Here it is folks:
Trip One: Murphy`s Maeshafn Mayhem
Trip Type: Mick is desperate for hwlp with his surface project
Meet time: 18.30
Meet point: Maeshafn village centre
Notes: You will be helping with an active surface dig.
Trip Two: Rhyd Alun
Trip Type: Fast descent to the lower levels and back.
Meet time: 18.30
Meet place: Usual places to park/meet
Notes: This will be a fast paced trip to get to the bottom & back in short time, if a tourist trip is desired then possible if following same route.
If The OHA trip is still in demand then feel free to go but you will need to take an electron to get in/out & make sure someone knows the way!!
Thanks for the advice on OHA route Hoss! We can save that trip suggestion for another time.
What/where is the useual meet place for rhyd alun.
quite fancy a sprint to the bottom, not sure i could get out of work early enough to make it yet, but if i can, it would be good to know where i'm going.
It's the caravan park where you parked last time Dan :)
I would like to practice Rhyd Alun again on 16th and hopefully get to the very bottom.
However, I am not keen to race down with Mike and Doug. Can I suugest we have a 'First group' and a 'Second group'? I guess Mike and Doug will have a lot of work to do at the collapses. I am happy to get to the bottom and go back.
How far is it from the bottom to the actual collapses?
thats the idea
two trips and we will either pick you up on the way back or you can join in at the collapse :dry: :dry: see you there :kiss: :kiss:
Thanks for making that clear Mike. I had the feeling before that your trip with Doug was necessarily a private affair.
How far is it from the compressor tank to the collapses?
ATTENTION ATTENTION
Mick`s Maeshafn Bash is now cancelled as Mick is unavailable.
[quote="JohnNicholson" post=8796]
How far is it from the bottom to the actual collapses?[/quote]
From the bottom ladder, about 20ft to the collapse.
Not sure if I'm going to be out or not yet. If i am, will see you all there.
Can you tell Marty Hoss - he is planning to go there after his jaunt on the super secret mission ;)
Is Mick OK?
I must admit that I was feleling a bit guilty in seeking to do RA again, and not helping his project. I do have the greatest respect for Mick and all he does for us all by way of digging. I don't feel competant at underground digging and I know this is described as a 'surface' dig. I will try and give a hand next time.
It would be great if you can come Joel - so we have someone to lead the second group who knows the way.
last time? no idea what you're talking about Ian.
Mad-Dan. It is tricky to find the Caravan Park if you have not been there before.
We will probably park at the Cilcain Bridge as for OHA and Poachers, and we walk just a little bit further downstream to find RA entrance. Besides, I feel the hill exercise is doing me good.
[quote="mad-dan" post=8806]last time? no idea what you're talking about Ian.[/quote]
Oh, must have been a different caravan park and a different mine ;)
Its possible that Doug and I might be getting an earlier start into RA, Mike may/may not be early/late from work.
[quote="TimWatts" post=8823]Its possible that Doug and I might be getting an earlier start into RA, Mike may/may not be early/late from work.[/quote]
Take it you've got the key to open up then?
I'll come to RA for a general mooch :-)
more to the point you should be getting down to Mendips this weekend :-)
Would like to come along and have a look at this Rhyd Alun thing. Don't know how to get to it though. Can all those interested meet at Cilcain bridge at 6.30?
I shall be at the park of caravans :)
[quote="RichardSawyer" post=8860]Would like to come along and have a look at this Rhyd Alun thing. Don't know how to get to it though. Can all those interested meet at Cilcain bridge at 6.30?[/quote]
Richard,
John N is meeting at the Cilcain Bridge - I would message him and make sure he will defo be there. I think his contact details are on this site on the private members area too
:)
Ian
I also intend to make this, hopfully to join the first lot down
john do you have a spare lid sam could borrow,
he should be joining the club tomorrow as well :)
John .... are you defo meeting at Cilcain Bridge at 6:30pm ?
are you coming Ian? could he use yours again, i shall supply you with some fresh batteries for it
I am coming but not to the Cilcain Bridge meet - t'is why I am trying to pin John down - yes he can borrow a lid - don't need any batteries though, just a wad of cash for membership and a signature ;)
[quote="Ian" post=8867]I am coming but not to the Cilcain Bridge meet - t'is why I am trying to pin John down - yes he can borrow a lid - don't need any batteries though, just a wad of cash for membership and a signature ;)[/quote]
cool cool cheers dude, we will be at the caravan park, not going to the bridge seems a bit silly, should get everyone to meet at the petrol station thats not hard to find
Richard S and Martin C are going to Cilcain Bridge (neither are local). John did say he was going to Cilcain so it is easier for them both to go there as they have been there before :)
i have no idea where the bridge is, so i will head for the caravan park, if i can remember which road it is, is it the first turning or the second (i'll be heading from mold) ian took us on a magical mystery tour last time..
It's "Nant Alyn Road" Dan :)
Should show both the bridge and caravan park (http://binged.it/OeeDXA)
[quote="Suboffender" post=8874]Should show both the bridge and caravan park (http://binged.it/OeeDXA)[/quote]
LOLOLOL... cheers Joel, yeh i'll go to the caravan pk.
Oops, it usually shows tabs for both that link. Unless you view it on your phone or I mess it up of course :p
it does, hence why i'll go the caravan park, the bridge is a much further walk and about an extra 15min drive i think.
Good call :). There are several routes to the caravan park. None of which have speed bumps so you should be ok :)
Can someone give me details of where we are meeting tonight, please? I am coming in from Ruthin towards Mold on the A494.
Have you got hold of John N to confirm he will be at the Cilcain Bridge Richard ?
If you haven't, there is a garage (Texaco) at Rhydymywyn (facing Nant Alyn Road). This is on the Mold to Denbigh Road.
Opposite the garage there is a road "Nant Alyn Road" - go down that road and keep going (about 1 mile) until you are forced to enter a caravan site - enter the caravan site (single track) and pass ALL the caravans until the single track ends abruptly - that is out parking area.
However, assuming John N is still going to Cilcain Bridge you can meet him there and walk with him to the mine from that direction (it's not far).
:)
Ian
hi whats the caravan park called or a post code for it thanks
[quote="badger" post=8882]hi whats the caravan park called or a post code for it thanks[/quote]
follow the directions ian has put up and you won't go far wrong. see you in there
Ok ... just to be clear .....
I will not be at Cilcain Bridge, I am going to the caravan park. John N has not confirmed if he is going to Cilcain Bridge.
If anyone intends to go to Cilcain Bridge you will need to be certain that you have communicated properly with John N and need to make sure you have a firm rendevouz.
Otherwise, I will be at the caravan site (at the far end) around 6:30pm
:)
Ian
is it leete park
It is "Leete Valley" Caravan park
;)
ok see you there
Coooooooooooolies ;)
Sorry I did not see all the messages til just now.
I have also spoken to Ian, and agreed to go direct to the Caravan Park like everyone else. I was worried that there would be too many vehicles there and I did not know if we had any access agreement with the landowner.
I have extra helmets and lights for anyone who needs.
I also have your ladder Mike - I don't know why. It is now nice and clean - thanks to Bella!
does she wan't to borrow my ladders, ropes, suits etc etc etc ;-)
have we arranged a pub?
Pretty please can it be the white horse at cilcain??
Defo the Wonderful White Horse for Bella and me.
We are leaving in the next few minutes at 4.00pm as we have several deliveries en-route.
Chris can't come - he's not well.
I had put money on you not turning up Tim.. nice to put a few more faces to names.
[quote="mad-dan" post=8897]I had put money on you not turning up Tim.. nice to put a few more faces to names.[/quote]
cheeky git! You met me in the Spar mine a few weeks back. I'll drop u an email r.e. that shite we were talking about tonight.
yeh i know i did, i was talking about the bloke with the shovel on his head, john and bella, Richard and (was it mike?)
[quote="mad-dan" post=8901]yeh i know i did, i was talking about the bloke with the shovel on his head, john and bella, Richard and (was it mike?)[/quote]
you met me in the spar mine as well . i also lent you a "key" when you called at my house :unsure: :unsure: :unsure: :unsure:
Another great trip last night. It felt like Journey to the Centre of the Earth. Thanks to everyone for being there and making it so good.
Thanks to everyone for such a fantastic trip!
WE MADE IT TO SEA LEVEL!!!!!!!!
Ian - your were totally wrong about the distance to the end!
There are in total 24 ladders! They seem to go on and on and on.
Down and down and down - till you meet up with Mike Lehey's arse stuck in a muddy hole.
As said before, if I did that trip every day as exercise then I would be a VERY fit man.
You did good john, well done
EXHILARATING! That's the right word to describe the experience.
Each of those 24 ladders has its own character. Its the getting on and off at the top of each ladder that is the challenge. I keep thinking of each ladder, and the special quality that makes it's passage unique.
The river Alun seems to be about 145 M above sea level. The mine adit will be a few meters higher than the river bed, and it also creeps uphill as you enter the mine. The total height at the top oif the ladders may be 150 M above sea level = 495 feet
Divide this by 24 ladders and you get an average length of 20.6 feet per ladder. Seems about right to me. Some are a lot longer and others shorter. It is an amazing feat of engineering for one man to achieve.
Is the name of the man who built all these ladders 'Michael Smith'?
What is known about him?
Is there any commemoration to his remarkable feat in the mine?
May be there ought to be.
Well done John, I'm happy to hear that you got to the bottom.
Those ladders can be an arse, especially with bags!
Sorry Joel, that you and Vikki could not manage to come yesterday.
Yes, I can see it must be quite a struggle getting down the narrow gaps whilst carrying bags of supplies to stay down there for a few days. Can't one lower stuff down one of the vertical shafts by a rope crane?
I'm hoping to get out again soon, just so busy at the moment sorting the new house out. I'm in Bangor on Saturday afternoon/ Sunday morning, will you be about?
I Made the same comment last time I did a trip with bags. There is a shaft running down on the right of you when descending the ladders, about half way down all of the ladders. I don't think that it would be too much trouble to set something up. If it is something perminant, it would have to be sanctioned by NWCC however.
How much luggage did you have to take with you when you stayed in MT for a few days?
Is there adequate dry places to sleep?
If there was a sudden huge rainstorm, then how can people in MT be notified?
Are there places where occupants could become trapped and drowned?
Sleeping bag, camera equipment, water, 48 hour army ration pack, cooking equiptment, roll mat. Think it weighed about 15kg. It's not too heavy but awkward on the ladder sections.
Loads of places to stay, but we stayed in the limestone caverns due to the size of the group.
There would be no way of letting people know in the event of a flood. Its not something that I worry about when I'm in the tunnel to be honest, there are lodes all over the place that you could take cover in anyway.
Only time I would be worried about drowning is when going near to the collapse near pen-y-Bryn shaft. But even that might be clear by now.
[quote="mike leahy" post=8902][quote="mad-dan" post=8901]yeh i know i did, i was talking about the bloke with the shovel on his head, john and bella, Richard and (was it mike?)[/quote]
you met me in the spar mine as well . i also lent you a "key" when you called at my house :unsure: :unsure: :unsure: :unsure:[/quote]
Not you lol, was the chap with Richard not called Mike?
I've been to yours twice (and I bet I still couldn't find it again) also met you at peeps shaft..
i think it was me mad dan
yeh it was, and it's Martin not Mike?
im dreadfull with names.
iam the same with names to
Martin,
Were you at Rhyd Alyn last Thurs ?
:dry:
Ian
[quote="Ian" post=8935]Martin,
Were you at Rhyd Alyn last Thurs ?
:dry:
Ian[/quote]
yes he was with me
Ooooooooh, didn't know he was with us ..... :huh:
[quote="Ian" post=8946]Ooooooooh, didn't know he was with us ..... :huh:[/quote]
if you came down to the bottom instead of wimping out you would have seen him :silly: :blink: :silly: :blink: been anywhere today . guy and i went up north face of tryfan
I went nowhere - back from Ireland at 3:30am so was resting in bed :dry:
I assume you got wet - assuming it was raining on Tryfan like it was in Denbigh.
:huh:
well it wasnt Badger i was on about then, i'm guessing Badger was the chap at the bottom with Tim, Mike and Doug when i got down there.
god i'm confused.
me too :S