Today was brilliant, fantastic, epic! It started off early so we could get to Waitomo as soon as possible. On the way we stopped off at Big Azz ice cream and had a massssssive 6 scoop monster. I was the only one stupid enough! It went everywhere! I accomplished the feat just before the bus pulled away and was left feeling slightly fragile. All worth it of course.
We pulled into Waitomo at 1 o'clock and stayed at really nice accommodation for the second time. The only difference being this time it was a two share rather than four. We chilled out for a while and then got picked up and taken to the caving centre. After a briefing and kitting up into our wet suits and helmets we were driven to the cave entrance.
Our equipment was explained to us and we had a brief practise session before we began the abseil. Lindsey went first and once I saw her drop I decided I had to go next. Didn't want to wait and watch more people do it.
For those of you who don't know, I am petrified of heights and can get pretty claustrophobic in extreme conditions. With the heights I'm fine up towers ect because I'm inside and I know I'm safe. I think its not the height, it's more the falling to my death that scares me...
Anyway I went next! Standing on the ledge was scary to say the least! I had to pumped myself up and was ready. I was clipped in and ready to go! Before I knew it I was going down into the top of a 40 meter pitch black hour glass! I descended slowly at first, the only thing slowing me was the force of friction, which I could increase or decrease by how tight I was holding on with my thumb. If I let go, I fall.
I got to the bottom of the top part of the hour glass in average time. While hanging 20 meters in the air, holding on by my thumb, I had to negotiate a 2 meter long squeeze through the middle of the hour glass. Feathering my thumb so slightly to drop lower as I move my body position through the gap. Half way through I hit my head slightly and the cave went pitch black. I couldn't see my hand, the rope and more importantly my thumb. My light was out. I spurted out four letters which I don't fancy repeating. I had to let go of my thumb, bracing myself with my other hand and the rest of the line. Using my left hand I turned my light back on and continued through the squeeze. Eventually I was through and I could hear distant voices in the openness below.
I dropped down focusing on the wall in front of me. Turning around was no good anyway as it was pure nothingness. The voices turned from mumbles into words of encouragement as I got closer, and before I knew it my confidence was rising with every meter I fell. Getting to the ground was a relief but deal down I enjoyed myself.
Watching the next person behind me do it was brilliant because I could actually see what I achieved. Seeing this tiny light drop down slowly from the sleaze was really awe inspiring. The feeling of overcoming such a strong fear gave me such a buzz. Looking up I was so proud of myself for doing it!
Once everyone was down we descended even more into the darkness as a group. We crossed a walkway and the line stopped moving. I was third in line and after the two people before me I was clipped in to the zip wire. The walkway ended on a massive ledge and I was told to step forward into the slippery angled limestone. This was awful for me!! Inch by inch would be an exaggeration! I stepped forward millimetre at a time! Once in position bracing myself in this gap I was told to sit back. As I did I was released and shot forward into the black! Awesome!! I didn't scream or shout as I wanted to be brave, I don't think this did me any favours as when I got to the bottom they pulled me back up pretending to be all confused and dropped me again! - Our guides liked trying to scare us with bangs and crashes that echoed in the cave, but they were a great laugh!
After the Zip Wire we were treated with hot chocolate. It was lovely but if i knew it was to warm us up for what was about to happen it wouldn't have been so nice. We jumped off a platform with a rubber dingy into the freezing cave water! Was great fun and we pulled ourselves up stream using a rope. Once we got to the top of the river we turned around, turns our lights off and linked up and floated casually downstream. Gazing up at the thousands of glow worms was like looking up at a clear night sky! Fantastic time! You can see why Sir David Attenborough rates these caves as one of the best places on Earth. Or should I say under it.
After being explained the life span of the glow worm - eat for 9 months, sleep for 2 weeks and get jiggy with it for 3 days- we got out of our floats and walked and ran down stream to our next break point. After some more hot drinks we made our way through some tight squeezes! One was called 'the rebirth'. Such great fun pushing myself to the limit in these caves, so far underground.
After that our trip was coming towards an end, and being 50 meters underground in a water filled cave, there was only one way out...Up!
We got a brief before we did this section. We were told we were climbing waterfalls and that there was an easy route out if anyone wanted to take it. The guide actually said. "It's in my contract that I have to tell you there is another route BUT I can say that that's more for you pussycats". It was on! We were told how to do it, what the dangerous parts were and how we could hurt ourselves but it was fine because it wouldn't hurt 'til the morning!!
The next question was who wanted to go first! I was still loving it so after the pause from everyone else put myself forward straight away! A few more tight squeezes were perfect to get my blood pumping before I went up! Climbing vertically up a flowing waterfall was great! I was told to keep going once I got to the top. Being the first person was amazing! I was all on my own exploring this deep wet darkness!! Sooo much fun!! I waited for the rest of the group with my light off as not to help anyone find their way! Once we were all there we did the last waterfall which was a bit smaller. After 5 hours of being underground we emerged from the caves. The only way I knew we were outside was because there were trees around me. It was still pitch black but the trip was over! I distant want to leave. I could have stayed there all night! What a fantastically brilliant experience that ill never forget!! I conquered so many fears more than once and it meant that I finished up offering to do these things first with no fear at all!! I came out of the ground feeling so proud of myself! The self satisfaction was such a buzz. We got back to the main building where they fed up soup and bagels. Brilliant time - worth every penny and more!
Pictures to follow.