The Devils Arse!

Last night there was still to much cloud cover to see any stars. So lights switched off by 10pm and  within 5 minutes of head hitting pillow some mad idiot in his car tore up the hill roaring past the Beast. It screetched to a stop and doing what sounded like a handbrake turn, zoomed off back down the hill. Peace descended after that and not a sound heard until a milk lorry came past at around 7am.

So today we made for the final three caves in the Peak District. Parking in a coach park near to Speedwell Cavern and finding to our delight the Pay meter wasn't working. (saved us £3) we took the first of the boat tours for that day. We were warned that 180 steps had to be negotiated and were we up to it! Well of all the cheek, I thought! Anyway even as unfit as we are these days the steps held no problems for us but if you suffer from claustraphobia forget about doing this tour.  Good job we all wore hard hats as even me being vertically challenged had my head hit the roof a few times. This was one tour we found disappointing. Not much to see and with the cramped conditions in a very small boat not really worth the £7 each we paid.

Coach parking. Speedwell cavern is that small white triangle near to the left wing mirror.

This is all we got to see at the end.

Peak Cavern was also within walking distance. Under 3/4 mile so we left the Beast where it was and walked. Now that was a much better tour. Still, nothing compared to the Australian caves (well can anything beat them?)

Small blind white cave shrimps live in this pool

The Devils Arse so called because of the flatulent sounding noises from inside the cave when flood water is draining away

Last cave system was Blue John Cavern. The road to it was still icy so we decided to leave the Beast in a layby on the main road and walk down to it.

Ian went to pay the concessionary fee and once again we were asked if we could do all the steps. I'm beginning to think we look older to other folks than we actually are. We assured her we could cope but she insisted that we rethink as there were a total of 240 steps down and 240 steps back up. Huh...we showed them as joining a group of 9 or so other folk, Ian and I was the only ones that kept up with the guide.... going down and coming back up.

Blue John Cavern

Just some of the steps

Blue John veins in the rocks.

Loads of fossils in the stone

Gone wild camping again tonight. Sun has shone nearly all day and the solar panals have almost restored the battery to fully charged. Not sure what tomorrow will bring, probably decide in the morning.

Coal Tit