Eds Bet
Ed Ford and Mike Wise entered WR at 1830. We took 2 drills, batteries, plug and feathers and a crowbar. Got to Eds Bet which looked to be fairly sketching digging. EF started by removing some sizable blocks from the floor working above 2 larger blocks. Some of the removed blocks had holes on the sides from the 12g bang of the Up&Over Boulder - one of the bigger ones brutally attacked one of MWs fingers whilst being wrestled into its storage location 😢.
Once a bit of loose fill had been removed, it was clear there was a drop below taking some time for loose rocks to fall and a flowstone covered vertical fault wall was visible.
EF asked MW to take a look to ensure he didn't bring the roof down on him. MW then took a turn removing some of the spoil and a few loose rocks threatening to drop on anyone venturing below the the 2 larger blocks. The drop below became more visible but all looked reasonably stable considering.
We swapped again and EF went below the two larger blocks. Down here there is sizable space between the bedding. Some overly large rocks were lifted out before the whole floor became quite unstable. Careful footing was required at this point and MW requested that EF refrain from getting sucked down into a loose rock funnel as it was nearing pub time. All the rock was removed bar one which was far bigger than could be lifted. To this point we hadn't used the P&F and decided we didn't have time to retrieve the hammer from Tea Party. EF instead opted to remove the keystone holding it and drop it. It dropped a couple of inches onto a shelf also exposing a body sized hole. EF headed through the hole to explore the new bit before heading out reaching the surface at 2100 for a celebratory pint and a cheese&onion roll. The new bit looks promising and is not fully explored - we will be back. It is still a 2 caver job.
2.5 hours
Ed Ford and Mike Wise
