Day 2.... The Great Orme Mine

Day 2's adventure would be a led trip in to the Great Orme Mine.

Another leisurely start to the day with the group meeting up just passed the half way tram stop at 10am. Our guides were already there and kitted in boiler suits. Keith had joined us for this trip and we all began kitting up.
The walk to the shaft was only meters away and we were all happy to get out of the wind and on with exploration. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but the nondescript walking, stooping and crawling muddy passage wasn't really it. For once I felt no need to get the camera out and before I know it we were heading back to the surface after less than a couple of hours. First up I popped to get changed and took a few pics with my phone as the others exited. Lucy flew up the 20m pitch and so her initiation in to the world of SRT has officially started!

With more of the day left than we had expected we headed to the top of the Great Orme for tea and cake before Keith suggested us muggles might want to have a go at the mysterious world of geocaching. We had a romp over the hill side and were thrilled when we found the hidden stash! Unfortunately it was time to say goodbye to Lucy and Mike, but the rest of us were keen to take in the scenery around Happy Valley and continue with the geocache quest.

Eventually the rumble from the bellies could be ignored no longer and we headed in to Llandudno to collect traditional fish and chips to eat on the beachfront. I decided I wanted to eat mine on the beach itself and couldn't understand why the others weren't following......that is until I was mugged by seagulls! I beat a hasty retreat and guarded what was left in my tray.

The evening took a somewhat surprising turn when after Loz headed to campsite, Kay and Jess decided they wanted to visit a karaoke bar!

Against our better judgement, and with a couple of pints consumed, even Keith and I could be heard singing along at the table ;)

The Gang All Kitted Up At The Entrance Shaft

Lucy survives her first prussic and still smiling!

Geocaching is fun!

More fun in Happy Valley

The screen says it all!

Present: Mike Bonner, Kay Wood, Lucy Collins, Keith Edwards, Jess Burkey, Loz Appleby & Mark Burkey

Dudley North Wales Mines Weekend. Day1....The Croesor / Rhosydd Through Trip.

Kay, myself and Jess travelled to Llandudno on the Friday night to avoid the bank holiday traffic.

Saturday morning after a walk on the pier and donuts for breakfast we went to meet Kay at her bed and breakfast before collecting Loz at a nearby Mcdonalds and heading on to Tanygrisiau where we had arranged to hook up with Mike and Lucy for midday.

The long walk to the Croesor entrance was as much fun as ever, Kay particularly enjoyed it after having had a 4 course breakfast!

At the entrance we met some European hikers who poked their nose in the entrance before declaring us mad and going on their way.

This would be Lucy's first real SRT and so we had brought enough rope to rig a tandem abseil and so I descended beside her to keep an eye on her, though it really wasn't needed as she had no problems at all.
Whilst the usual fun was had on the Zip line I took advantage of the others playing back and forth to get a planned shot of the rickety suspension bridge before we continued on through the other various obstacles.
I had been a little worried about getting Lucy across the traverse, but a second zip line is now in place making the traverse redundant. We had another play with photo's, this time getting Kay to use her Vape to create a smokey effect, intact creating so much smoke I couldn't see across the chamber!
We eventually got the hang of how much would create the right effect and grabbed the shot before moving on.
Lucy and Kay were nervous of the new rigging at the bridge of death, but both had no problems at all when it came their turn to cross.
As we reached the canoe we realised we were going to be close to our call out time. Jess suggested I go ahead with Mike and Lucy to ensure we would make it out on time until I pointed out I was the only one who knew the way out and so we stayed as a group navigating through Rhosydd.

Once out Loz did her thing and jogged down to the cars. She arrived with only 5 minutes to spare before Keith was actually going to initiate the call out.

After a proper scolding by Mr. Edwards we headed to Betws Y Coed for a good meal and then back to Llandudno.

View from the bedroom, LlandudnoPier

Lucy on the wobbly suspension bridge

Kay on the 2nd Abseil

Mike & Jess at the 2nd Zip Line

Hungy cavers!

Present: Kay Wood, Loz Appleby, Mike Bonner, Lucy Collins, Jess Burkey & Mark Burkey

Ogof Arth, Great Orme, Llandudno

A very small cave above Invalid's Walk on the Great Orme. The cave consists of nothing more than a small chamber which was once lived in.

The West Shore from Ogof Arth

The Team: KeEd