Pridhamsleigh Cavern

Date:

25 May 04

Party:

Colin, Richard & New Provisional Member Stephen Glendenning

Photos:

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In Brief:

I received a phone call from Stephen at 3:15pm this afternoon, interested in caving, had seen the PCG flier in the Thistle Park Tavern some time ago and was now keen to go caving.

Gave my best Membership Secretary talk, followed by 'you can come on a trip today, Tuesdays night is our club trip night'. Told Stephen to be at the usual meeting place - opposite Bretonside bus station in Plymouth at 7pm

Called Richard to let him know the Prid trip was on and at the allotted time made my way to Bretonside...

Details:

When I reached Bretonside Stephen was already there, I'd emphasized that we try and get way on time to maximize a)time underground b)chance of getting to the pub afterwards!

Seven o'clock came and went and we were joined by... well no one actually, when I set off I was praying that Richard would be there, I didn't want Stephen to think that the club was a figment of my imagination or that I was an axe murderer or something. When we arrived at Prid Richard was there kitted up and ready to cave, my heart felt thanks go to Richard for being there (and Sarah for getting him there)

We paid our pounds at that lovely new shed and set off across the orchard. This was going to be a nice trip, doing the usual circuits, once we entered the cave I started my tour guide spiel, there's nothing like this to remind yourself how few of the names of the chambers, passages and parts you know!

Anyway passing through Bishops chamber and up the mud staircase we made our way across the Stal Pit, down Jacob's Ladder and down to the lake. As this was Stephen's first trip with the PCG I kept a close eye on him for a while to see how he was coping - no problem he moved well and so I stopped worrying.

I demonstrated how to get up that scrabble by the lake in order to get to the back of Maggot's Crawl, Richard declined and waited for us, Stephen went for it and after a bit of a grunt was up. The duck to mystery pools was a bit too wet to make it worth going fore on a first trip (or 50 trip in my case) so we turned our backs on that little challenge.

I scrambled up Maggot's Crawl, trying to pass on knowledge of how best to do it, while trying to make it look easy (and therefore lull Stephen into a false sense of security), it worked, I was up and out in not time flat, then me and Richard shouted encouragement and advice back down the hole as the grunts and groans made there way up, haaa.

That done, it was time to try the Stocks - well and truly sumped - so back across the Stal Pit and then down the Coal Shoot, Stephen was pleased that he'd managed to keep his feet dry up to this point... ha ha haaa, the only thing he kept dry by the time we squeezed up through the letter box was his wit!

A bit of scrabbling around and we got back up to the top of the Mud Staircase, then down through that nice little rifty bit (ok I've already confessed to not knowing the names of bit in here), back underneath and through to the flooded rift, we did the mandatory up and over the two mud banks (isn't the second one getting thin these days!). 'There that's the Flooded Rift' I announce at the far end, Stephen ask's if we've got to go back the way we came, Richard just grins.

The time has come to make our way out, a good time had by all, Richard does a fine job of leading us back to the open air. Thanks to Richard for turning up and a welcome to Stephen, Called the PCG at 3pm and is exiting Prid at 9:30pm how's that for fast recruitment? He said what a great time he'd had, I believe we'll have a new full member very soon when Stephen makes the transition from provisional member.

Written up by Col smith

added 22-7-04 CGS