Vince, Brockers, Jake, Nick, Jon, Tav, and Mike
An earlier start for me, drill/plugs and feathers packed. Arrived at the farm, chatted briefly with the farmer, got the key from the shed, changed and walked across fields to the cave.
Once underground set off to Can of Worms and got to work removing a calcite obstruction that was impeding the ‘free-flow’ of the skip when being hauled. Just finished off as the team arrived. I was surprised to find we had a full compliment of men for this session. A quick discussion resulted in Brockers, Jake, and Nick heading off to AUD to continue the digging there while Mike joined me in scratching around in Can of Worms, it’s not exactly inspiring in here at this moment. Tav and Jon removed spoil to the base of the entrance, including the debris I had earlier created.
At 11:00 it was time for me to go (attending Mendip Rocks Lectures at the Earth Science Centre, Stoke St. Michael, and very good they were too!), so no idea what happened after that. Although as I was leaving Jake had returned from AUD with many bags and was busy hauling them out of the pot with Jon on the ledge, Tav at the base of the entrance.
Hopefully an additional report will be forthcoming…
Jon later provided the following account:
“Summer is over. Mike returned to the fold. A full team of seven met at the farm for today’s events.
As usual, Vince arrived early. His aim for the day was to break up a boulder to ease the skip run into Can Of Worms. Having achieved this, he left early.
Mike dug in Can of Worms, initially assisted by Tav and Vince. The rest of the Team went on to the further dig site, where a recent connection was made into the known cave around An Unexpected Development. Brockers dug while Nick and Jake explored known cave. Jon started moving the spoil out. When the explorers returned, Nick assisted Brockers; Jake and Jon hauled bags of spoil back to the Soft South. Tav then moved to the surface and started hauling supported by Jon from the bottom of the entrance. Within Can Of Worms, the left and right sides are now both solid. A decision is needed concerning breaking through the calcite floor. At the other site, Brockers dug to the left of the constriction; this continues.
The Team’s efficiency dropped off towards the end of the session; the bag count during the last hour was notably low. Sixty bags of spoil were removed.
Jake returned The Key to its rightful place. The Team then retired to a local hostelry for light refreshments.”