NOVICES MEET 2008
The
weekend of the 7th/8th June, saw
Club members Clive Bennett, Alan Crowe, Donald Kelly
and Chris Haines, joined by Prospective new member
Jean, and Alan’s 11 year old relative Alex, at
Penwyllt (head quarters of South Wales CC), for the
annual Novices meet.
Jean
has recently moved to the
UK
from
France
, and was keen to see some
UK
caves. Alex has only caved with the YHA before and was
keen for more.
Saturday
morning: We changed in the brilliant sunshine, then
sweated up to the top entrance of OFD for a tourist
trip around the many passages that were on offer.
Alan,
Don, Alex, Chris, Clive and Jean OFD top entrance.
Don at the mini columns, OFD2
We
went to the mini columns, then down to Gnome chamber,
before the climb to Salubrious streamway and then the
judge and trident, before the beautiful swamp creek.
Alex
was tired by this point, so Alan and I took him back
out, while the others went on to Selanite tunnel,
starlight chamber, and back out.
Alex
and Alan examine the Trident OFD 2
Alan on a traverse above salubrious streamway
After
several cups of tea, and a trip to the shops, I
shuttled the others to the ‘Ancient Briton’, where
we were joined by Joan Semmens, plus Bill and Roy
Harris. The food was spectacularly ordinary.
Alan
and Alex returned to the hut, while the rest of us
went to the ‘Copper Beech’, where a party for a
South Wales CC member was in full swing, with Pat Hall
providing the sound system. There were many old
friends there, and most had been drinking for some
time and were well oiled! Clive was our celebrity for
the night, and was in high demand. I lost count of the
drinks that were bought for him. The music and company
was excellent.
By
the time we got back to the hut, I didn’t really
fancy the beers I had been denied all night as the
driver, and soon we had all hit the sack.
Sunday:
It was an early start for some, and a late one for
others!
The
SWCC Club T shirt has the Logo ‘Faff now, cave
later’ with a picture of a Tea pot. We lived up to
this slogan!
Eventually,
we set off in the glorious sunshine for the walk to
OFD bottom entrance. Once in and away from the midges,
we headed up the main stream way, then came out via
the escape route. I was reasonably pleased that I
remembered most of the route, but was glad Clive was
there to put me right.
Alex
did very well on the climbs and exposed high traverse
above the stream.
Jean, Clive, Don, Alex, Chris and Alan in OFD1
Streamway
Jean Alex and Don in the escape route
An
excellent trip. Once out, we toiled back up the hill
in the blazing sun, and showered and rehydrated before
setting off for the drive home, which seemed a lot
less of an effort when the weather was so good, and
the countryside was looking so glorious! Who needs to
go abroad?
A
great weekend, with excellent company.
Chris
Haines
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