Ringing - Quarter Peal

Quarter Peal at Rampisham

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Ringing - Quarter Peal

Quarter Peal at Cann

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Caving - Swildon's Hole

Swildon's Hole

Today's caving group was Tim, Myself, Matt and Steve.  The idea was to take a new caver to sump 1 for their first trip but unfortunately they didn't join us. We met a group on the way through Barne's loop who reported there to be a few inches airspace in sump 1.  Matt was keen to go there to see if today was going to be the day he made it through.

I had been leading the group but shortly before the sump we made Matt go in front so he could just go straight to the sump and try going through.  To everyone's amazement he just marched up to it, took a breath and with three pulls on the rope was the other side feeling the adrenaline rush!  Finally Matt could see the Wookey Hole sign post that he has wanted to see for a few years.

The trip from there continued to look at sump 2 and then have a look at the trouble series - maybe Matt could do the ducks as he had just proved himself with a sump!  And indeed once more he amazed us all by going through the first 2 ducks!!

Today's trip was really enjoyable and full of achievements.

This is the route we took.

Rex players BBQ

Rex players BBQ

Ringing - Punknowle Weekend

Punknowle Weekend

Saturday 13th June

Our first quarter was at Rampisham - Initially we thought we were locked out - however when Tim eventually tried the door with a good shove it opened!!  We eventually started ringing 30 mins late.  We all grabbed hold to ring the bells up - we hadn't got that far up when the rope on the 2nd snapped!!  Tim went up to the bells and lowered the rope so we could still ring the quarter.  This time we successfully raised the bells and started the quarter.  About 10 mins in Jo became aware that her rope was gradually snapping - then completely broke!!  At this point we abandoned our quarter attempt and made our way to Toller Porcorum.

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Our last quarter for the day was at Abbotsbury - not an easy tower to get so we were looking forward to ringing a nice easy quarter to make sure we got it.  However when we started ringing up there was no sound and we wondered if the bells had been tied!  All but the treble eventually started to sound.  After much faffing the treble was still not working so we had another abandoned quarter!!

Back at Punknowle we had a lovely evening playing games and having a BBQ.

Sunday 14th June

After a relaxed morning we headed to Beaminster for a quarter.  Unfortunately our luck hadn't changed from yesterday.  9 of us arrived at Beaminster - Mike had completely forgotten!  Sue stepped out and we rang the quarter on 8 instead!!

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Ringing - Quarter Peals

Quarter Peals at Swanage

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Devon Holiday - Day 5

Devon Holiday

Day 5

Unfortunately today was home time.  We got ourselves packed up and decided what to do for the day.  The weather was cloudy and drizzly so we thought walking on Dartmoor wasn't a good idea.  We instead decided to drive to Princetown and have a look in their visitor centre.  They had a exhibition there that we could have a look round, I also managed to get a book about letterboxing on Dartmoor - I want to have a go!

We planned to go for lunch in Exeter before coming home so we made our way there calling at Moretonhampstead and then Dunsford woods for a walk by the river and then finally to the Toby Carvery in Exeter.  We felt we should end the holiday in the same place we started it! well that's our excuse anyway!!

It was nice to get home and we have had a good time.  Now we have a mountain of washing and sorting to do as we are going away again on Sunday to the Mendips!!