We are going to the Speleology Congress in France in July, mainly to visit some of the caves that they will have rigged. A couple of cavers don't do vertical, so I am after any information you can give me on horizontal caves in that area, without any pitches. We will be staying in St-Offenge...

Someone started a thread not long back on the same topic, but I have failed to find it; so I have to start a new one. Does anyone have a view on how this formed? The highlighter is for scale. I am sure that the rock is sandstone, but I might be wrong. It looks like someone made a rubbish pot...

I was looking at a display of old tools at a steam rally recently and spotted this. The man who owned it had no idea what it is; does anyone on here?

We are going to Bala for a week; what mines are nearby that I could take my lad into for a simple trip. He won't mind getting wet up to his knees, but no pitches. He's tough and has done plenty of mines and caves, but he hasn't done any ladders or SRT yet. Thanks for any info.

Does anyone out there have a knackered Duo lying in a box? I have a good Duo, but the battery holder is missing its terminals. Any offer of a battery holder for a small fee will be much appreciated.

I am spending Xmas in the Lot with my family. Can anyone recommend me some caves that would be suitable for me to take my kids into. Nothing wet, it's December and we'll only have dry caving kit with us, if I take it at all.

My Viper Light has gone down after eight years of trusty service. I have noticed the battery life going down for a while, but suddenly last week it only gives about 10 minutes after a full charge. When I charge the battery the green light illuminates on the charger after about 10 minutes to show...

My daughter bought some bat earrings from a lady at Eurospeleo in the Dales. Can anyone tell me who this woman is and where I can contact her. She wants some more. Cheers.

We bought some wine from a small Domaine in Doue-la-Fontaine. If you ask nicely, the owner will take you down into the caverns beneath his property.

I recently saw a Double Overhand knot used to join two ropes to lengthen one side of a Y-hang. I questioned its use in this situation, and it was explained to me that the knot is used regularly to join two ropes together for abseiling. I knew this. I pointed out that we weren't joining ropes for...

The large entrance passage of Shakespeares Cave, before it enters the rift, has quite obviously been enlarged by mining. Does anyone know when this was done, and for what purpose?

Ray Wright, who developed and sucessfully ran the Clearwell Caves iron mine museum and visitor attraction in the Forset of Dean, died earlier today. Funeral arrangements will be announced in due course.

  Hello All, Could you please circulate the message below around the membership of your respective organisations and clubs. I appreciate that there is going to be a degree of overlap of circulation but the more people we can get involved with this event the better. Steve I know would...

Does anyone know what has happened to Graham? Is he ill, which I genuinely hope is not the case? I have often not agreed with his views, but I am missing him. Come back soon, it's boring here without you.

Can anyone fill us in on what happened in Rhino Rift on Friday? I've heard rumours of a near disaster with bang fumes.

Steve Tomalin, who posted on this forum as AA Speleo, sadly died today following a too long battle with liver cancer. He was just 55 years old. Steve lived in Gloucester and was a member of both Gloucester Speleological Society and Royal Forest of Dean Caving Club. He was also a member of South...

An interesting article from UK Hillwalking. http://www.ukhillwalking.com/news/item.php?id=68591 Caving is not mentioned, but as we walk to the caves it's bound to affect us. Bad news; I love Mallorca.

I just read this article; http://tecrec.padi.com/2014/01/07/a-deceptively-easy-way-to-die-by-rosemary-e-lunn/ Very sad.

I know quite a few people who post here have been to Ardeche. I'm going in August for the first time with my family, and would like to take the kids into some easy caves. Can anyone give me some info and locations. We are staying at Vallons Pont d'Arc, but we can travel.

My Viper light doesn't want to charge. The charger blinks three times like it ought to, but then the charging light stays stubbornly blank. Is anybody offering repair work on these lamps now, or shall I chuck it in the bin? Has anyone else had this problem and found a fix?