Rhiannon
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underground unpleasantness
Apr 11, 2015, 19:48
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Further to the strange landscape thread... I saw TSC's comment about Goblin cities here
http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/post/136965/foxhole_slade.html
and it made me laugh. In a kind of unpleasant wriggly way.
Your photo reminded me of somewhere I saw only last night... we'd been outside having a beer in the sunshine, looking over the lovely landscape (very lucky), and as we left I remembered, what with the hills being totally riddled with holes round here, that I'd read there was a quarry entrance opposite the pub. So we wandered across to an obvious path and up to the rock face... threatening cracked lumps of rock overhead, metal prop things, massive concrete blocks, a mangy notice with the cave rescue emergency phone number, and a horrible big dark hole exuding a big cold damp draft of air. Naturally Mr Rh stuck his face in, wielding the feeble light of his phone: 'ooh it must be massive in here, I can't see a thing', but I just didn't even like being near it.
Perhaps this is just straightforward self preservation? But some people actually enjoy caving, so I understand. But something in me absolutely finds the idea of such places just horrible. (Having said that, I've been in show caves and mines. But they're so tidy and sterile).
I wonder if there's an element of Mr Garner in this even. When I was about 9 my teacher and class were so mad on 'The Weirdstone' that we had to enact it in our PE lessons, leaping across imaginary underground chasms in the gym. Maybe the fear stuck.
So, any tales of underground unpleasantness? Or are you all far more brave than I am.
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Emma A
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Re: underground unpleasantness
Apr 11, 2015, 22:10
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That is exactly how I feel about caves too, Rhiannon! I can comfortably go on tours of show caves - nice and tidy, well-lit, with a guide who knows the entire history and the way out - but "wild" caves really really give me the creeps. I can't bear to be near them! And if I come across one unexpectedly, I can't even look at it! It's my one irrational fear.
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tjj
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Edited Apr 11, 2015, 23:32
Re: underground unpleasantness
Apr 11, 2015, 23:17
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I was reminded of this topic while watching 'Secret Britain' - watching smiley Ellie go down into deep caves whilst at the same time admitting to claustrophobia. I could and should never do it as a panic attack would surely ensue.
By chance I caught a R4 programme this morning presented by Robin Ince
Hollow Earth: a travel guide - only about 28mins long.
"Virtually every ancient culture, and most religions worldwide, have shared a belief in some sort of mysterious subterranean world, often inhabited by strange and powerful creatures. To the Greeks and Romans it was Hades. To many early Christians, Hell was conceived as a fiery pit deep in the centre of the earth, a scene most elegantly depicted by Dante in his Inferno...."
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Rhiannon
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Re: underground unpleasantness
Apr 12, 2015, 08:12
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"can't even look at it" - that's ringing a big bell :)
I guess we'll reduce our chances of being eaten by sleepy bears and other large sharp-toothed animals. We're not letting millions of years of evolution go to waste, even if our gut feelings are wasted because Britain's a bit tame these days. If we go abroad somewhere with bears and rabid bats it'll serve us well!
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Rhiannon
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Edited Apr 12, 2015, 08:51
Re: underground unpleasantness
Apr 12, 2015, 08:13
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how apt! That was humorous and interesting, a good overview with lots of things to explore further. No goblins mentioned sadly, but you can't fit everything into half an hour:) I prefer the idea of strange flora and fauna to chaos and UFOs I think.
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thesweetcheat
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Re: underground unpleasantness
Apr 12, 2015, 09:15
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There's always the possibility of being drowned in poo by giant sloths. I seem to recall.
I've not been in many caves. Not sure I can be arsed with the wriggly, hard-hatted, crawly type ones, seems like a lot of effort. But I quite like ones you can get into without too much bending down (bad back you know).
And Paviland is still the most exciting place I've ever been.
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thesweetcheat
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Re: underground unpleasantness
Apr 12, 2015, 09:21
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To be honest, that doesn't sound very appealing. Was this at night? Even less so.
You need a nice spacious cave with a sea view, or something with lots of sparkly crystals. Creaky pit props and dank air isn't really sounding like somewhere I'd want to go.
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tjj
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Edited Apr 12, 2015, 22:23
Re: underground unpleasantness
Apr 12, 2015, 13:53
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Rhiannon wrote: how apt! That was humorous and interesting, a good overview with lots of things to explore further. No goblins mentioned sadly, but you can't fit everything into half an hour:) I prefer the idea of strange flora and fauna to chaos and UFOs I think.
I think I've found some goblins for you Rhiannon Knockers
who inhabited the Cornish tin mines.
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carol27
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Re: underground unpleasantness
Apr 12, 2015, 18:51
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I used to work with a bloke who would work for 6 months or so to save enough money to spend the rest of the year caving and potholing. He told me some hairy stories of squeezing through miniscule tunnels and swimming underwater to reach some underground cavern. He absolutely loved it. I don't feel comfortable even in the lit up tourist places; stalagtites and stalagmites remind me of some of HP Lovecrafts freaky creatures, all slimy and tentacled!
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Emma A
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Re: underground unpleasantness
Apr 13, 2015, 23:48
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I really enjoyed that programme - thanks for posting the link. I wonder how one becomes an inter-species and inter-dimensional telepathic communicator like the lady at the end? That's a skill I'd quite like on my C.V.!
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