A Caving Holiday          Sat. 3rd. Aug.

Usual begging - arrived at Bull Pot farm etc. etc. - nobody there. Brat - hereinafter reffered to as Paul - and I settled in, changed and descended Bull Pot - travelled to the top of the squeeze. down to chambers and returned to open pot  pottered around breakdown chanbers? - Descended to Snooty Fax to meet guest. Returned later.

Sun. 4th. Aug.

After usual dithering, a party set off to descend Alum Pot and Long Churn - an enjoyable trip, much enlivened by the engorged carcase of a cow, who had descended Alum by the quick route - some time before. Paul enjoyed the ladders, he said so. On return detoured up stream passage, an enjoyable trip.

Mon. 5th. Aug.

Black Monday - County - arrived softly in Broadway, my lamp failed, fell back on carbide. Inspected Mushroom Passage and then back and forward to P.J. Pleaded my belly and had ladder hung on outside of chimney. Carbide extinguished. - No flint, forgot to take matches. As Mike Mk.1 was with us decided to continue to Trident and pretties - Eureka! amusing progress back. Footnote...I’d like had come to take pictures - his camera flash politely declined to operate. Night Mike departed. I settled down to read a good book and Mike Mk.11 arrived. I owed it to him to show him where the pub was:—

Tues 6th. Aug.

To Dentdale and lbbeth Peril While searching for entrance came across couple also searching for entrance, short interlude of “its upstream-its downstream.” I went up, I went down. Veni - Vidi. As the couple seemed rather ill equipped I offered to guide then. (equipment... bib and brace overalls, shirt sleeves and torch.) We entered. Mike took photos. A good look round. The male half of the couple seems hooked. Act 11....Upper Hacken Gill. Route finding mediocre, lent the male half a helmet and in we went. Tighter than it was last time I was here. Upstream first, the formations seem to be suffering a fair amount - being broken and very dirty. Downstrcam -- after about three hundred yards a small side passage to the left, broken rocks - spiders webs here so it could be assumed to be clo.se to the surface.

Wed. 7th. Aug.

Bob - the male half had accepted an invitation to visit County. We set off, all lights working, Mike carrying his camera A quick look up Trident, and then on our way to Carrot Chamber - Well I did find the passage that leads to 'Sandy Choke’, it looks as if it might go at the end for a slim’un. I then travelled some way up Main Line Passage. Then on through Monster and Crnes Cavern as far as the Minerets. We turned there and made a fast exit. I tried to find carrot joint on the way out. Again without success. An enjoyable trip. Change at the farm and fit for the next trip - the Snooty Fox. They seemed to know us.

Thurs. 8th Aug.

A.M. the Snooty Fox.       

P.M. Shortly after A.M. looked down to Lancaster Hole resurgence. Very little water.

7P.M. Sat in farm - cloud burst.
8P.M. Visitors, Jim, Richard and Danny.
Post 8P.M. Snooty Fox.


Fri. 9th. Aug.

BULL POT! Took Mike and Paul to top of squeeze down to Gour Chambers. Gave instructions and pleaded my belly. Spent next quarter of en hour gently exercising said belly. (gentle stoking.) They returned, We then proceeded to the stream passage and using one ladder descended to the sump. On return to the farm carried out urgently needed first aid to the ‘Permission to Visit Casterton Fell’ machine. It was once again operational when we left. Mike Mk.ll left. It was his hormones or something.

Sat. 10th. hug.

Flat tyre --- returned home. An enjoyable week. We even saw the sun a few times,

P.S. I trust somebody enjoyed the loaf and cheese I forgot.

Dick Wade.

 

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