Imported post
'Lets go to Capernwray and do the CCR thing we can go together' Said Andrew
'OK' said I. and we booked our slots.
One thing leads to another and we end up going separately. Its 300.6 miles to Capenwray from my house. Having learnt this fact I umed and arred but thought sod it. It will give me a chance to meet some of the YD mob so lets do it.
My resolve faltered at 4.00am when the alarm went off but I had some of Andrews kit in the car and that forced me to go for it and not to do the sensible thing, which was smash the alarm clock, and go back to bed.
(PC Mark should not read the following bit)
So I left home at 4.30am and I arrived at Capernwray at 8.30 am. Now those of you who are hot on math will note that was rather quick. An average speed of 75mph. What you might be shocked to learn is that I had to stop for petrol on rout as my MR2 only dose 230miles on a full tank.
So with steam poring off my Goodyear F1's I pulled off the M6 at Junction 35. As I did so I noted a BMW with a compressed gas sticker on the back. I figured he was going to Capernwray which was handy coz I didnt know the way. Sure enough he got me right to the gate.
I thanked him and he told me that he had been stopped by the Police and cautioned for having tanks in the car and no Compressed Gas sticker. It invalidates your car insurance apparently?? I pointed out I had two twin sets in the boot of my car and Andys 235 bar set was blown to 265 bar so If I got tail ended I would need a priest not car insurance.
Finally got in the dive centre just after 9. They charged me an additional £7.50 registration fee but informed me that I got a free mid week dive included in that. I didnt bother pointing out that the £120.00 in petrol kind of negated the possibility of me popping up for a cheep dip
I followed the first chap in thinking he would take me to a prime parking spot but the bugger parked up the top miles away from the quarry entrance. I didnt figure this out until after I had signed in and registered by which time the car park was teeming
Then I found a spot vacant near the entrance to the water and I rushed back to the car and used all 245 horsepower to get me in it before any other bugger did.
When I signed in the chap at the desk said
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh so yourrrrrrr Mark Chase
Err Yes I said
Mmmmmmmmmmm he said, I am the chap doing the DIR day your booked on.
I walked away wondering if the course involved nailing me to a cross and building a pyre at me feet.
Then I got to meet Bren and Andy Two Tanks who were just as I had imagined. All bursting with smiles, back slapping, hand shakes that left you needing reconstructive surgery and plans for the next big piss up
Drift wood and Ben, a chap called Chris who indirectly gave me a coffee and there was a lovely bloke with red hair and a big black 4X4 who's name escapes me were there too so it was hi and how are you all round and then we cracked on with the day. I did a mini thing in the Rebreather section about the actual course and diving the unit so I will leave that bit out.
After making a twat of my self on the YBOD I decided that a dive was in order to convince my self I could still do it so Andrew and I popped in for a quick dip.
My clip broke on my Quatros and I thought the dive would be over before it even started but good old Andrew had a spare so we managed to get wet. I liked Capenwray; the big trout made a change from the perch and roach at Stony and the Viz was not tooo bad considering the amount of divers kicking it up. The attractions we found were pretty standard but apparently there is a big boat we missed which sounded better than the Stangarth as you could go inside and investigate the cabins. Andy entertained him self during the dive by trying to balance rocks on the back of my twin set, and I did the usual contortions necessary to do shut down drills.
Andrew was on 18/35 trimix so had an EAD of about 10m above the quarry but it did show how helium racked up the Deco. I showed 45mins NDC diving with the computer set to 21% and he had only 22mins NDC showing on his VR3. We did about 35mins and my circular rout very nearly worked, but not quite.
We got out and de kitted and I found to my disgust someone had nicked the fin strap with the broken clip on the side but had gone to the trouble of taking the broken clip off and leaving that behind
God you cant leave anything laying around can you?
My spirits revived by a top quality Capenwray bacon role and a hearty cup of coffee we said our good byes and headed out for the smoke.
All in all a top day and it was great to finally meet some more of the YD gang.
Role on the next YD gig that’s hopefully less than 300miles away
ATB
Mark Chase
