4th European Speleological Conference, Villard en Lans

Keith and Pete headed off at 7:30am to do the Grotte de La Luire which, since it had a 9:00am start and also involved 230 feet of fixed iron ladder on the exit (my arms still weak after recovering form a long period of shoulder injury), Karen and I decided not to go. Instead we got the map out and went for part of a circular route in woods on the mountainside above Lans en Vercors.
We stopped at an auberge to have a coffee and myrtle berry tart, which was lovely. We followed signposts to "La Belvedere" (view point) and when we got there, the view was mostly blocked by trees!
We wandered back to the original route and passed above the auberge and followed a track passing some bolted crags with kids being given rock-climbing instruction. After passing a skiing car park (obviously only used in the winter), we followed the road down to where we had parked the car.
We rang Pete and Keith and they were just booking in at the cave registration tent after their trip, so we arranged to meet at a cafe and have some coffee. As we were heading for the cafe we met Simon Brooks who had just arrived from his home in Ashbourne to stay for a couple of days as he was giving some talks about his caving trips. After the coffee we went back to the gite.
In the evening we we met Simon in the Speleobar and he came back with us to sleep on the sofa in the gite.

4th European Speleological Conference, Villard en Lans

After a crappy night's sleep and not feeling up to it despite getting up at 7:00am and putting on my furry suit, I decided to not go down the Berger with the others. Keith and Pete had left early to buy some insoles for Pete's wellies (he ended up getting some nifty canyoning boots!). Karen and Boyd left to do a relatively short trip in the entrance series. So I spent the day reading and dozing. Karen and Boyd eventually arrived back at around 8:00pm after having been to the top of Aldo's pitch and being held up for some time by other cavers.
We went to the Speleobar for a very nice chilli and met Steve Jones and Dave Harley from SUSS there. Keith and Pete turned up after 9:30pm after having been as far as the Salle de St Germaine.

4th European Speleological Conference, Villard en Lans

Keith, Pete and Boyd left to do a Via Ferrata and as I had promised Ralph to pick up some bolts he had ordered from Expe in Pot en Royans, Karen and I thought today would be a good day to do this as we had a trip booled into the Gouffre Berger tomorrow.
We knew that unfortunately we knew that the road through the Bourne Gorge was closed for road works all week, so we planned a longer, alternative route. First we dropped into Lans en Vercors to book another caving trip on Wednesday (you could only book two days in advance) to the Grotte de La Luire which Boyd wanted to so and was also a show cave. After this we drove the alternative route, passing some kids getting changed in caving gear and later on, another group of cavers getting changed.
We got to Pont en Royans and after parking had a wander around. When we left the gite, it had been sunny and the temperature was around 10 degrees C. By now it had reached 24 degrees. We then sat outside a cafe and had some crepes and coffee. Realising it was 11:30am and Expe closed for lunch at midday, so, after a few wrong turnings, we found the large Expe shop (it had been relocated since my last visit). I presented the email from Ralph about his order for bolts and they knew nothing about it! I rang Ralph on my mobile phone and we agreed that I would pay for the bolts with my credit card and we would settle up later.
After another trip to the Speleo Conference trade stands for Karen to buy a very nice Adventure Vericale oversuit, and the went to Villard de Lans for yet more crepes and coffee!
We met the others later on and after another visit to Villard, we went to a restaurant for a meal. Karen and I had a very nice Ravioli Royans which were small ravioli pasta parcels with a local cheese stuffing. Pete and Keith were happy with steak and chips!

4th European Speleological Conference, Villard en Lans

We saw Boyd and Jenny in the morning and the four of us: Karen, me, Keith and Pete, went on a mission to find a supermarket (they were closed last evening) and also a shop which sold Via Ferrata gloves for Pete. Unfortunately, we failed. The supermarket didn't open on Sundays and the sports shops we did try didn't sell Via Ferrata glove.
We returned to Lans to have breakfast in the Speleobar: a vast marquee near the camp site just on the outskirts of Lans. We paid one Euro fifty Cents for wooden plates and wooden knives, forks and spoons. After breakfast we went to the trade stands in a nearby building where Boyd bought two tackle gabs for the Orpheus Caving Club's trip to the Pierre St. Martin cave next week. I bought a Petzl Basic jammer at the Expe stand to replace my old one which was getting on a bit and the teeth were becoming a bit blunt. Unfortunately, there was also a Scurion Caving Light stand and I succumbed to temptation and bought one!
After lunch of Croque Monsieur or Crepes with Gruyere Cheese and sausage in Villard de Lans, we drove up to a very busy La Moliere, near Autrans and walked to the entrance of the Gouffre Berger. I know the route very well after having been there twice before in 1990 and also in 2002. It's a very nice walk starting at the La Moliere car park with clear views of Mont Blanc, and The Ecrins including La Meije, and we took a leisurely one and a half hours to reach the entrance. We found a small group of cavers (French I thinks) and a pile of caving gear. We had registered at the Speleo Conference earlier in the morning for a trip down to the Salle de Treize on Wednesday.

4th European Speleological Conference, Villard en Lans

Karen and I drove to Birmingham Airport to board an Air France Bombardier C100 50 seater to fly to Lyon. Once there we picked up the Citroen C3 hire car we had booked and drove to the Gite at Les Frier near Villard de Lans.
Boyd and Jenny had already arrived earlier in the day and had gone to Lans en Vercors to visit the Speleo Conference. We contacted Pete Collins and Keith, who had flown from Stanstead to Lyon, by mobile phone and as they were on the way, Karen and I decided to wait at the Gite until they arrived soon after in the early evening.
Once they had arrived and unpacked their car, we went to look for supermarkets (Karen and I had stopped at one already on the way - but Pete and Keith hadn't) and register for the Conference at Lans en Vercors. We then went out for a Pizza in Villard de Lans.

Walk Around Winnats Pass and Cave Dale, Peak District

Karen and I parked near the car park for Mam Nick and walked down the path in Winnats Pass then crossed the road by Speedwell Cavern and continued into Castleton where we had an ice cream!

After this we walked up Cave Dale, passing beneath Peveril Castle and down the lane past Rowter Farm to end up back at the car after walking past Windy Knowl.

Masson Cavern, Peak District

Nine of us: Anna, Ian, Julie, Denise, Graham. Scott. Lee, Karen and myself met up at home and drove along the minor road past Jug Holes wood and parked up. After changing into caving gear we walked the short distance to Masson Quarry and headed into Masson cavern just before midday.
We had a good poke around most areas and got as far as the gate to the show mine before heading for the surface to exit just before 3pm.