Vince, Nick, Brockers, Jake, Jon, and Tav
My plan was to get to the cave early, drill boulder and reduce with plugs and feathers, and place some thick plastic strips (from warehouse-type access) over the ‘bone’ bearing deposit for protection while overburden is removed. It almost went to plan!
At the cave early but once underground it was immediately obvious the cave was exceedingly wet. There was a small stream flowing out of the Merlin’s area to the pot, and another stream flowing from the NE passage in the Soft South also into the pot. Throughout the accessed cave there was a continuous drip of water from the walls/roof with standing water and deeper pools, one of the pools occupied by a palmate newt. Up the NE passage, over the hump, wade through the deep pool in Trick or Treat and up, over and descent to the current dig where, disappointingly, a deep pool had formed – the bone-bearing deposit mostly under water! No digging was going to be possible here today. I’d dragged the drill/plugs and feathers this far so partially reduced the obstinate boulder until battery power was all used up. The team had arrived, a discussion took place, and digging was moved back to Can of Worms for today. I stayed for a little longer to get the protection in place in the SE ‘alcove’ area.
The stockpile of rocks had been removed to the surface, so I followed them out to join Jake. The rest of the team digging in Can of Worms. On the surface walls were constructed, bags were emptied, and it was pleasantly warm in the sunshine, a contrast to the deluge of the morning’s earlier hours!
25 bags were filled, hauled, and emptied (progress is not so easy in Can of Worms) plus 25 loads of rocks added to the spoil heap wall(s). All done, time to leave, and get some refreshment at the Hunters’ Lodge Inn, a bit earlier than usual.