Water Icicle Close Cavern

Keith had arranged with John G. and John B. for a trip in Water Icicle Close Cavern's new extensions. Karen and I arranged to join them and we all met up at Monyash café at 10:00.
It was a sunny and hot day, the hottest day so far this year as we then drove to the end of Derby Lane and got changed into our caving gear. After arriving at the ladder it was nice to see it now fixed by bolts at the top and the bottom and also at a less steep angle so that it was easier and safer to climb.
Keith unlocked the lock on the new gate and we were through into the breakthrough point as I locked the gate behind us. After a look around Three-way Aven, we proceeded along Urchin Passage. The two John's seemed impressed with the new sections and found many interesting features, pointing out where it seemed more acidic water had worn the limestone and the puzzling broken features; both rock and formations. We didn't go through the muddy crawl to the very end.
We returned back towards Three-way Aven and after looking at the top of The Elevator, John G. decided not to bother descending it. Keith dropped down the pitch to remove the rope and had some rock fall down.
John G. was taking photos of various features as we went an we followed the passage to Cherty-two Choke. The dig there was looked at and again we returned to Three-way Aven as John G. took some photos.
At the foot of the Entrance Shaft, we went a short way up North Passage and John G. spotted what he thought might be pieces of basalt embedded in the roof of the passage. Back at the Entrance Shaft, I replaced my SRT kit and prusiked back up first so that I could open the shaft lid. Back on the surface it was even hotter than before and still sunny so I stripped down to my furry suit to try and cool down a bit while I waited for the others to come up.
Soon all were back on the surface after a four hour trip underground and as we said our goodbyes to the two Johns, the three of us returned to the café for tea, snacks and, in my case, an ice cream.