Christian_Chourot
New member
19/07/08 - Me and Debs (UBSS)
Stoke Lane - 2nd time for me, Debs her 1st
Twas a glorious sunny afternoon and I found the cave fairly easily - last time I wasn't driving or paying much attention. On route we made a quick conditions check courtesy of Bru (thank you! :bow
After kitting up shenanigans involving a forgotten caving bra (not mine) and my usual struggle to fit my wellies on over my thick furry and oversuit (not to mention my massive calves which may be the cause of said problem), we ambled down the hill and entered the cave at 13.55 and as expected were greeted by all manner of disgusting swimming beasties as well as a good crop of tadpoles in a decidedly smelly section near the entrance. Following the stream down, I squeaked occasionally as I was forced lower into the water and getting more delicate parts of my anatomy decidedly chilly. Soon the hands and knees crawling reminded me that I had left my precious kneepads in the car and I adopted a sedate 'grandpa' pace for most of the trip.
I found the sump just where I left it in October last year without any errors of navigation along the way, although my newly donned (and hopefully soon to be caved off) exam revision weight caused me to do some tactical repositioning towards the end to wriggle through in comfort rather than trying to reverse through a squeeze uphill. Debs sat as I examined the crack that needs ducking into to reach the sump. This is where my trip had ended last time, when only one of us had slid through the crack as she was skinny enough to go over the top and avoid a duck.
I tried many times to get through without having to get my neck intimate with the filthy water but to no avail. No matter, helmet off, some slow wriggling and a few cold induced gasps later, I was soon coaxing a now reluctant Debs into the nasty squalid 'chamber'. My convincing was short lived and she joined me to look at the sump.
Yum. I like to think of it as debris rather than think what was actually floating on the surface of the water. Foolishly I hadn't reacquainted myself with a description of the sump before leaving Bristol as it was something of a last minute decision, all I could remember was that it was a fairly deep but short duck which required care on the return to avoid surfacing under rocks. I felt the borders with my arms, checked I wasn't going to get caught in the tatty line, swept my legs around the edge and kicked to try to find the roof on the other side. I couldn't kick the roof so assumed plenty of room to surface.
By now I decided I wanted to look through but not for Debs to follow me and this was definitely a mutually agreed state of affairs, she had no intention of coming too! I arranged for a helping hand to aid my return to an airspace and then ducked under to see how low I could get my head and to feel the cold, surprised to find that it wasn't actually too bad. Then, goggles in place to stop contact lens loss and with a nice deep breath, I ducked down and out the other side.
<<Bump>>
That was unexpected. My helmet and eyes broke the water line but not my mouth. Then I partook in the titular unintentional refreshment. Then I panicked for the slightest moment before my internal monologue told me to stop and calm down. I tilted my head to the side and rose my mouth out of the surface to take in a slightly watery but much desired breath. I was through! But unlike in Swildons, I did not feel the exuberance and relief of having passed the sump, I just thought:
"Oh Bugger. I have to do that again."
I was breathing fairly fast and standing in the cold deep water trying to work out how to approach the return. This wasn't how I pictured it. Much probing of the sump with my hands and feet ensued, plotting out where the nasty false ceiling ledge was. With the roof lower than I had expected, I could now see why it was so easy to dive too low and come up in the wrong place. With a little more preparation and thought, I made my duck and smoothly made my way through the arch and rose out of the other side, Debs' yellow gloved hand guiding me to the airspace was unbelievably welcome.
I relaxed at last, and we quickly started on our way out and I apologised for faffing. I was so cold that my arms and legs seemed like lead weights. Or at least that is what I had thought. I then looked down to try to discern the cause of the sloshing noise coming from my lower body. My new oversuit was obviously still waterproof. Diving through the sump, I had filled my oversuit from my boots up to my nipples with water when I had ducked below the surface of the water. I clumsily maneuvered my now very, very heavy legs and body to lie on an inclined slab on my back, head down in a superman pose to allow the water to flood out of the neck hole and sleeves. I untucked my oversuit too as much still remained trapped despite my acrobatics.
We retreated from the cave as hastily as I could manage (as my lack of knee pads had given me very sore knees) and yet again with no route-finding errors to leave the cave at 15:50. Yay! We were out into the sunshine which was thankfully still there! Fantastic trip albeit a bit slow!! Knee pads are a must I feel.
I'll be back again soon to see all the reputed pretty bits that were within my grasp earlier today, I feel I need a reward after my unpleasant experience! I'll be asking for some company on that trip I think - any volunteers?! And anyone for caving tomorrow?
___________________
My god. I've just clicked preview. It's an essay. Congratulations if you made it this far!
Stoke Lane - 2nd time for me, Debs her 1st
Twas a glorious sunny afternoon and I found the cave fairly easily - last time I wasn't driving or paying much attention. On route we made a quick conditions check courtesy of Bru (thank you! :bow
After kitting up shenanigans involving a forgotten caving bra (not mine) and my usual struggle to fit my wellies on over my thick furry and oversuit (not to mention my massive calves which may be the cause of said problem), we ambled down the hill and entered the cave at 13.55 and as expected were greeted by all manner of disgusting swimming beasties as well as a good crop of tadpoles in a decidedly smelly section near the entrance. Following the stream down, I squeaked occasionally as I was forced lower into the water and getting more delicate parts of my anatomy decidedly chilly. Soon the hands and knees crawling reminded me that I had left my precious kneepads in the car and I adopted a sedate 'grandpa' pace for most of the trip.
I found the sump just where I left it in October last year without any errors of navigation along the way, although my newly donned (and hopefully soon to be caved off) exam revision weight caused me to do some tactical repositioning towards the end to wriggle through in comfort rather than trying to reverse through a squeeze uphill. Debs sat as I examined the crack that needs ducking into to reach the sump. This is where my trip had ended last time, when only one of us had slid through the crack as she was skinny enough to go over the top and avoid a duck.
I tried many times to get through without having to get my neck intimate with the filthy water but to no avail. No matter, helmet off, some slow wriggling and a few cold induced gasps later, I was soon coaxing a now reluctant Debs into the nasty squalid 'chamber'. My convincing was short lived and she joined me to look at the sump.
Yum. I like to think of it as debris rather than think what was actually floating on the surface of the water. Foolishly I hadn't reacquainted myself with a description of the sump before leaving Bristol as it was something of a last minute decision, all I could remember was that it was a fairly deep but short duck which required care on the return to avoid surfacing under rocks. I felt the borders with my arms, checked I wasn't going to get caught in the tatty line, swept my legs around the edge and kicked to try to find the roof on the other side. I couldn't kick the roof so assumed plenty of room to surface.
By now I decided I wanted to look through but not for Debs to follow me and this was definitely a mutually agreed state of affairs, she had no intention of coming too! I arranged for a helping hand to aid my return to an airspace and then ducked under to see how low I could get my head and to feel the cold, surprised to find that it wasn't actually too bad. Then, goggles in place to stop contact lens loss and with a nice deep breath, I ducked down and out the other side.
<<Bump>>
That was unexpected. My helmet and eyes broke the water line but not my mouth. Then I partook in the titular unintentional refreshment. Then I panicked for the slightest moment before my internal monologue told me to stop and calm down. I tilted my head to the side and rose my mouth out of the surface to take in a slightly watery but much desired breath. I was through! But unlike in Swildons, I did not feel the exuberance and relief of having passed the sump, I just thought:
"Oh Bugger. I have to do that again."
I was breathing fairly fast and standing in the cold deep water trying to work out how to approach the return. This wasn't how I pictured it. Much probing of the sump with my hands and feet ensued, plotting out where the nasty false ceiling ledge was. With the roof lower than I had expected, I could now see why it was so easy to dive too low and come up in the wrong place. With a little more preparation and thought, I made my duck and smoothly made my way through the arch and rose out of the other side, Debs' yellow gloved hand guiding me to the airspace was unbelievably welcome.
I relaxed at last, and we quickly started on our way out and I apologised for faffing. I was so cold that my arms and legs seemed like lead weights. Or at least that is what I had thought. I then looked down to try to discern the cause of the sloshing noise coming from my lower body. My new oversuit was obviously still waterproof. Diving through the sump, I had filled my oversuit from my boots up to my nipples with water when I had ducked below the surface of the water. I clumsily maneuvered my now very, very heavy legs and body to lie on an inclined slab on my back, head down in a superman pose to allow the water to flood out of the neck hole and sleeves. I untucked my oversuit too as much still remained trapped despite my acrobatics.
We retreated from the cave as hastily as I could manage (as my lack of knee pads had given me very sore knees) and yet again with no route-finding errors to leave the cave at 15:50. Yay! We were out into the sunshine which was thankfully still there! Fantastic trip albeit a bit slow!! Knee pads are a must I feel.
I'll be back again soon to see all the reputed pretty bits that were within my grasp earlier today, I feel I need a reward after my unpleasant experience! I'll be asking for some company on that trip I think - any volunteers?! And anyone for caving tomorrow?
___________________
My god. I've just clicked preview. It's an essay. Congratulations if you made it this far!
