I think the sign says 'be careful'

@JudyEv (326432)
Rockingham, Australia
July 25, 2017 3:02am CST
Here’s another sign which is quite graphic. This one is in the area of the Grotte de Dargilan, a cave in the Grands Causses area of France. This is a very rugged area with incredible gorges. The road winds its way up the side of the mountain and I should have counted the number of hairpin bends we encountered. It was a lot anyway. We toured the cave with a guide and had a brief English description of various parts on a sheet of paper. We walked down quite steep paths but they were well built and despite the steepness we were never in danger of slipping. Then, at one part, the guide made sure everyone understood that we now had 200 steps down into the lower part and some 120 back up later in the tour. Everyone was okay with that so off we went. But the guide lied! I practised counting in French (under my breath) to take my mind off the steps and I thought there were 210. I’ll have more on the cave later. It was certainly very interesting and impressive but I have to say I think our West Australian ones are just as good.
18 people like this
15 responses
M.-L.
@MALUSE (69409)
• Germany
25 Jul 17
People who make selfies all the time are especially endangered.
9 people like this
hereandthere
@hereandthere (45651)
• Philippines
25 Jul 17
unfortunately yes and it still keeps happening.
1 person likes this
M.-L.
@MALUSE (69409)
• Germany
25 Jul 17
@hereandthere Do you pity them? I don't
2 people like this
M.-L.
@MALUSE (69409)
• Germany
25 Jul 17
@hereandthere Human stupidity is boundless.
Anna
@LadyDuck (459722)
• Switzerland
25 Jul 17
It literally says "Danger cliffs - Be Careful". Those steps can be pretty dangerous in case of high humidity or light rain, no matter if they are "only" 200 or 210.
6 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326432)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Jul 17
The 200 steps were inside the cave and were damp but for some reason they didn't seem slippery at all. Almost all the way there were handrails too which were helpful.
1 person likes this
Anna
@LadyDuck (459722)
• Switzerland
25 Jul 17
@JudyEv Handrails are very helpful, we installed also inside the house.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326432)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Jul 17
@LadyDuck In Australia, many, many houses don't have a second storey so handrails aren't so important.
1 person likes this
Just an Ordinary Owl?
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
25 Jul 17
Can I suggest that you got muddled in the late 70s or late 90s when (after 60 and 80) you have to start counting in twenties!? "Quatre-vignt dix-huit" is a heck of a mouthful for '98'! I thought that 'Falaise' was just a town name (the birthplace of William the Conqueror) but it means 'cliff' (Is that a falling Sir Richard?), so the warning to 'take care' (or 'be prudent') is apposite!
2 people like this
Just an Ordinary Owl?
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
26 Jul 17
@JudyEv We all have our own private ways of torturing ourselves! Mine is to count backwards from 100 - or some other random starting point - in 7's (I do it in English, though!).
1 person likes this
Fiacre Banks
@xFiacre (12640)
• Ireland
25 Jul 17
@JudyEv The 4-20-19 was settled on to irritate the life out of foreigners. It worked .
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326432)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Jul 17
You're probably right - about getting muddled! Mostly progress was quite slow and I was able to keep up relatively well with my counting. I find the 'quarantes' and 'cinquantes' difficult to get my tongue around too. And fancy saying '4-20-19' for 98! It's a bit absurd. When I can't sleep I count in tens, then go through the days of the weeks, the months, then I do them backwards. I haven't tried counting backwards from 100 though. Maybe tonight.
1 person likes this
Shavkat
@Shavkat (137238)
• Philippines
25 Jul 17
I think we need to be careful and not to go to the edge of the cliff.
2 people like this
Shavkat
@Shavkat (137238)
• Philippines
25 Jul 17
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326432)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Jul 17
I think you're right!!
1 person likes this
hereandthere
@hereandthere (45651)
• Philippines
25 Jul 17
it's reassuring that the steep paths were well built. i'm okay going up, but going down any steps, even inside buildings, i tend to hold on to handrails or walls.
3 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326432)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Jul 17
There were handrails almost all the way inside the cave. My balance isn't the best any more so I always try to hang on to something.
1 person likes this
Dollar Boy
@dollaboy (6048)
•
25 Jul 17
Description is the key, Even a illiterate person can know what they intend to say
3 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326432)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Jul 17
That's very true. It's pretty obvious isn't it?
1 person likes this
Dollar Boy
@dollaboy (6048)
•
26 Jul 17
@JudyEv that's well though of one
snowy
@snowy22315 (170754)
• United States
25 Jul 17
Wow, you are on quite the trip aren't you? One of the most well known caves in the East is not too far from here,,Luray Caverns. I have been there a few times, but it is expensive to tour it, Unless you are a resident of that county it is over 20.00. There is only one commercial cavern here in VA that I want to go to..as I have been to the others.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326432)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Jul 17
We have some lovely caves at Jenolan in the Eastern States but the ones in West Australia are also very beautiful.
rebelann1949
@rebelann (111312)
• El Paso, Texas
26 Jul 17
You're brave, I wouldn't have gone into that cave. I don't like that many stairs either, I think I'm becoming a little unsteady
1 person likes this
rebelann1949
@rebelann (111312)
• El Paso, Texas
27 Jul 17
I feel the same way @JudyEv and people say you're only as old as you feel, right?
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326432)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Jul 17
My balance isn't nearly as good as it once was. I like a handrail now if possible.
1 person likes this
Alfredo Rossi
@amadeo (111948)
• United States
25 Jul 17
not only that but slippery if it rain or wet there.Careful
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326432)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Jul 17
The interior of the cave was very damp and only 10C so quite cold. They would lend you jumpers at reception if you didn't have one.
Marie
@Tampa_girl7 (49167)
• United States
25 Jul 17
That sign would certainly get my attention.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326432)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Jul 17
It doesn't leave much to the imagination does it?
SHOHANA
@SHOHANA (16094)
• Bangladesh
11 Aug 17
we shouldn't be selfie maniac, now people facing different problems for it
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326432)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Aug 17
I can't understand why people want to take so many selfies of themselves. They must be much prettier than I am.
DianneN
@DianneN (247219)
• United States
25 Jul 17
I've been in many caves, all dangerous if you ask me. The further down one goes, the more slippery the steps. Going back up is not much fun either.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326432)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Jul 17
It's surprising sometimes how far down you go. And, of course, you then have to come back up.
Scott Ganschow
@teamfreak16 (43419)
• Denver, Colorado
25 Jul 17
I've only toured one cave, but it was really cool.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326432)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Jul 17
They're amazing aren't they? We have some beauties in Western Australia too.
1 person likes this
Scott Ganschow
@teamfreak16 (43419)
• Denver, Colorado
25 Jul 17
@JudyEv - It's a really neat experience.
1 person likes this
Kandase
@Kandae11 (53698)
•
25 Jul 17
Caves can be fascinating, but I am so very claustrophobic I won't go into one.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326432)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Jul 17
We walked through a few very narrow sections so I don't think you would have liked it at all.
John Roberts
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
25 Jul 17
The image pretty much says it all!
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326432)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Jul 17
That's true. The words don't add a lot!
1 person likes this