With Brockers, Jake, and Nick
Arrived at the farm early only to remember that my key to the cave was in my car and that was at the garage! And I could not find the spare key. Nothing for it but to get changed and wait for the others to turn up. Jake soon directed me to the key, and I went up to HR.
Opened the gate, moved some stones onto the wall, a replacement pulley was installed (although it was of dubious quality and there were some doubts about whether it would survive the session!) and when the team had assembled at the cave, underground. Can of Worms would be today’s destination – me and Brockers digging, Nick and Jake shifting the spoil out to the surface.
The digging was concentrated on the southernmost side, and it is hard work. The sediment is quite compact and has dried ‘rock-hard!’ A variety of picks, mattocks, and bars were employed in an effort to loosen the sediment. A ‘new’ small pick supplied by Nick was useful as it was sharp, and as ever, the ice-pick was effective. We ended up with one loosening the spoil while the other filled bags and loaded the skip to the support crew. At the end of the session 76 bags were filled, hauled, and emptied plus a few rocks added to the pile. The forecast heavy rain did not happen for which we were thankful.
As ever, refreshments at the Hunters’