Caving in the Philippines – # 1 getting there

Posted on January 11, 2017 by marilyn

Sydney > Manila > Tacloban (Leyte Island) > Catbalogan (Samar Island) – 10 & 11 January 2017
When MSS President, Jim C, asked if anyone wanted to go caving with him in the Philippines, it was too good an opportunity to pass up.  So, I booked my flight to Tacloban and Jim, who knows his way around the Philippines (after a few trips over there), did the organising … two caving trips on Samar.  Jim’s sister-in-law, Monique, was to join us on the 12th January for the 2nd caving trip. Continue reading →

Posted in Caving, MSS, Philippines | 3 Comments

Superfood substitute for nut bars

Posted on January 5, 2017 by marilyn

I am so over nut bars when I’m out on a trip.  Yes, they’re easy, but the only ones that I like are full of sugar and don’t deliver much bang for your buck.  Jenny H visited me a while ago and brought along some Sesame Balls that she’d made, talk about delicious!  So, I thought I’d make some up, but also give dehydrating the mix a go (I figured it might be like Italian Biscotti). Continue reading →

Posted in Recipes | 5 Comments

A hidden gem

Posted on January 1, 2017 by marilyn

Newnes Plateau – 1st January 2017
Ever since I’d read Rod’s trip report in the MSS magazine about a canyon on the Newnes plateau, I’d wanted to do it.  So I paired it with Death Trap (also on my wish list), and put them on the MSS calendar.  It helped that Rod said he’d go along so I didn’t have to navigate!  Trish, Rod, Jim and I rocked up to the campsite on Friday afternoon, joining Jo, Ed and Heather who’d been at Mt Wilson over the Boxing Day to NY break.  We went off to do Death Trap on the Saturday, drank champagne on New Years Eve and then set off Sunday morning for our canyon. Continue reading →

Posted in Canyoning, MSS | 5 Comments

Death Trap* – Another canyon off the wish list

Posted on December 31, 2016 by marilyn

Death Trap (aka Sheepdip) 31 December 2016
Death Trap* is one of those canyons that has only gained popularity in the last year or so, even though I knew about it, there were so many other canyons on the Newnes Plateau that I’d always overlooked it.  If I’d known that you could also do a bit of caving, I would have done it sooner than this!  As I was going up there for the weekend I paired it with another canyon on the Sunday.  Jim, Rod and Trish joined me for Death Trap.  Continue reading →

Posted in Canyoning, MSS | 10 Comments

Working off the Christmas feast!

Posted on December 27, 2016 by marilyn

Yileen – 27 December 2016
MSS has a tradition of liloing the Wollangambe on Boxing Day so I decided to support the Club by joining in, plus Jeff B and I wanted to do Yileen Canyon again so I scheduled that for the following day.  The Wollangambe was a great success and we abseiled the final (usually overlooked) cliff at Yileen so all round it was a good weekend.  Ordinarily this wouldn’t be blog-worthy but as you’ll see, the Wollangambe was a different trip to what I expected and in Yileen we had an unwanted encounter.

Continue reading →

Posted in Canyoning, MSS | 6 Comments