Topic

A small group gathered for the Excalibur trip.
My intention was just to do the CNCC described trip for Excalibur and not attempt to do the through trip. The Jenga side of the through trip sounded particularly torturous with words like tight and wet appearing repeatedly.
We quickly found the entrance and the key safe and headed down the entrance pitch. The area at the top of the ladder was slightly awkward and very snaggy but having done that the pitch opened out.
The way on from the bottom of the pitch was an unlikely looking hole into main chamber.
The route continued with short crawls punctuated by squeezes and climbs until we gained the meandering stream passage and then Holy Grail Junction.
This area is well decorated and (almost) worth the effort expended in getting there.
We dropped down to the streamway, where the formations continued, and headed down stream where we had a look at Laura's Demise. Robin declared that there was no air gap for the connection to Primal Scream, so we went to look up stream.
Lukasz had a look in Fossil Chamber and was impressed by the "gravity defying boulders", so much so that he beat a hasty retreat.
Having completed the route described we returned to the surface, only losing the route a couple of times.
The instructions from the CNCC website are excellent at describing the route to the main points of interest, though I am sure there are plenty of side trips for the more adventurous.

Robin and Dave had a quick look in Lingmoor cave. This looks like a retired dig!

Having completed our trip(s), I collected Ros from Whitby and we all headed into Malton for a few beers and some dinner, when our beloved president appeared. He claimed that he was having a few beers with his mates and not checking up on us.

Team: Lukasz, Robin & Dave.
Time: About 3 hours.