My Favourite Photographs

[The Old Ruminator]

814 to here.

P1120002 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Entrance to Pickwick Passage, Reservoir Hole by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

In The Frozen Deep above Pickwick. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Nasty bits. Pickwick.

P1050237 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

P1050205 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

I dont like that ! by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

P1050183 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Upper Pickwick, Reservoir Hole by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Chris Milne in upper Pickwick Passage by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

P1050182 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Skyfall. The boulder falling down here broke my arm.

Skyfall pitch. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

The Boulder Gate in Skyfall. Reservoir Hole. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Trapdoor Chamber.

Chris Milne in Trapdoor Chamber by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

P1050132 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Helectites in Trapdoor Chamber by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Trapdoor Chamber, Skyfall. Reservoir Hole. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Trapdoor Chamber. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Any digging above Trapdoor Chamber in the choke above would damage the lovely coloured stal there. The dig has been abandoned.

Trapdoor Chamber by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Trapdoor at the back. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

High rift in Trapdoor Chamber by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Trapdoor Chamber by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

The Trapdoor, Reservoir Hole by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

False floor ledges in Trapdoor Chamber by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Chris Milne in The Frozen Deep. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Trapdoor Chamber. Reservoir Hole. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

The Trapdoor, Skyfall, Reservoir Hole. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Reservoir Hole. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Skyfall, Reservoir Hole. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Chris Milne and Peter Glanvill. Laddering TFD Reservoir Hole. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

 

[The Old Ruminator]

843.

Skyfall, Reservoir Hole. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr




Withyhill by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Shall I go caving tomorrow ? Back seems better and off the Nurofen. Perhaps just a little trip ----

0oo me poor back.

Awkward entrance to Pickwick Series. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

The darn bats have pooed over The Icing Flakes plus on this occassion they were flooded.

PC290173 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Suggestive helectite number 43.

Withyhill by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Withyhill.

PC290095 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

PC290090 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Withyhill by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

PC290232 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

PC290231 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

PC290228 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

PC290224_edited-1 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

PC290223 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Withyhill by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Withyhill Cave by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

PC290206_edited-1 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Naughty bats.

PC290202 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

PC290197 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

A job for Mr O'Doc and his battery pressure washer.

PC290192 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

PC290169 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

PC290165 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

PC290158 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

He will never see Green Lake Chamber and I rather doubt I will again as well.

Green Lake Grotto entry squeeze. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Not happy !

PC290149 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

PC290145 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Hey ho gardening stuff to do and its a lovely day.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Ah 868. Reckon I might just do it. ( but then what ? ) 

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Can you see what I did here ? Put a lamp under a hole in a false floor. Withyhill.

Withyhill by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Balch Aven Series. We put the oil drum in nearly 50 years ago. It was time to replace it but not easy on your own.

Balch oil drum replaced after 46 years. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

P7070028 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

P7070039 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

New Balch Entrance by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Summer at Fairy Cave Quarry.

Fairy Cave Quarry 2016 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Summer at Vurley.

P6280001 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

P6140030 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Radon dust ?

Blowing dust from shot hole at Vurley. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

How we propped up " Damocles ".

Damocles pillared. Vurley. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Damocles supported. Vurley. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Sod this. I am off on my own.

PC290138 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

The cutting edge.

PC290118 - Copy by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Thick and thin.

PC290114 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Crumbles.

PC290101 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Withyhill by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

No streaks Laurie.

Withyhill by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

More Withyhill !!

Withyhill by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Poor old CSS cottage.

Old Cerberus Cottage 2015 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Old Cerberus Cottage 2015 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

PC290006 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Washing day.

The washing is not dry yet. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Early Vurley.

PA170002 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

The Frozen Deep.


Phreatics. TFD by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

On the platform TFD. Reservoir Hole. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Smile., It's The Frozen Deep. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Enjoying Frozen Deep. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Reservoir. Pitch and platform. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Reservoir platform with selfie stick. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

 

[The Old Ruminator]

897.

Ooops forgot to downsize the Flickr image.

Cheddar Gorge.

Cheddar Gorge by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Timber Hole.

Timber Hole. Velvet Bottom by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Longwood Valley Sink.

Longwood Valley Sink. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

900 Images.

Above Reservoir Hole.

Car park. Reservoir Hole by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Butterflys

Butterflys at Vurley by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Totty Pot.

Totty Pot by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Totty Pot by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Vurley.

Verdant Vurley. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Vurley in Summer by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Orchids out now.

Near Vurley by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Cheddar.

Cheddar by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Ant at Vurley.

Ant on a plant. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Always remember there are wonderful things everywhere.

To bee or not to bee ? by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

March of the botryoidals. ( Trying to be differant. )

Botryoidals. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Heli's in the dark. Shater Cave. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

The Helectite Trail. Shatter Cave. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Lily pads. Shatter Cave by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Strange Landscapes.

Shatter Cave. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Shatter Cave. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Micro gours . Plug Hole Chamber by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Ice sheet. Shatter Cave. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Terminal chamber. Shatter Cave. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

If I posted 1,000 photos of just Shatter or Withyhill I could not do them justice. I can never tire of taking a camera there. Always something new to see. Other angles. Places long forgotten. Yet apart from the filming recently the caves are becoming a  quiet place with fewer visitors. Most Mendip clubs have their own leaders ( wardens ). To just go and be at one with nature and your camera. You dont even need a model. Just the wonderful formations are often enough. No doubt more will follow and I have to reach the 1,000.

918  :bow:

 

[tony from suffolk]

I remember the old CSS hut well. Why was it abandoned?

 

[mrodoc]

It fell down! The hut was a condemned building prior to being used by BCG and CSS. Once the CSS moved it just became a ruin. It was on land owned by the quarry.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Basically the CSS bought land and built a new HQ at the top of the lane. The HQ is being extensively renovated after a burst pipe incident. Originally we ( the CSS ) shared the cottage with Border Caving Group run by Eric Cathrine. The clubs amalgamated and we knocked though the dividing wall to make one cottage. Dust from the quarry plant made the cottage unfit for habitation but it never bothered us much. Eric had army cadets stay there. They always left loads of tinned rations. Sadly it was probably a cadet trip that destroyed the Shatter helectites. You would never see novices there today. We built bunks and whiled away the time between digging in the quarry and at St Dunstans Well Cave. Portsmouth Poly cavers stayed there a lot. Pete Rose slept there while working in Shepton Mallet until a rat ran over him in his sleeping bag. He also managed to lock himself out nearly naked whilst having a pee. Had to break a windown to get back in. Happy days. In any case I was brought up in a cottage with no bath or flush toilet so it was much the same for me.


Nearing the end.

cerberus by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Other times but not my photos.

PC230046 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

PC230047 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

PC230048 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr


I remember Eric sitting there. Long gone now I suppose.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

This one is mine with a young Pete Rose . Maybe late 60's

221 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

 

[tony from suffolk]

Thanks for the memories! I remember sitting outside, chatting to some folks and being a bit envious of such a salubrious establishment.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Seeing things differently.


Selfie stick places camera carefully behind straws looking back at photographer.

Selfie stick photo. Shatter Cave. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Stick gives an overhead view of The Plughole, Shatter.

The Plug Hole Shatter by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Giant boulder high in the roof above The Plughole. Headlamp casts a shadow of the camera.

Big boulder in the sky. Plug Hole Chamber by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Another of The Plughole.

Plug Hole Chamber by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Reflection on the halves line.

Reflection. Shatter Cave by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

More crumble. Lovely orange with stalactite lemon dips.

Shatter Cave. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Into the light.

Shatter Cave. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Yummy porridge.

The Porridge Basin. Shatter Cave. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Pink candy.

Pink column in Shatter Cave. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Rice Crispies.

Islands. Shatter Cave. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Botryoidals.

Botryoidals, macro by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Micro crystals.

Micro crystals in calcite. Vurley. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Rummaging in Shatter 1972. A disappointing few metres of passage.

Shatter terminal choke 1972 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Quaking House Cave.

Quaking House Cave by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

View from Mendip.

View SW from Mendip by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Hunters Lodge Sink.

Hunters Lodge Sink by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Prediction !  Before TFD was found. The Topless Aven Dig when everything looked hopeless.

Prophecy. Onward to the promised land. From my log. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Ooooooo 940. Wonder if I can find 60 more.

 

[Laurie]

Wow! Many thanks. I take a day off to change hospitals and come back to a hundred unpushed 'like' buttons.
Also thanks ever so much for the very readable geology lesson.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

I was planning a quiet solo photo trip into WL Cave today but yet again Mr O'Doc lured me into the swampy confines of Jill's Slither in Reservoir. Drilling holes above the sump which today we heard gurgling somewhere off into the distance. So I hope you enjoy the photos as much as I did taking them. :blink:

Jills Slither Dig. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

P5070117 - Copy by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

My knee as a pillow.

P5070085 - Copy by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

P5070061 - Copy by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

P5070050 - Copy by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

P5070040 - Copy by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Manganese black stal.

P5070017 - Copy by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Wash tub.

P5070133 - Copy by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Templeton.

Templeton Pot by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

The Buckingham Mine.

Buckingham Mine by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

950.

 

[The Old Ruminator]

I shall definitely stop at 1,000 images as I might be accused of being obsessive :-\

Anyway its been a good thing to look at some of these again as most folks images tend to languish unseen on the computer. I doubt we will ever see another 1,000 image post by one photographer here again. Well you never know I might have a few years left. In any case I look forward to seeing more peoples photos here. Its all quite simple really. For ease of posting I have found Flickr to be the best as you can do it speedily and adjust image size. For most I have chosen a relatively small image.

Onward to four figures.

Andrew Crosses Chamber, Holwell Cavern.

Holwell Cavern by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Box Mine.

The Cathedral, Box Mine. 1970's by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Spring Mine Box. 1970's by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

" Reservoir Dogs " ( But not Alison ).

Reservoir Dogs. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Grebe.

Grebe Swallet entrance by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

1753. Grebe Swallet by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

" Feathers ".

Underwater macro. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

The Discovery of " Great Expectations ". Reservoir.

Breakthrough. Reservoir Hole by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Great Expectations at the time of discovery. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Peter Glanvill enters Great Expectations on the day of discovery. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Underwater crystals.

Under a placid surface by Nicholas Chipchase, on FlickrAscension. Reservoir Hole

Into the void. The first descent of The Frozen Deep pitch.

Into the void. First decent into The frozen Deep. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Never to be repeated. The Frozen Deep on the day of discovery. ( Good job I had a camera )

The Frozen Deep on discovery day. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Alison Moody in The Frozen Deep on discovery day. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

The Frozen Deep on discovery day. The first photo ever taken of the pillar. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr



Breakthrough at Hard Times.

Last boulder from Hard Times. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

The Very Last Boulder. Discovery of Resurrection, Reservoir. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

" We can see wonderful things " The first view of The Frozen Deep from Resurrection.

We can see --Alison and Nigel see The Frozen Deep for the first time. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

The Master at work. Spider Hole.

The master photographer at work. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Spider in Spider Hole.

The Spider, Spider Hole by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Live on TV    ( " The Fool on The Hill " ).

Going Live at Cheddar Gorge. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

 

[The Old Ruminator]

971. Will it ever end ?

Thin End of the Wedge. Alison in The Frozen Deep.

Thin End Of The Wege. Alison Moody. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Green Lake Chamber.

Green Lake by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Reservoir Hole.

Secret Place. Reservoir Hole. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

The journalist and a real photographer.  Frozen Deep.

The Journalist and Photographer. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Heavens Landing, Reservoir. Upper fixed ladder.

On Heaven's Landing. Reservoir Hole. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Actually one of my favourites of him.

The Pie Wot I Baked. Peter Glanvill by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Andrew. First to top Ascension. ( Funny how I got there to take the photo  )

The Climber. Andrew Atkinson. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

My favourite of Martin.

The Man With The Keys. Martin Grass. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

My favourite of Nigel.

The Engineer. Nigel Cox. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

A favourite of Alison.

Our Alison by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

None are natural subjects for portraits I guess so you have to be very quick.

A brave smile with a broken arm.

Brave smile from the girl with the broken arm. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Camera self portrait.

Camera on a stick by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Elephants Trunk, Withyhill.

Elephant's Trunk. Withyhill by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Another of him by available light.

I think I got it. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

"Well it looks safe to me.". Silo Passage. Reservoir Hole.

WOT Dig. Reservoir Hole by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Building Ascension platform.

The man on the ledge. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

At the time the limit of exploration in High Country. Seeing things for the very first time.

Where no man has trod by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Upper Ascension.

The Engineer doing a difficult bit. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Its Christmas.

christmas 2012 by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Paths as laid in The Frozen Deep.

Lets make paths. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Where my hand got crushed.

This is the rock that crushed my hand. by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

Lunch Time.

Walkers, Please sponser our caving by Nicholas Chipchase, on Flickr

 

[The Old Ruminator]

Bum. Forgot to resize.  993 now. 7 to go but there just might be an encore if I am persuaded.