Tuesday 7th April 2026

Mike Kushy, Lee Venning and John Cooper. We all met at 17.30. LV down the hole with JC winching and MK bucket carrying, 12 loads cleared. LV had a go at battery chiselling for a while and another 5 buckets brought out, LV said there is lots loose still at the dig face. With time short MK got to drilling for a charge around 1900. 1 whole stick in a 30x450mm hole (at the northern end, slightly higher up the wall to get a rising angle on the drill bit) and 1.6m of 40gm used over another 4 holes in the floor, you could tell the difference clearly on surface. Nearest farmer said he hadn't noticed a thing :) Off site for 2000. Mike.

All photo's by LV.

Spoil from Sunday. Looking North.

Loose stuff ready to come out of the floor.

More loose to chisel.

Sunday 5th April 2026

Mike Kushy and Lee Venning. Installing the platform below ladder. Luckily we had a nice ledge one side so only 1 steel needed on the Western wall. The plank and steel have holes drilled for rebar to be bolted on to secure and also for removal. We also set a charge, 4m of 40gm used, so should be plenty to clear. 3 hours. Mike.

Saturday 4th April 2026

Mike Kushy and Lee Venning. LV down the hole and MK winching we cleared the bang spoil. We also used chisel on the drill and removed a fair bit. 4 hours, Mike.

Sunday 29th March 2026

Mike Kushy, Lee Venning and Trevor Hughes. MK and LV to begin with and no water at the bottom. Started at 10.30. We both took turns with capping kit. It does work but slow progress in the conglomerate. A nice band of pink calcite coming out today. MK winched and LV filled buckets, 10 loads. We then met TH at the pub for lunch and to get materials. MK drilled and set up whilst LV watched. TH wired up the det. All filled and fired fine. Mike.

Friday 20th March 2026

Mike Kushy and John Cooper. Breaker work with MK in the hole and JC winching, 21 buckets cleared. A new hole to the North has been exposed that provides an overflow for the puddle, about 10l of water was bailed into this and it swallowed the lot. More breaker work to be done. 2 1/2 hours. Mike.

Drain Hole in Floor. Photo MK.

Friday 27th February 2026

John Cooper and Mike Kousiounis. Still warm, 10°C, but overcast and showers. Kushy at the bottom and John hauling. 30 loads of spoil and 2 loads of water hauled out. Breaker work next. Current depth 12.35m. 1½ hours. John.

Photos of floor looking North.

Detail. Photo MK.

For Scale. Photo MK

Tuesday 24th February 2026

John Cooper and Mike Kousiounis. Warm, 12°C and sunny, with little wind. John at the bottom with the breaker to start, with Kushy hauling. After the third breaker session John came up and Mike went to the bottom to clear. Then he continued with the breaker. Total loads for the day was 29. Finally holes drilled and destroyed. Should be more spoil ready for clearing next session. The bottom rung on the ladder is now nearly 2m off the floor making getting on and off quite interesting! 4½ hours. John.