On Sunday, 13th December 1999, nine scouts, one parent and three leaders
popped down to Burrington Combe for a spot of caving and walking.
The first group, Nathan, Craig, Robert and David, went down Goatchurch Cavern
led by Dan. They managed to do the Maze, the Coffin Lid and Smarty Tube
without any bother but got slightly wet when they were 'baptised' at the end!
Meanwhile the older group, Rousy, Jaike, Ben and BJ were leading Andy
round a route of the top of the hills.
After lunch, we swapped groups,
with the older group going first down Goatchurch (including some awkward bits
we'd found!) and making such good time that Jaike, Rousy and Dan hurtled out
and went down Pierre's Pot. The instructors joined them later and found them
in a cavern full of bats with Jaike frozen to the spot with fright! (can be
quite feroucious those pippistrelles - have your arm of if you're not
carefull). At least they didn't disturb the bats. Meanwhile Ben had taken a
dip in the baptisimal pond.
The younger Group had an eventful walk
with Robert managing to fall into a stream where the water was up to his
waist.
The conclusion on the caving front was that everybody did very
well and would be capable of something more challenging the next time.
Link to the PL's Trip down Tyning's Barrow Swallet
Site Last Updated Monday, 13 December, 1999.