M4A 23 ADL into drains and spooky s***...
I'm Xavier (Not my real name, but I use it online everywhere) from Adelaide, live in Glenelg area.
Decided to sign up here after aaaages procrastinating. I tried getting in touch with the Clan a few years back but got nothing, but researched a bit an found the general opinion that it's best not to show too much to newbies too soon, to protect the better finds from overuse and unwanted attention. Which is fair enough, and I didn't think too much on it.
Till now, at least. I've renewed my interest in the deep dark secrets of underground Adelaide. I'm pretty sure I've figured out the way to Darkies and the St Peters twins - haven't been there yet cos I want to go with some friends/not alone - and I've tied up with a friend that sometime we'd like to check out the mushroom tunnels but it seems it just keeps getting secured again - testament indeed to the importance of keeping secrets secret. Same with the Gallerie Club, I heard it was magnificent but the latest update says it's all sealed up now. Sigh. I snuck down electra house when it was open as the Tuxedo cat, would love to get in there again too.
Hoping soon to get to Eli's tomb, and Cafe Dianetics. No idea where they are (Well, I have a suspicion but it's only vague and would take a lot of searching) but maybe if an event comes up I might get lucky. Pretty sure it'll take a lot of time and trust to get to the good stuff though, so here's the first stp - I look forward to getting out there with some of you soon.
Nice to have you on the forum
So, seeing as how I'm yet to really explore much, and you all have been around a bit, what would you suggest as a good one for a newbie to take a look at with friends (Not that you're advocating I actually do so)? Taking proper precautions, of course, the old rain=no drains, watch for changes in water, etc.
I thought darkies might be a good start, seems easy enough to access (Assuming I have the right spot, chortle chortle) and it has some good reviews.
Or would it really really be best if I wait until a tour is available and do it then? I'm keen but work/study makes weekends a bit hard sometimes.
Looks like Adelaide is heating up a bit lately - 2nd new member this week!
There's a few lads active down that way on here, I'm sure they'll make themselves known soon enough.
Check out the Adelaide random meetup thread, you might be able to gather some interest there too.
As for waiting for a tour - that's up to how confident/safe you feel doing these things. Always best to have someone with you I reckon.
And as always - Have fun!
I'd recommend
You seem responsible, and know the basics.
-Yep; rain, no drains.
Adelaide weather is notoriously unpredictable, and prone to flash flooding.
Check forecasts, radar, and take no chances.
-Go with at least 1 other. Obviously more is safer.
-Make sure someone who is not going knows where you'll be and for how long.
- Take a backup torch, and a backup for your backup (yo dawg)
I've had to find my way out of a site by feel for a few hundred meters.
Not much fun lol.
And always - Pics, or it didn't happen
Takes some mastering in low light though.
Adelaide CC has started heating up again lately with some great work from Piz (CC) and Fawn (CC and on here). A newbies expo was mentioned on here a month or so ago and 30 odd people rocked up. We did Adelaide Darkie, St Peters Twins and Zorgas. Bugger hey? If there's another one coming up over the next few weekends I'm sure it'll end up on here. Piz and Fawn are really inclusive and are happy to grow the Adelaide scene, especially for sensible and chilled people. About 10 of us did Cafe D last weekend among others.
You can see some pics of other places you mention, such as Eli's, Gallerie, and Electra but also more places on here that guys like myself have posted over the last few months, so you can see there's a few of us doing that stuff too. I know a couple other guys on here are keen to hang out so I'm sure they'll make themselves known.
You could wait to do some of the simpler drains or could use your noggin and go with a mate and follow the suggestions of Nuggs and Dynamite. St Peters Twins would be my recommendation as your first easy one. All the pics you see of mine are taken on an iPhone4S so unless you have a Nokia brick then your phone should do the trick.
Jaffs on CC and Jaffs01 on Flickr
"urbex is not for tourists......its for adventurers" DeScent (RIP)
"urbex is not for tourists......its for adventurers" DeScent (RIP)
Mastering indeed, what's your trick? No flash at the very least I'm guessing.Nuggs wrote:Sure, iPhone is all I've ever used!
Takes some mastering in low light though.
Jaffs on CC and Jaffs01 on Flickr
"urbex is not for tourists......its for adventurers" DeScent (RIP)
"urbex is not for tourists......its for adventurers" DeScent (RIP)
Yeah I have the flash on, but it's not that good.Jaffs wrote:Mastering indeed, what's your trick? No flash at the very least I'm guessing.
I always wear a good headlamp, but use my bright spare torch as well when taking pics.
All my low light pics are post-processed (brightness, contrast etc) before uploading.
I now have a long exposure app, which I havent been able to try out yet. Just need to get some kind of tripod iPhone holder to utilise it!
St Peters is in the same area... sooort of... so I might hit that (those) up first then. I'll chat to the mate and see what he thinks.
I think you should do ones you can walk in one end and out other like St Peters or Darkie rather than needing to pop out a manhole or gutterbox without ever having done that before. Plenty of topside stuff you can find and do with your mates until something comes up on here. I was going hell for leather in January but I'm back at work now so things are slower for me at least.
Jaffs on CC and Jaffs01 on Flickr
"urbex is not for tourists......its for adventurers" DeScent (RIP)
"urbex is not for tourists......its for adventurers" DeScent (RIP)