Wednesday 17th July 2024

John Cooper. Started at 6pm moving the rocks on the shelf up to the bottom of the entrance shaft. Then moved on down and moved rocks from Boulder Chamber up to the bottom of the entrance shaft. Was just completing this when Jake Baynes and Sam Hill turned up, 7pm. Went back down and handed them the empty bags from Sunday. Left them at the bottom filling the spoil bags and moving rocks along to the bottom of the 10ft climb. I then went out to find Trevor Hughes and Adrian Miles with drills etc. Back down with them and they started drilling holes. Meanwhile Sam and Jake passed rocks and bags of spoil up the 10ft climb. Once all up that the rocks were moved on up in stages to the bottom of the entrance. One unfortunate incident when Jake passed a boulder up to the shelf that disintegrated in John’s hands leaving Jake with a bruised arm from the larger piece (2 house brick size). All the rocks at the bottom of the entrance shaft were then hauled to the surface. There are a few bags of spoil in Boulder Chamber to put behind Pete’s wall next time. Sam then went back down just in time to help carry the drills etc out. The wire, 50m, was only just long enough! The reel was left in just below the lid. Out for 9.30pm. 3½ hours for me. John.

Face before drilling, taken 7 days ago. Photo SH.

A successful bang - a line of long holes to raise the roof ( below the blue line ) and the two water worn flutes on the floor should now be removed, at least for 1/2 m or so. No real draft tonight probably due to building high pressure.
All the tools removed back out of harm’s way including the jammed plug and feather set which became a long shot hole.
The way ahead does look quite promising.
If someone can coil up my wire and leave it on the surface I would be appreciative.
Progress has been good and it was a welcome return to the underground for me.
Adrian’s new toy performed excellently and I’m sure we will see much more of this soon. Trevor.

Sunday 14th July 2024

John Cooper and Roz Simmonds. One mix of cement taken down in two loads. Initially we moved the bags of clatch from the dig face to Boulder Chamber where they were emptied behind Pete’s wall. The cement was then used to build the wall higher. 2 hours. John.

Wednesday 10th July 2024

Mike Kousiounis. Morning. Breaking up rocks then moving them and clatch up to Boulder Chamber. 3 1/2 hours. Mike.

John Cooper. Afternoon. Did 1 mix of cement which I took down in two loads. Met Mike Kousiounis in Boulder Chamber as he was just finishing. Took the opportunity to move some rocks and clatch up the 10ft climb before he left. I then continued wall building on both sides of Boulder Chamber. When I exited I saw Jake Tebbut and Sam Hill pulling up in the car park so left the cave open for them. 2 hours. John.

Sam Hill and Jake Tebbut. Evening. Started by clearing as much clatch as possible which exposed the water worn groves more. Broke up some of these and some other large chunks to make access to dig face easier. Looks like it's gonna need bang now. Big old chunks of rock. Bags stacked higher up and room for more rock as well. Jake took a few pictures and left me to it. A very good cool draft tonight. Enough to almost make it chilly work. 3hrs for me. Sam.

Bottom. Photo SH.

Closer view. Photo SH.

Saturday 6th July 2024

Sam Hill, Mike Kushy and Frank Tully. 

I (Mike) arrived to the dig around 10.30am. Sam was already in moving rocks from the bottom and up the 10ft climb. I moved these rocks further back into the chamber. I then went down to work at the dig face whilst Sam moved rocks up cave. The right hand squeeze was widened first, to a point where I was confident I could get through. I then used the drill to downsize a large rock in the floor and filled the rest of the sacks with clatch. This allowed a view ahead and it looked possible that the squeeze on the right could open up ahead. With this in mind I called up cave to Sam to come down and provide me some moral support whilst I ventured into the unknown. A flat out squeeze which ended up 13ft long. Didn't get into the stuff that you can see down to the left as there's a very long, skinny, flake blocking the way but from the end of the squeeze I could look over into open, solid looking, passage going off. Should be easy enough to remove rock as the big rock above is the beginning of solid bedding. Sam and I then decided time would be best spent clearing the cave out. We started by taking the sacks up cave to empty behind Pete's wall. We met Frank at the chamber (around 12.30). Sam carried on work at the dig face whilst I moved rock up cave and Frank joined Sam for a look at the bottom and also to bring a couple of sacks up. I then went to the surface to haul whilst Frank filled the buckets. This went on until 3pm, estimated 50+ heavy buckets out. All the cave is pretty much cleared of rock, except for several rocks on the shelf above the chamber. Tuska came by just as Sam came up. 4 1/2 hours for me. MK.

Ended session by bagging up a lot of loose muddy stuff. This then revealed the whole of the waterworn grooves. Got to work removing these to allow access to the slab below. Sam.

Dig face 

Friday 5th July 2024

Sam Hill. Good 2.5hrs tonight. Broke up the last two loose boulders. The hole in the floor leads into a tight rift, unfortunately. Then used the rest of the drill battery enlarging the right-hand side. Sam.

Onwards. Photo SH.

Downwards. Photo SH.

Wednesday 3rd July 2024

Afternoon. John Cooper. Took across 4 bags of sand, a bag of cement and some water. Moved rocks up from Boulder Chamber to the bottom of the entrance shaft ready to bring to the surface. Note the entrance gate to the dig enclosure has been secured shut with string. 2 hours. John.

Evening. Sam Hill. Quick session this evening. Started by breaking up the two loose boulders at the end. Smaller one is gone. Moved the remaining chunk of the larger one to a better drilling position. I think straight down is the best option instead of over the top of the slab. More boulders to break up and then looks like we can slide underneath the slab. Filled some spoil bags and moved rocks to the base of 10ft climb.  2hrs. Sam.

Bottom. Photo SH.

The next two boulders to break up got the red dots. Photo SH.