Confined Spaces

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Today I signed up for Black Water Rafting which is quite different from white water rafting.  Although I wasn't sure if it would be going ahead at seems to have rained non stop since late the previous night.  I actually wasn't in a raft at all, but instead an inner tube from a large tyre.  I donned a 9mm wet suit some funky shorts and white boots and a helmet with a lamp on that is like a miners helmet.
The first test was to jump backwards off a platform (5m) into a sediment filled brown river - think the only reason I managed this was because the instructor - Jenny pulled my ankles back over the edge.  I am sure it was less than a second of falling but it felt like ages.  I managed to inhale some of that lovely water up through my nose which made me cough and spluter for the next five minutes but apart from that it wasn't too bad.  I had passed the test!! 
We were then taken to up the road to the entrance to the underground system of caves that has been carved out of the limestone by slightly acidic rainwater - the geographers should know what I am on about!!  Because of the rain the water levels were pretty high and there seemed to be fast flowing torents flowing into the cave - but that didn't stop our instructors, they said it was a good thing because the water temperature was higher than on previous trips that week.
Trust me to pick the dodgy hard hat, I switched on the lamp, and then people started to stare at me.  Apparently my light had flickered then was starting to smoke - oops...   As I could not see what was going on I didn't seem to distressed but a few others in the group quickly got the hat off my head.
Almost as soon as I crawled into the cave I started to seee the limestone features including stalactites and flowstone that I regularly teach about.  I jumped over waterfalls, swam, slipped, crawled and tubed through underground rivers and caves while gazing at the mesmerizing glow worms hanging from the ceiling.  The best part was when we all had to put out lamps off and find our way out of the cave following the glow worms on the roof of the cave.  Unfortunately I couldn't take any photos as I was not able to find a waterproof camera with a flash - I did get a few postcards though so I can show you all when I get home.
Hopefully the rain will stop as I have got a few activities booked for my next stop which is Taupo (the adventure capital of the North Island)
Will be in touch soon...

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Photos

Caving
Did not get chance to take own photos but check out the website if you are interested in what I was upto http://www.black-water-rafting.co.nz

Black Water Rafting
We sat in lovely black tubes, made a chain and stared at the mesmorising glow worms (maggots) hanging from the cave roofs

Comments

[dad5678]

contacts in NZ
Hi Vikki, love your caving adventure! Granny was on the phone last night saying Alex has phoned a couple of times - he thinks you do not have Janet's phone number and is getting in a bit of a flap! Looks as if they are keen to see you! We will give you the number when you next phone. Lots of love xxxxx mum, dad and the brood

[vikki5678]

Not got the phone number yet
I will give you a phone in the nest few days and get the phone number as I don't have it yet. It has been raining here non-stop for 4 days and my activities have been cancelled. Houses been washed away and there is only one road left open out of here so I might get stuck