Blaven inspecting Valley Entrance
Blaven and Jude just inside the entrance
Speleopup
Blav and nice formation in Valley Entrance
Having a nose about in Yordas
Hope the photos work!
When it comes to a bit of an adventure Blaven is there waiting at the door with her lead at ready any time of night or day. After a dull fortnight of lead exercise only after having her dew claws removed I was getting rather concerned about my quadroped pal's mental status. I could not bear anymore the wall-eyes staring mournfully up at me when I left her at home alone yet again while I went out to play. On Monday night, full of enthusiasm from my Yordas High Level traverse trip I was bouncing about desparate to go out again tomorrow! However, all of my caving buddies were busy. I had been into the bottom entrance of Yordas into the main cavern and thought why not go alone, I could take the dog as she could do with a little adventure too.
I mulled over the idea of going underground alone and on seeking a little advice I found out there was a nice easy ten minute thru trip I could test my nerves out on. However, it felt a bit of a short prospect and I sought something a little bit more enticing than a 15 minute underground excursion. I decided on Valley Entrance. I had been down there already a couple of months ago and felt confident(ish) I could find my way in and out ok.
Next morning I was up early and on my way to Kingsdale, gave George a quick call to say where I was going and when to worry and tried to block out the little edge of concern I could hear in his voice. At this point I was still very excited, I had never been underground without another person with me showing me the way. I geared up, attached my climbing head torch to the back of Blaven's harness so I could see her but not so the light benefitted her at all. On arriving at Yordas entrance I procrastinated by taking a number of poor-quality photographs and readjusting my lilac marigolds. There was foam almost upto the entrance and the water level was much higher than 24hrs previously. The sound of the water was disconcerting. We went in for a little wander, Blaven strolling about contentedly with no issue or reaction to the contrary and I was shaking. How different this was to being looked after like usual. However scared I was feeling there was no way I was just going to walk back out after a few metres and still in full visibility of the entrance. I had ignored George's sound advice that perhaps I should wait a bit longer and get more used the cave environment. This flash back to our conversation the night before gave me a little surge of stubborness and I walked on, far more scared of damaging my ego than of the dark.
The bottom of the pitch of the high level traverse was like a bubbling cauldron of angry liquid, I tried to photograph it but the spray was of the Scottish rain variety...you'd stay drier jumping into the water! Blaven pottered about still completely unaware that her owner was still feeling like a bit or a wimp! She darted about and found a stick and just wanted to play! We walked back down the cavern to where the passage I had seen kids crawl through yesterday was. It was sumped so that was the end of Yordas for us.
We mosied back to the car and I felt fantastic. I hurried down and tazzed along the lane to valley entrance with the Peatbog Faeries providing the perfect soundtrack!
Again I took photos at the entrance. I took the lid off and Blaven peered in with interest. I slid down and she backed off. After a bit of coaxing Blaven was in and off sniffing about and exploring. A couple more pictures, a quick read of the description and we were off. For whatever reason I felt much more comfortable in valley entrance. Perhaps I had found the openness and the feeling of insignificance in Yordas intimidating or the sound of the ranging torrent had drowned out my voice of reason. This trip was much more comfortable psychologically and my mind eased considerably with each stoop. Blaven swam the long pool happily we took the right junction and made our way along to the top of the pitch or at least where I was expecting to find the top of the pitch. I ended up over waist deep in water after the formation shown in the photo above and the distance between roof and water becoming ever less. Blaven had been swimming for a fair way and I couldn't remember this much water before. It was my decision to turn back and not to be too much of a div.
The return trip was as pleasant as the entry and on resurfacing the sun was out and a pleasant change ensued. I text George to tell him we were out safe and a trip to Inglesport cafe (with a sausage sandwich for the speleohound as reward) rounded the trip off nicely.
At 3.15pm I received a somewhat concerned telephone call from George who hadn't received my text. Oops, will definitely phone instead next time!
A great little trip, not long or hard but for me a real little adventure that focussed my mind far more than just following behind others and being quite complacent really as far as route finding and suchlike are concerned. I chose carefully and knew I could manage to take care of myself (and Blaven). After an ale or two last night I am ashamed to say I was getting a bit carried away with my lone-cave aspirations and had to be given a bit of a talking to. As fantastic as I found yesterday, perhaps he's right and I should do a few more caves than the meagre 17 so far before I get too carried away. I recalled a few little climbing epics I had as a teenager when arrogance and complancency overruled sense. That little trip alone did make me realise just how serious it feels to be alone and how much more serious a potential accident could be. As intelligent as Blaven is I don't think she'd know the number to dial for the CRO!
I like the photos too, I want a dog now!
