North Head, Revisited "Breathe deeply the scent of a cave. It's odour carries hints of it's mystery. Accept it's cool caress."

My comments recently in this blog about North Head triggered in us the need to return. Here, then, is a new series of pictures that specifically highlights one of the underground areas.

I hadn't yet shown you the actual caves that exist on the island. They were incorporated into the network of tunnels that were dug in support of the gun emplacements.  

Here is an intrepid explorer shining her torch into the darkness as we arrived. You'll notice that there is a well-worn trail entering the cave system by the larger upper hole. The younger members of any expedition usually opt for this head-on approach to exploration, many times dragging along a somewhat less-willing senior member as support and backup.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the hill, a perfectly good man-sized opening exists for those spelunkers with less pliable joints. The tunnel is tall enough here to allow entry standing upright, but I notice that most people bend over just a bit as they do. A psychological thing no doubt.

Once underground, the camera loses definition in the darkness, but I like the effect.  I'll show you a comparison later between using a flash and no flash, with only my headlamp providing the light for the camera. Go to your right up ahead. I see a cave creature of some sort. Let's investigate.

Yeah, it's a little 'scurry' of cavelings.  Completely harmless, but they are known for shining their torches directly in the eyes of adult explorers. Use caution around them. 

As you can see, these caves are visited by all manner of life-forms.

  

We've reached the 'Grand Hall."

We now exit the caves and make our way toward the gun. We're in the upper burrows of the south battery gun emplacement. 

What?  Ok, we'll take one quick peak out of the 'window' and see what's happening back on the 'topside.'   

"All quiet, Sir, no enemy sighted."

Now, back to the business of finding the disappearing gun.  Fortunately for us, it only disappears from the surface world. We'll find it easily enough. "All roads lead to the gun," after all, but lets check the map just to be sure.

Right, it's down this passage way.

Then, around the corner and go toward the light you see ahead. The last two shots shows what it looks like with the flash..oops, we got a deer-in-the-headlights dad peaking out from an ammunition storage locker.

Without the flash, my headlamp provides a much softer look.  It was only candles back in the late 1800's so this is a much more realistic view. Walk into the light....

I found it, grandpa. It is BIG. It is HUGE!

Wow, I know, my eyes too. I'll be able to see without squinting in just a second...that's better.  I wonder what this gun looks like from outside?

Very impressive huh?  Hey, do you see that little covered observation post directly behind the gun and the flagpole, right in front of that couple?  

Yeah, this is it. See the trap-door in the floor?  Well, I've got an idea.  Lets go back underground and find it.

Ok, we're back in the tunnels. We go down through here, and look for a stairway heading up.

That's it, we've found it. Now, can you see if there is a ladder leading upward to a steel trap-door?

There is? Amazing, you've found the trap door leading to the observation post we just saw above the gun. Good work explorer team!              -djf