We went to Bungonia caves and explored soggy Grill cave a little deeper this time, until we were pulled up by CO2. Panting breath and a lighter flame two inches broken from the lighter itself always makes for an interesting if not a little worrying experience.
Checked out a couple of bats, took some happy snaps then traversed a very dry and dusty Hogans hole and Fossil cave. The cement bag (aptly named) was fun as usual. There is just something about getting truly dirty from head to toe that is satisfying. Great day, great fun and now looking at the couch...
Looks like you all had a great time. I assume that's your young fella on the right (left in photo) in the first photo (plenty of family resemblance there!).
Is that a mine in the distance in picture 4?
I always fancied that I would enjoy caving. The closest I ever got was many moons ago my now husband and a mate and I were crawling through the lava tubes at Undara QLD (I was in the middle). Alas I got a bit freaked out about half way and of course the only way out was to keep going! Survived to tell the tale as you can see.
Thanks for sharing your pics.
Kerrie
Last edited by BerrieK; 12-04-2009 at 07:24 PM.
Reason: i'm a gumby
Ric, there is a good cave there for the larger frame. Grill is excellent for the uninitiated.
Unfortunately, there is just no way to be PC about the other caves. You are either too big, or not. I have to be blunt with some people in as polite way I can.
??.. whats that mean baz
I always thought of caves as a fairly safe sort of place to spend some time... Re the rump problem ,you could always get a presized axehandle if the rear extends behond the designated width you just blame the axehandle , if that really starts a incident ,hey , you have something to defend yourself width.. er I mean with
The caves are formed by water taking vegetation litter into cracks. As the veg decomposes, it gives off carbon dioxide. (CO2) This mixes with the water to form a weak acid solution which eats the rock, forming the caves.
Unfortunately, this is an on-going process, with many of the caves having an active sump, full of orange scum and giving off volumes of CO2.
CO2 is heavier than air, therefore sits in the bottom of the caves. At different times of the year, depending on water levels, rainfall, barometric pressure etc, this level can be higher up or lower.
I am hoping to go a bit deeper into grill next time, we'll see how the CO2 treats us.
Ric, there is a good cave there for the larger frame. Grill is excellent for the uninitiated.
Unfortunately, there is just no way to be PC about the other caves. You are either too big, or not. I have to be blunt with some people in as polite way I can.