Starring:- Anne, Andy, Dave, Evan, Guy, Jenny, Jont, Julian, Martin, Nick, Pete, Rob, Rod & Carole, Steve E-S, Steve P, William.

Also appearing are the ARSIP Committee.

Transport by courtesy of sundry club members and diverse and infrequent French motorists.

Wine was supplied by the café at Licq; Carbide Spares by Steve (Where's my pricker?) Elwell-Sutton; Berets by the little man in the shop at Tardets. The specialist on stomach disorders was Rob Shackleton.

Rod appears by arrangement with Carole. Nick Reckert just appears. We are indebted to R.Gomez Esq. for stories of mythical rivers in Betçula. Note that Betzula and Betçula are the same place; the one spelling is Basque, the other French.

The action took place over a wide area, but we did have a base camp a Licq. We had intended to base ourselves at St. Engrace, but it was already overcrowded with a multinationality of cavers. Besides, it was a long way from the pub. Later we removed to the plateau at Arette Pierre St. Martin. The weather was quite kind to us - until we moved up to the plateau, whereupon the elements combined to yield some impressive electric displays round the high peaks, and a residual dampness settled around us.

The diary below looks quite complete; but it was in fact Shift Caving - while some caved others in fact rested, visiting fêtes and chateaux (Culture!) and even climbing mountains.

Diary:-

Wed 8th

Prospecting above Betçula

Thurs 9th

Betçula; Antchuloguiako Lecia (It didn't go)

Fri 10th

Betçula - Long Round Trip; CUCC 5

Sat 11th

Betçula; CUCC 6 found.

Sun 12th

CUCC 6

Mon 13th

Betçula; Prospecting in Les Bourruges

Tues 14th

Baratchegagnako found

Wed 15th

Betçula

Thurs 16th

Betçula; Baratchegagnako.

Fri 17th

Betçula; Baratchegagnako; Grotte d'Orhy (Very silly cave to get to); Resurgence below Betçula.

Sat 18th

Prospecting above Betçula; Baratchegagnako (Surveying).

Sun 19th

Betçula; Fête in Tardets.

Mon 20th

P.S.M.

Tues 21st

Betçula; CUCC 7; CUCC 3 found. Aaaghh....

Wed 22nd

CUCC 3.

Thurs 23rd

CUCC 3.

Fri 24th

CUCC 3 (Detackling).

Sat 25th

The same continued.

Sun 26th

Jacque's Dig.

Mon 27th

Back to beer, and fish & chips.

NB. All dates are of August 1973.

P.S. Evan wasn't really there: the inclusion of his name in the expedition diary is in deference to his presidential office.