Summary

An adventurous grandmother and her grandson embark on a challenging cave tour at Jenolan Caves, Australia, which unexpectedly leads to a profound personal revelation about the experience of birth.

Abstract

The narrative recounts the unexpected adventure of a grandmother who, without reading the fine print, books a cave tour for herself and her grandson at Jenolan Caves. The tour, which turns out to be an extreme caving experience involving abseiling, crawling, and squeezing through tight spaces, pushes the grandmother out of her comfort zone. Despite initial doubts from the guides and her own injury during the abseil, she perseveres, drawing strength from her grandson's encouragement. The journey through the cave's narrow passages, particularly the last and most difficult 'S bend', triggers a deep emotional response, reminding her of the birthing process and prompting reflections on her background in midwifery and the impact of traumatic births on individuals' lives. The experience leaves her with a sense of achievement and a renewed appreciation for the profound impact of one's birth experience.

Opinions

The grandmother initially overlooks the details of the tour's challenges, highlighting a tendency to skim over important information.
The tour guides initially underestimate the grandmother's capability to complete the tour due to her age and appearance.
The grandmother's determination is fueled by a desire to not let her grandson down and to prove the guides wrong.
The presence of a crocodile wrangler and a professional skydiver on the tour, both expressing fear, underscores the intensity and unexpected nature of the adventure.
The grandmother's epiphany in the cave about the birthing process suggests a belief in the transformative power of experiences that mirror life's fundamental challenges.
The grandmother's background in midwifery and hypnotherapy provides her with a unique perspective on the psychological impact of birth, which is reinforced by her cave tour experience.
Despite the physical and emotional challenges, the grandmother expresses gratitude for the adventure, indicating that unexpected experiences can lead to valuable insights and personal growth.

DO YOU KNOW HOW YOU WERE BORN?

THE PLUGHOLE ADVENTURE THAT OPENED THE DOOR

Jenolan Caves in Australia are known as the world’s largest, most spectacular, most outstanding cave systems in the world.

I had taken my grandson on a couple cave tours, which he loved.

The cavernous chambers open to breath-taking marvels, where one can take time to stroll or be seated and get lost in the extraordinary beauty.

School holidays came around and I booked another tour. Grandson was excited.

Now I don’t know about you but I NEVER read the fine print on anything!

I know, I know!

All I noticed in the promo for this particular cave tour was ‘FUN and ADVENTURE’.

Perfect. Grandson will love this.

Click, book, pay, DONE

On arrival we were ushered onto a small bus and transported to a tin shed, where I was advised the tour would start.

Entering the shed (small office) we met 2 tour guides. Crusty old (? 50’s), rugged looking cavers. Two other young men (20 something?), long, lean, fit looking.

Perhaps I should describe myself. Professional, business owner — NO! wait, today I am Grandmother, short, healthy, grey hair with a gentle softening of the face.

Tour guides looked me up and down, noted child and immediately advised I must be in the wrong place.

I quickly showed them the paperwork. Confirmed this was correct the tour.

Guide 1 — “do you realise what you are in for?” seemed a bit alarmist

Guide 2 — “have you abseiled before?” WHAT? Nooooooo!

They sat me down and proceeded to describe what was going to unfold.

It involved overalls, helmet, approx.3.5 hrs of crawling on our bellies………

Apparently this is obvious in the ‘fine print’!

Which I did read — the following day:

Face a unique challenge! Get dirty, abseil, squeeze, crawl and climb deep into the heart of the mountain, with only a headlamp to light your way. Feel the excitement! Emerge with a brand new swagger and that special exhilaration that only authentic adventure can provide.

Once they stopped talking I rose to my full height of 152cms. And declared ‘sounds awesome’!!!!

Signing paperwork, disclaimers etc., grandson, who had remained silent throughout, although pupils appeared slightly dilated and mouth open, pointed to the word ‘death’ on the form. Casual and dismissive, I advised all forms say that!

I knew exactly what these 4 men were thinking. (she will not be able to manage this)

If only they knew this was a red rag to a bull situation.

Next piece of advice — there is only one way in and one way out. We cannot turn around and go back.

O.K. — what else could I say at this point.

We were all dressed and ready.

Instructions were being given about the abseil down to the cave entrance.

The two young men on the tour were very quiet. I was curious about their day job?

Turns out one wrestles crocodiles for a living (I’m not joking) and the other is a professional sky diver. Well, this should be easy for them.

But not so.

After revealing they were both ‘very’ scared, I made a mental note to ALWAYS READ THE FINE PRINT for future adventures and checked my own anxiety levels.

Hmmm!!! I was excited and wanted to reassure my grandson of adventure, fun, and perfectly safe.

Instructions given for the abseil. Guide asked ‘who wants to go first’? and I just found myself stepping quickly up to the plate, because maybe, just maybe the only other option was to run away.

Down I went. Exhilarating and an achievement.

With an obvious bleeding arm, seeping through the overalls.

Ouch!

Guide spoke bluntly and firmly. “you didn’t listen to the instructions of how to hold your arms”. When we are in the cave you MUST listen so you can pass on the exact instructions to the person following you.

O.K. GOT IT. Lesson learned.

We crawled, single file, breathing and tasting soft red dirt as we inched our way through, down, deep, deep, down, until I was sure we had arrived at the bottom of the earth.

Crouching on all fours, listening carefully to the instructions about how to enter the next space. I did not understand how my body could fit through an impossibly small, jagged rock opening. We were told how to manoeuvre our body to be successful at the squeeze. One person at a time. Guides went through first, making sure the next person repeated the instructions he would then pass on down the line.

Each squeeze heralded a great achievement. Progress was slow. For me, always waiting on the ‘other side’ was my small grandson with a beaming smile and alert, alive eyes, only seen in children. That smile warmed my heart and focussed my attention.

Finally we had arrived at the last space to navigate.

AND this was the most difficult. Instruction: ‘It is an S bend. Take it slowly and find your rhythm to gently direct your body. Remember to breathe!’

The crocodile wrangler and I were last to face this challenge.

Entering the space was not easy. I could feel the earth pressing on my belly. Each time I tried to move, I couldn’t. I felt so stuck. I was aware of my upper body but could not see where my lower body was. Stuck around a corner somewhere. The rock was bearing down on my chest. For the first time in my life I felt panicked. There was no sign of any life at either end of this bend.

My mind felt weird, out of place, disconnected. Where am I? More panic. I couldn’t breathe. I am going to die. I don’t know what to do. I have no control. It is so black in here.

I am in the birth canal, trying to be born. I am so frightened and there is no-one to help.

Suddenly a shaft of light appeared from way down the other end. And a voice “Your stuck in there, aren’t you?” followed by a calm, reassuring tone “you are O.K., just need to move your body this way and then that way to ease yourself around and out. I couldn’t breathe, the crushing pressure from the rock was surely going to pierce my lungs. The calm voice continued. I was grateful that it didn’t stop. Monotone, reassuring, calm (he should be a therapist!)

I finally emerged.

I don’t know how.

And all I could see was that wonderful smile.

Children know how to smile — freely.

Excitement, exhilaration, exhaustion (not the child), and proud of my achievement.

How we enter the world is a profound imprint which stays with us forever.

I have a background in midwifery.

As a Hypnotherapist I see many women who have experienced traumatic births. I help heal that deep wound for Mum, baby and Dad.

If we don’t heal, the deep trauma can impact many areas of our life.

Clearly this cave experience was a profound trigger for me. That last bend being almost identical to the shape, twists and turns a baby must navigate from inside to outside.

It wasn’t called THE PLUGHOLE CAVE for nothing!

P.S. if I’d read the fine print I probably wouldn’t have booked. So pleased I did.