humour, becoming ready for the real world
- Peter Ustinov continues to be a comedy genius throughout his life.
Apparently, many of us ached afterwards ‘cos we’ve not used our SRT kits for ages doing noncy fresher caves for too long.
Conclusions and recommendations.
- It went down a bit, along some, down alot, along a bit down some, along a fair amount, down again, and got wet.
- On leaving the cave, the reverse was found to be true.
- Graduates can’t have humorous fun.
- All agreed it was a good cave.
- We recommend it to people.
- Al can’t spell for tofee.
Al Cook