|
Pete had been asking about getting a trip together so that his
daughter Lucy could get a taste of the underground landscape as he had shown
her photos of Hannah down the mines and she was really keen to have a
go.
We met at Gav's and Rosie's house and then made our way to
Smallcleugh. Arriving at the adit the kids started running around and climbing
on the shop walls, we gathered them up and sent them down the miiiiinnnnne.
Hannah and Rosie are old hands now, but when Lucy got in, just past the arching
she was amazed at the walls and the formations and started pointing at the hole
- the hole is where we are going.
We got through the water, past the
shaft and then proceeded up the slippery slope and then along the Hard
Crosscut. At the start of the flats, we showed the kids some of the workings
and the sparkly things. Then it was up into the Northend Flats, following the
workings until we reached the horse level again. Here we went through the main
flats, taking a detour to climb up into the Waterblast Flat to look at the
barrow and artefacts. Back down and onwards to Wheel Flats, where the kids
thought it was a good idea to attack Karli and use him as a climbing frame.
Then we went through George Hertherington's Crosscut, cursing how easy the kids
had it. Once out, it was on to the Ballroom.
Whilst the kids had an
explore, we got lunch set up and it was feeding time. We took a few photos of
the Ballroom and then it was back out. At the entrance to George
Hertherington's Crosscut we met an outdoor group who had around 25 people with
them, so we had to wait until the crosscut emptied before carrying on - traffic
jams down Smallcleugh, whatever next? It was funny to watch the groups
expressions when they realised there was a group of kids down the mine. We got
out with no issues and then it was time for a group shot on Karli's monster
Landy and back to base for warmth! |
