Dear friends and supporters
We did it! A full-on caving experience with an expert guide. We were kitted out in purple fleece all-in-ones, waterproof suits, wellies, harnesses, helmets and headlamps. After a bumpy drive on a track through misty fields, we walked to the cave entrance of Long Churns - where someone had thoughtfully left a Mars bar.
Underfoot was uneven limestone, with shallow running water. It felt like walking on the rocks at the seaside. It wasn’t at all scary, claustrophobic, slippery or dirty – but it was definitely wet and dark. Our headlamps lit up science-fiction monster rock formations, stalactites and stalagmites. You had to concentrate on where to put your feet, and try not to step where the water might go over the tops of your wellies. Dave gave me a piggyback across one deep bit while Sal nimbly made her way round the edge. He lowered each of us down Dolly Tubs Pitch (a 15 metre descent) on a rope – not as elegant as abseiling, but using your feet against the cave wall stopped you from just dangling. Then we could see daylight and realised we were half way down Alum Pot, a huge void with a waterfall at the other side. That’s where I originally thought we were going to abseil, but it was seriously unsuitable for beginners.
After a spiritual moment or two, we climbed back up Dolly Tubs Pitch on what you’d have called a rope ladder except it was made of metal. It swung about a little, but if you stuck your boot through each rung, you could push on the cave wall and get some control. Going up the ladder was my favourite bit, challenging but achievable. The other highlight of our return was a short crawl through a section with a low ceiling – the limestone was rather knobbly under my knees but I actually quite liked the 2 metres where we had to wriggle on our stomachs.
Coming out into daylight after more than two hours, the grass seemed very green and the horizon very wide. We felt exhilarated. I felt like a child who’d done something exciting for the first time, not having known what to expect. Colleen would have enjoyed it too.
Thanks to all of you for your encouragement as well as your generous donations. Enormous thanks to Dave Gallivan of http://www/yorkshiredalesguides.co.uk whom we recommend enthusiastically.
And if you’ve any suggestions for next year’s adventure, let us know.
With love from Maggie and Sal, cavers extraordinaire
