Last trip of the Autumn term was a stonker, horrifically wet weekend trip to Yorkshire with killer roads, a leaking roof in the NPC and flooded caves. But we endured and had a damn nice time. Boxhead, Rumbling, Lost Johns' & Rowten all successfully probed, an ULSA birthday party gatecrashed and vast quantities of cake consumed.

The second driver, alas, fell ill and so we diverted from the glory of Yorkshire to the homely comforts of the Mendips, and broke into the Belfry. Deep frost during the night, was pretty scary on the roads with the moonlight bouncing off the white bearded fields! Due to the cold we investigated Easterwater Caverns on the Saturday, a cave only a 5 minute stumble from the enormous fire, and found it to be a nice mixture of crawls, clambers and climbs.
Sunday found us with some Charterhouse keys thanks to the kind hut warden, and a splendid photogenic session down GB and a 'sporting' (to the point of drowning) trip down Longwood in furries.
Maybe there are some caves in the 'Dip other than Swildons...

The Orpheus hut was as lovely as ever, Kenny being quite the welcoming hut warden. Fires were stoked, cheese-on-toast was prepared with the cattle-prod assisted stove and we were all tucked up against the wind and rain outside. Of course, eventually we would have to go out and go caving... Shed's car had spewed all of its oil into the ground overnight so we had to quickly replan trips and regroup in the minibus. Giants & Oxlow were succesfully probed, whereas Maskhill was called off due to a bit of a log jam in the entrance series! Saturday night saw an amazing Chilli with the secret ingredient of dark chocolate, and an evening in front of the fire including new research into indoor carbide displays. Sunday was less faffy, and saw trips down Oxlow, Maskhill & Eldon's Hole (which really was just a hole), and a pleasent return to London.

Massive minibus + two cars trip to Yorkshire, four different (rope) trips on both days, a delicious curry and an extra hours caving on Sunday thanks to British Summer Time. What more could you want?

Fantastic trip down South Wales, doing Ogof Fynnon Ddu and Cwm Dwr based at the enormous SWCC hut. Saturday saw long trips down to the Top Waterfall, and a loop via Edward's Shortcut to have a look at the climb down to Maypole Inlet and then back via sightseeing up Salubrius. Delicious pasta meal in the evening, followed by dubious games vs. Nottingham (my ribs, my poor ribs!) and a good long card session. Next day, rather stiff from the previous days antics, half the team made it down Cwm Dwr for a high speed explore, while the others went for a walk up over the hill...

Two days of camping, lovely weather, lots of cavers and good talks. Of course there was lot's of beer and caving things to buy as well.

Our friends from the Slovenian JSPDT were at long last coming to see us in the UK! Picking them up from Stansted, we wound our way across the country to Bull Pot Farm deep in the Yorkshire Dales, and set upon a most enjoyable long weekend of caving criss-crossing the extensive Ease Gill system. The Slovs, being Mountain People, had no problem keeping up...
Overground, the action was similarly non stop - a British Vs. Slovenian cook-off took place with much consumption of Rhubarb Crumble and Jota (though thankfully not together), much Zganja (home distilled double strength brandy) was consumed and the farm itself was the usual mad flame-thrower of a party till dawn every night.
Sleep deprived we may have been - but bloody hell, it was a good weekend!

Lovely bank hols w'end up in a very dry Yorkshire; did Meregill via the mere itself, the Magic Roundabout (including a rerigging fettle of Arson shaft) in Ease Gill via Lancs, and Alum Pot before heading for home.

Escaping from the drudgery of revision (Anne), and from an overheated lab (Joe & Jarv), we zoomed off to the Brecon Beacons, staying at the SWCC for an intense Ogof Fynnon Ddu session.
Friday saw us diving down OFD I - led by the generous Ian T (SWCC). Lovely trip - up the Waterfall and all around to check the formations, then back via the flood escape route.
Saturday saw Joe & Jarv lost in the depths of Top Entrance - stumbling around the rather aptly named 'Labyrinth' after having missed the Corkscrew climb up. Eventually admitting defeat, they returned via Edward's in time for a beautiful sunset.
Sunday saw an early escape from the SWCC, and a return to Bristol via Ogof Rhyd Sych, which was well tight.

Brilliant tour to Sardinia. Weather was distinctly cold, but it kept us off the beaches and in the caves! Amazing formations; 16km and 10km long caves pushed pretty much to their end.