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Today, after a trip down Plantation Swallet, Ed, Ian, Pete and I visited Waterways Swallet again, (Ed for the first time), with the intention of finally having a look at the 'new stuff'. After descending to the Gallery, (the bottom of the original part of the cave), we went through the amazing scaffolding in the Doghouse boulder choke installed over the course of 10 years (mostly) by the Keyhole C.C. Once through and into the new stuff, we were well surprised to find the yellow iron ladder on the Floodgate pitch. (And equally surprised at the amount of rubbish there was down there, it has to be said.) Past this, the cave seemed to go on and on, (and down and down), with some sections of really nice obvious stream passage. (And several more boulder blockages.) Eventually, however, we reached the new chamber, (Toad Haul), and soon afterwards the terminal sump at the end of Wotno Streamway. After a rest for some contemplation, it then took us around an hour to get back to the surface! By which time all of us were aching and covered with bruises. A great trip, spoiled only by the amount of scaffolding, (necessary unfortunately), and the amount of rubbish in the new extensions. In all 2 1/2 hours were spent underground. A return is planned (sometime soon...maybe) with a camera...
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