By Dr. Beale

An excellent trip last night.

I was particularly impressed with :

• Dave the Cave's performance in the entrance series both in and out.
• the speleothems on the way to Old Main Chamber.
• the snowstorm we got changed in on the way out.
• the lock in at The Horseshoe Inn.

I was particularly unimpressed with :

• Dave the Cave's LED light (nothing new here).
• Dave the Cave's bag (why we took this in is beyond me).
• Dave the Cave's belt.

I think it is fair to say that :

• OyDC is my favourite cave.
• Horseshoe Inn is the best pub in Wales.

The locals at the HInn were well impressed with our Daren drum. I get the feeling that the HInn are well on for seeing speleologists and that we are seen as the start of the new wave.

Llangatock has been quiet for a while, but now the AHPES are on the scene and we mean business.

I am quite interested by climbing possibilities in the rift to Old Main Chamber. I just get the feeling that that baby could link to higher things (hopefully even the surface). I need to see what Martyn Farr has to say about this.

We need Martyn Farr on our side.

PS I have Cave the Dave's big rectangular orange bag. I am sure there is no equipment worth stealing in there.

By Roy Unstone

Unstone (Mr Angry) adds:

An excellent trip last night.
I was particularly impressed with :
- Dave the Cave's performance in the entrance series both in and out.

i second that. inside dave there is a speedcaver trying to get out.

- the speleothems on the way to Old Main Chamber.
- the snowstorm we got changed in on the way out.
- the lock in at The Horseshoe Inn.

you forgot two things:

• the bonking couple in the car park when we got back, who had parked their shagwagon right over the presidential turd.
• the free stodge table in the pub. that was impressive. i was well stodged after a few of those sandwiches.

I was particularly unimpressed with :
- Dave the Cave's LED light (nothing new here).
- Dave the Cave's bag (why we took this in is beyond me).
- Dave the Cave's belt.

fact: equipment failure can kill you. i had to laugh when i heard the first "Fook!!!" as dave's shitlamp fell off before we'd even gone 20 metres on the way in. i stopped laughing after the third or fourth bonkFook! and i paused in a widening and insisted on dave using my spare LED lamp instead. i began losing my sense of humour on the way out when dave's "bag" spewed its contents (shitlamp, spare fx2 & battery, kneepads, brakepads, pantypads...) the first time (conveniently in the calcite squeezes). i became disgruntled when the "bag", with its canny point of attachment halfway down the side, turned itself into a camming device for the fiftieth time. i lost even more gruntle when i realised dave's belt (which i was using to "help" with the "bag" hauling) was able to work loose even though i'd doubled it back through the buckle. the third time the "bag" spewed its contents i was totally void of humour and gruntle. i repacked and retied the "bag" and then tried to catch dave up so i could shove it up his arse. unfortunately i couldn't catch him.

advice: get money back on the shitlamp. burn the "bag". burn the belt. keep the velcro strapped kneepads, they seem to work well: i couldn't catch you.

I am quite interested by climbing possibilities in the rift to Old Main Chamber. I just get the feeling that that baby could link to higher things (hopefully even the surface). I need to see what Martyn Farr has to say about this. We need Martyn Farr on our side.

i think we should just climb the bugger anyway if you don't get a reply from the FarrMan.

PS I have Cave the Dave's big rectangular orange bag. I am sure there is no equipment worth stealing in there.

that last sentence is a redundant statement.

but i have left a pair of helly leggings somewhere, either in dave's car or martin's. can i have them back please?