Sunday 28th September 2025

Mike Kushy, Hollie London, Adrian Miles and John Cooper. MK arrived just after 10 and met HL in the parking area. HL waited to meet AM while MK headed up to the dig to start drilling holes. 4 holes started then HL/AM arrived. They took it in turns to finish the holes off and we ended up with 6 holes. Supervised setup for HL and AM, 4m of 40gm used over the 6 holes. All went off fine, funny delayed aftershock. We then retired to The Hunters' Lodge for some drinks and snacks, where we also bumped into JC who planned to join us to clear. 60 buckets cleared in all, with HL/AM filling buckets and JC hauling, then passing the bucket on to be carried further. MK in the meantime was tidying up and had a little go with the breaker for the last buckets. Same again for next time would be good. Mike.

Current Surface. Photo HL.

HL drilling with AM looking down. Photo MK.

HL and AM figuring out where to put some extra holes. Photo MK.

AM clearing. Photo HL.

JC and MK hauling. Photo HL.

Dig face at the end, facing North. Photo MK.

Friday 26th September 2025

John Cooper and Mike Kushy. Both arrived about 13.15 with a repaired 110V breaker (was a dodgy bit of wire that John cut off). Overcast and cool today but dry. A good afternoon’s work with 60 loads of rock and mud being hauled out. Kushy did the first 2 sessions on the breaker then John did 1 before Kushy did a final one. Quite a bit of mud now being dug out. 4 hours. John.

Looking at North end floor. Photo MK.

Looking at South end floor. Photo MK.

Friday 19th September 2025

John Cooper and Mike Kushy. Kushy there before John who arrived about 13.30 to find Kushy trying to work out why the 110V breaker was misbehaving. After some fettling is was believed to be a break in the cable near where it enters the breaker. Got out the 240V one out instead. John did a session at the bottom but found it difficult so decided to clear first. 14 loads hauled out. Kushy then at the bottom who also found it difficult, possibly the rock is more solid now. At the end cleared the spoil plus a load of mud from in between the joints. Total of 33 loads hauled out today. Depth at the end of the session measured as 6.65m to top of red box section above deepest point. Visited by two young ladies from Bristol, Lucy and Hollie, who were interested in having a go at caving. Suggested CaveClimb or Wessex as suitable starting points. 4 hours. John.

Friday 12th September 2025

John Cooper and Mike Kushy. Kushy there by 12.30 and did an hour on the breaker before John arrived at 13.30. Got changed and then hauled 43 loads out, mainly rocks but some mud. John then at the bottom with the breaker for a while. Finally an extra 15 minutes with Kushy on the breaker. John then hauled out more spoil to give a total of 70 loads for the day. Finished 17.30. 4 hours for John, 5 for Kushy. John.

John on breaker. Photo MK.

Bottom at end of session. Photo MK.