Topic

Another trip I have done many times before. We had decided on a short trip just to the Music Hall with a possible side trip into Erse Passage. Alan Tate was due to join us for a 10am start. He hadn’t arrived by 10am, so I suggested that Alex (Ritchie), Long Bob (Riley), Ade (Pedley) and Lucasz set off and David and I would go later with Alan. 
We waited until after 11am then phoned Alan to find he was in some road works some 30 miles away. He decided to abandon the trip as he couldn’t say how much longer he would be and we had a long trip north afterwards. 
We had a lovely walk out to the cave and got in just before noon. The entrance series used to take us about 40 minutes. It is quite hard work climbing over boulders and crawling under rocks. I think I am slower than I used to be (I probably last did the trip in 2006). 
We met the others in the Main Chamber after finding our way through the entrance series and into Barons Chamber with no problem. They were on their way out after a bit of exploring side
passages. 
We went on towards the Music Hall, but David had made an error in ETAs in the book. Our call out was 3pm, but he put 2pm in the book. This meant we only had time for a quick trot down the Main Passage, not quite as far as The Music Hall, before turning round. We took some photos of the selenite crystals in the Main Passage, then exited without issue. This was helped by instructions from David as I led the way “I go over this, but you usually go under” or “you don’t need to traverse, you fit in the bottom”. Makes life so much easier! 
There were bats hanging around all through the entrance series which seemed quite unperturbed by our presence.
We were out by 2pm to a fine, sunny day for the walk back. 
Ros