The Grand Tour

[Rick Palm]

Grand conditions greeted us for the Grand Tour of Peacock Springs yesterday, March 24. Our foursome, which included Craig Walters, got off to a false start as I ran the reel to the wrong entrance (the deep entrance) at Orange Grove Sink. We quickly moved over to the correct entrance and we were on our way. Visibility was crystal clear as we swam the first leg of the tour to Challenge Sink. After a brief rest and re-calculation of thirds there, we swam the second leg to Olsen Sink, rested once more, did the math again, and took it on home via the Pothole line to the exit at Peacock #1. We did not see a single soul on the entire tour, and enjoyed perfect conditions: Peacock was in full splendor.

Postscript: Ironically, after navigating almost a mile of underwater cave passages, one of our team (who shall remain nameless) got briefly lost trying to drive his car out of the park!

Orange Grove Sink to Challenge Sink: 1800’ in 40 minutes, 77 cu. ft. EAN32 consumed.
Challenge Sink to Olsen Sink: 1400’ in 30 minutes, 51 cu. ft. consumed.
Olsen Sink to Peacock Sink via the Pothole line: 1400’ in 30 minutes, 51 cu. ft. consumed.

[Sludge]

Grand Tour?

The Mile Run!

The Grand Tour was always in the Devil System (to Junction Rock, right up the White Room Line, left through the Big Room to the Maple Leaf, and out the Main Line).

I've heard the Orange Grove to Peacock 1 traverse called the Grand Traverse, but as my instructor called it the Mile Run, so do I!

Incidentally, he wouldn't issue you your Cave card until you did the Mile Run.

[JahJahwarrior]

So...what is it called when you go P1 to Orange Grove, then back?

[Rick Palm]

Good point, but I like the name "Grand Tour" better because it seems to me to be more applicable to the Peacock system: You are really taking the grand tour of the major, central, most popular part of the system. Plus, "Grand Traverse" lacks the poetry that befits it. Your "Grand Tour" in the Devil's system, while historic, is today only a very small part of that system, and as such, would be an anachronism. My two cents worth anyway (or in this economy, probably only worth one cent).

Let's change the name of the "Grand Traverse" of Orange Grove Sink to Peacock Sink to "The Grand Tour."

[FW]

So...what is it called when you go P1 to Orange Grove, then back?

A rebreather dive?

[Sludge]

Come on Forrest, I can make it from Orange Grove to Peacock 1 on an AL80. Doing the out-and-back is most certainly doable on doubles.

[FW]

Come on Forrest, I can make it from Orange Grove to Peacock 1 on an AL80. Doing the out-and-back is most certainly doable on doubles.

So, what would you call it? The Two Mile Run

[JahJahwarrior]

Was Peacock once a dry cave? I had to swim without fins on in Full Cave class, which is probably close to running underwater, and that was not nearly as enjoyable as swimming.

[UCFKnightDiver]

Was Peacock once a dry cave? I had to swim without fins on in Full Cave class, which is probably close to running underwater, and that was not nearly as enjoyable as swimming.

hmm running ehh? with fins what would it be, like bicycling?

[Walter Pickel]

Come on Forrest, I can make it from Orange Grove to Peacock 1 on an AL80. Doing the out-and-back is most certainly doable on doubles.

But not on 1/3s....