Thursdays Trip - 30th May 2013

[Vikki Sestan]

In pure Vikki fashion.... having had a bank holiday I've forgotten what day it is. Apologies for the late post.


Trip One: Nadolig

Trip Type: General mooch

Meet point: Cilcain bridge - we can then bundle into the fewest amount of cars and drive down the road to Nadolig.

maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?msid=208646541...spn=0.006121,0.01527

Meet time: 18.45

[Tony Salusbury]

Coolies, I love it in there.

[Vikki Sestan]

I will be there too.

Depending on numbers this may end up being a quick trip so we should have time to check the water levels in poachers too.

[Anthony Britner]

Will be there- twice in the same week- well it would have been if I could have found the enterance :side:

[mike leahy]

hey missus trip organ grinder i thought you said bog mine !!!!!!!!!

[John Nicholson]

Bella would love to do Bog Mine if you would like to take her Mike.  If not then she will do Nadolig.
I may bring a Sarah (a newbie) and can take her through Poachers.  Anyone else who would prefer to do Poachers rather than Nadogkill is welcome to come with us.

Sarah will come.  We will meet all at Cilcain Bridge.

I hope lots of you turn up to make it a really jolly good trip.

[John Nicholson]

TRIP REPORT

Attended: John N, Bella N, Sara Hulbert (new), Tony S, Amy H, Ant, Mike L, Arthur ?.
Unfortunately Vikki could not attend.

Mike, Bella, May, Tony and Arthur decided not to do Nadolig but the try and make it at least to the Canals in OHA.  John, Sara and Ant set off for Poachers.

This was my first opportunity to try my latest caving acquisition, a pair of full length waders, inspired by Marcelle and facilitated by an exceptional offer at LIDL - £14.  This is cheaper then I have paid just for boots.  I learned several things about waders.  Firstly, although you remain dry (if worn correctly) you still feel as if you get wet because the coldness of water bits just the same way.  I made the mistake of wearing just shorts under the waders - I should have worn my normal trousers. The waders have well designed adjustable shoulder straps which will hold the rim right up to your chin.  But I found I had to cross the straps over my head to stop them falling off my shoulders.  I also made the mistake of wearing my pullovers over the waders so they still got wet through the water crawls.  As Mike instantly spotted when we got to his pub ' your have wet your pants!'.  Even though I had changed into my best clean trousers (contrary to Mike's view), my soaked pullovers had left a tide line of water around my waist.

We had a good trip to the boss chamber and then down the first stages of the helter-skelter through the foaming water. Sarah loved the trip, and can't await to go again.  I have to say, she is very fast underground.  Although she is new to caves, she is quite fit and walks several miles to work and back every day.  I also found several new fossils in the cave, which are all in very good condition.  Some are perfect coral clusters.

As soon as we came out of Poachers we realised from a patteran that the OHA group had already returned. When we came down the hill to the car park they were refreshed and already changed into clean clothes and had obviously been back for some time.  They got to the sandcrawl which was so high that a dig will be needed to clear the route.  So access further to the bell chamber was not possible.  On the return they explored one of the other routes which I now look forward to being shown by Bella.

A nice evening in the Old Glan. The place has changed a lot, but the rooms retain their old character, and they still serve the local Flintshire beer.  Clearly, a lot of money has been spent on the place.

[Ian A]

[quote="JohnNicholson" post=18027] ... a pair of full length waders, inspired by Marcelle and facilitated by an exceptional offer....[/quote]

John, she doesn't use them for caving  

[John Nicholson]

Marcelle's waders can be inspiring in cave or cavern.
I am just following her footsteps....