 Pete at the George in Alstonefield Pete Ray doesn't 'do' computers. He gets his wife, Karen to reply to emails, etc. (Poor Karen.) But he does do an ace job of dry stone walling, so if you want some doing contact the secretary (Martin Milner) and he will pass the message on. (See the 'About the club' page for contact details.) (Oh, and he also does a bit of Dentistry...) Well Pete might not 'do' computers, but he wrote this for me to type....... "My knackers are freezing!" shouted Eddie, "Mine too!" replied Ian. It would take another 10 inches of Dale mine's freezing cold water to reach mine ~ and it did on that Saturday morning of our first adventure. It had started the night before after a few drinks with Ian in the Royal Oak. "Fancy going down an old mine tomorrow Ian?" "Wicked!" came the speedy reply."Can me mate come too? I'll text him now" So it was on the Saturday morning that I met up with Eddie Potter for the first time and before long we were speeding(well, tootling) along the Manifold Valley with 3 builders hats and a collection of cobbled together torches, in my old roofless Land Rover. I had been shown the mine by a neighbour friend a couple years earlier and found it a bit daring & exciting. "There it is lads." We were looking down at a muddy puddle and a hole about a foot high and I thought I heard someone say it didn't look very inviting. "Come on" and I lay on the floor and slid through the puddle and hole and stood up in Dale mine. Ian & Ed followed and before long we had waded through the freezing water to where the roof had collapsed. Despite the cold water both Ed & Ian had clearly enjoyed the trip, exploring every nook and cranny, and after about an hour we emerged cold into daylight feeling pretty pleased with ourselves. What followed was the chance meeting with cave guru, Martin Milner[see Ed & Ian's pages. K.] and before long the reformation of Darfar Potholing Club. At least 90% of the people I tell that I go caving say "You must be mad!", and I admit that it was an activity that was pretty low on my list not that long ago. But having the knowledge and expertise that a guy like Martin has makes such a difference. ( Not to mention that he's slightly bigger than us.) The youth and enthusiasm of Ed & Ian add a great flavour to our trips and they bravely go where no man has been. It gives me a great sense of satisfaction when I walk along the Manifold valley with all the other walkers who are out for a day, knowing what really lies under the river bed. But the oddest thing of all is the sense of wanting to protect and preserve the caves as though they are our own! ..... p.s. Pete doesn't do mobile phones or texting either, and he definately doesn't do washing machines!!
9/03/08 Wow!! The Knotlow trip. "My knackers are freezing!" shouted Pete, "Mine too!" came the simultaneous reply of Martin, Ian & Ed. Bloody hell, a quarter of a mile of coffin level is bad enough, without it being three quarters full of water. So there we were, having nearly completed the through trip of Knotlow mine and feeling pretty cold. An incident with Ian on the waterfall abseil was a bit of an omen, but these things happen... don't they? So having got three quarters of the way around the trip and about to pop up into daylight and an early beer, no movement ahead. "Alright Martin?", "Hmm, I'm not so sure, seems a bit tight on this level. The way on must be above" "I'll go" says Ian, and up he went like Spiderman. Martin followed, well like Spidermen's Dad, and I followed next, well yes you've guessed it, like Spiderman's Grandad! But before Ed started up, Ian shouted "No way on!" Realisation hit us all. Bloody hell - got to go back....very cold now.....in for more......no choice!! Back through coffin level. Sore knees. Cold. Thinking about the waterfall ascent (we hadn't planned on) plus the 60 foot pitch to the entrance ( we hadn't planned on that, either). It was very dark by the time we all emerged from Knotlow, feeling very tired and exhausted. But after a change of clothes..( think on, Martin) and a beer we were already reminiscing.... p.s I was aching for three days! |
