United Cavers Exploration Team

This was the 2nd time in a week I had visited Poachers Cave.  This time I met up with Alison, John N, Bella & Riley (Bella's mate).  We made our way to the entrance where Alison and Bella crawled in to hang the electron, only to find an electron already in situ.  The girls installed our electron but left it rolled up and we used the ladder that was already there to ascend into the cave.  We explored the short mine workings first before turning back and making our way into the cave.  

Bella led the way while John pointed out a number of features such as the calcium deposits and isosceles passage.  We reached the river bed where we stopped for a short bite to eat before continuing on towards the boss chamber.  At this point we had been in the cave for some time and I was growing increasingly concerned that we hadn't met the owners of the ladder and had visions of being stranded down there until after 5 O'clock when my good lady Karen had detailed instructions of where we were and what to do if she hadn't heard off me by that time.  

We entered the 1st wet crawl which is a great deal harder carrying a bulky camera.  We then negotiated the 2nd wet crawl which was a lot deeper than it was when I went with Boydy on Thursday night.  On the other side of the crawls, Bella commented that she thought she could see some lights.

We turned the corner into the Boss chamber and we were met with what, with the 1st glance would best be described as a some kind of sacrificial ceremony of a local virgin.  Then it occurred to me we were in Cilcain where said virgin would be very hard to source!  It was in fact a group of cave / mine explorers from the Telford area who had lit tea lights all the way around the boss chamber which gave out an enchanting glow (I will post some of my poor excuses for photos of this below).  It was an amazing sight, especially when everyone switched their lights off.  The group then helped illuminate the boss for photography purposes.  

John did an excellent job of Promoting UCET and the forum and we went on our merry way towards the terminal chamber (after asking the Telford group to kindly drop our ladder down when they leave)

We spent approx 10 minutes in the terminal chamber nattering & installing new batteries in Bella's headlight before making our way back.  Alison and Bella explored a wet crawl but it was deemed impassable.  The girls also led us on a crawl at the back of the boss which brought us out near the water slide.  Alison, Bella & Riley also went for a mooch in the chamber of fossils while John and I held the bags and had an in-depth discussion about biofuel.

Alison & John did the tight crawl I had done on Thursday night while myself, Bella and Riley took the main route.  We finally arrived back at the entrance to find that the Telford group had remembered to lower our ladder for us, so one by one we climbed back to the surface.

A big thank you to John, Bella, Riley & Alison for their company & guidence.  

And finally thanks to the Telford crew for creating the awesome atmosphere we walked into in the boss chamber and for remembering to lower our ladder

Awesomeness in the boss chamber

More of the same

And finally....

Excellent Job Rob -  B)  B)  B)

i don't know why, but i never expected it to be big enough to stand up in. :-s