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DIGGING LOG ARCHIVE
- 2004 -

2003 Archive / 2002 Archive

Wednesday 7^th January 2004 (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)
Clive, Gonzo, Nik Nak, Dave K & Rich

Cleared back the debris from Winter Dig and drilled a couple more holes, etc.

Thu 8^th, Fri 9^th & Sun 11^th January 2004 (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)

Thrupe Lane Swallet flooded on Thursday 8 Jan. The spoil dump at the bottom of the shaft diverted part of the stream into Plaster Passage. Spoil washed down to Bamboo Aven and almost choked the duck. Simon dug this out on Friday. On Sunday 11 Jan, Simon, Rich & Nik Nak modified the dump to divert the waterfall away from Plaster Passage and worked on the surface to open a sink on the north of the depression. This now takes over half of the stream.

Wednesday 14^th January 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)
Rich, Nik-Nak and Clive

Cleared the pile of stream debris from around the gate (left from Monday). Rearranged the spoil heap at the base of the entrance shaft and removed the broken rock from the end of the dig. Then drilled 2½ holes, etc.

Sunday 18^th January 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)
Rich, Nik-Nak, Simon and CN.

Removed a satisfying pile of rocks, the result of the last session; then hauled them to the base of the shaft. Thats about it!

Wednesday 21^st January 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)
Rich, Simon M-K, Gonzo, Pat Cronin and Clive.

Rearranging the the spoil heap at the base of the shaft and mucking out at the digging face. All spoil cleared back to the base of the shaft.

Sunday 25^th January 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)
Rich, Simon M-K and Clive

Cleared a few buckets more soft fill from the end and stacked them at the base of the railway ready for Wed. Drilled some holes, etc.

Sunday 1^st February 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)
Rich, Simon M-K, Tav and Clive

The last session's debris was cleared back and hauled to the base of the shaft along. The rift ahead has tightened to about three inches wide at floor level (about a foot wide at roof level). There is a small rift going off to the right - this should be accessible on Wednesday. Two holes were drilled in the bedrock straight ahead.

Wednesday 4^th February 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)
Gonzo, Pat Cronin, Tav, Dave E, SM-K and Rich.

Cleared a large amount of spoil back to the entrance shaft dump. The way on looks dismally small. It is time for an appraisal of prospects. We might switch to helping SM-K, he would welcome a big push approach to his dig.

Sunday 8^th February 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)
Rich, Tav, Nik-Nak and Clive.

Final inspection of the dig - decided it was well and truly dug, so started work on enlarging the duck before Bamboo Aven to improve the access to Simon's dig in preparation to starting work with him.

Wednesday 11^th February 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)
Gonzo, Rich, Simon M-K, Tav, Pat, Nik-Nak, Dave E and Clive

Cleared spoil back from the Bamboo Aven duck area and dumped it in the new tipping space - otherwise known as the dig we've just abandoned. (Such is progress).

Sunday 15^th February 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)
Rich, Simon M-K, Nik-Nak and Clive.

Cleared a satisfying pile of rock and fragments back to the tip 'upstairs', then had a hammer and chisel session at the face persuading a large slice of the roof to part company with the rest. Working initially from both the near and the far side of the 'duck' and then from the near side only, eventually loosened the slab, about 5ft wide, a foot thick and going on for a yard deep.

Wednesday 18^th February 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)
Rich, Gonzo, Pat, Simon M-K, Nik-Nak, Dave King and Clive.

The remains of the large slab of roof were removed back to the tip and the floor was given a good Hoover and polish-up. The 'duck' is now a thing of the past and an exit will be easily made even under very wet conditions.

Nik-Nak and Clive had a look at Simon's dig in Bleak Hall and pondered the problems involved in removing the remains of the Chimney Pot spoil (boulders) and in improving access to the dig face itself.

Sunday 22^nd February 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)
Nik-Nak and Clive.

A gentle potter into (a very dry) Thrupe to tidy up the approach to Bleak Hall.

Wednesday 25^th February 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)
Gonzo, Pat, Nik Nak & Rich.

Cleared back the debris and a large quantity of loose rock from the Bleak Hall area. Most of the spoil was "hidden" along the approach passage but a small amount was taken through the Bamboo Aven creep for later transport up to the abandoned dig.

Wednesday 3^rd March 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)
Gonzo, Simon M-K, Daves E & K, and Rich. (Pat Cronin was on authorised sick leave with a crushed finger sustained during last Wednesday's digging.)

Gonzo went to the dig face where he proceeded to break up any rock that offended him, while the rest of the team spread themselves along the approach passages, stacking small rocks in nooks and crannies and passing back larger rocks which were eventually dumped in the abandoned dig.

As an experiment, Gonzo ponded up the Bleak Hall trickle and listened to the released stream. It sounds like more of the same ahead, with unrestricted flow but no sound of enticing cascades to trigger a digging frenzy.

Sunday 7^th March 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)
Rich, Simon M-K, Nik-Nak, Tav and Clive

The boulder slope approaching Simon's dig was stabilised by Tav and the remains of the Chimney Pot debris pile were removed back to the abandoned dig.

Wednesday 10^th March 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)
Rich, Gonzo, Pat Cronin, Pete Hellier, Nik-Nak, Clive

Gonzo found that that a very large slab had dropped across the floor and he and Pete spent some time hammering and manoeuvring to clear some space. By the end of the evening we were still left with four large blocks sitting on the floor, which need breaking up, plus a section of detached wall on the right which needs 'trimming' for safety.

The dig itself looks good - basically there is a 6ft foot wide, 6inch high bedding at roof level and a two foot wide rift in the floor at the end which takes the trickle of water.

Sunday 14^th March 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)
Simon M-K, Rich, Dave King and Clive

Rich and Simon used up some of the smaller rocks from Wed. night and built them into a step on the approach slope.

Dave had a good look round The Great West Road and Chimney Pot area while Clive drilled short holes in each of the remaining three large boulders in the dig plus a the potentially dangerous slab on the right hand side.

Wednesday 17^th March 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)
Rich, Tav, Dave K & E, Simon M-K, Pat, Gonzo, Clive

The last session had done the trick and there were plenty of good sized rocks to come out. These and quite a few buckets of sand and gravel were exported all the way up to the abandoned dig.

The dig has been lowered producing a pronounced step but the end still needs enlarging.

Wednesday 24^th March 2004 - (THRUPE SWALLET !!!)
Tony Boycott and Gonzo

Descended the now beautifully clean cave to find that the drainage holes in Inside Out were blocked, resulting in a canal as far as the pitch.

Upside Down sported a small stream, supplemented by a healthy flow down the walls of Tango Rift. Volumes were not enough to make things unpleasant though.

At the end Tony drilled 4 holes in the right hand bulge and extended a fifth that he had drilled last time.

Tony's new, state-of-the-art, hi-tech, supremely-technologically-advanced, indestructible masterpiece of a Nova LED lamp wheezed and died at the head of the pitch ...[Unfortunately, 8 further lines of classic GonzoRant™ had to be removed to protect him against possible litigation _(T.A.)]

A pleasant time had by both of us.

Wednesday 31^st March 2004 - (THRUPE SWALLET !!!)
Nik-Nak and Tav

First trip of the year for us. The winter rains have cleaned up the cave beautifully. I'd forgotton what an absolutely cracking caving trip it is.

We reopened the drain hole at the head of Persistence. A bit more work needs doing here, but the canal is draining nicely.

Re-appraisal of the way ahead Both mine and Dave's original descriptions were a tad wide of the mark. The real story is this. 4 feet of excavation (probably 2 sessions), will gain 6 feet of passable crawl. Beyond this the passage turn RIGHT and drops. It's not entirely clear down what - but the glooping noises ahead suggest something akin to the Lavatory Pan in Swildons. Prospects appear excellent. Air was very fresh.

All to play for.

Cheers

Wednesday 31^st March 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)
Rich, Pat, Dave King, Gonzo and Clive.

A very wet session for all concerned, due to leaks around the dam. We began spoil tipping in the head of the Old Wells Road. Clive spent the evening laid out half way down the narrow approach, under heavy drip, while Pat was stationed just beyond in the first bend, also under heavy drip. Dave King prepared the bags (reduced to four!) in Bleak Hall, under heavy drip and passed the bags on down to the two heavy drips stationed in the passage.

Work continues - not without interest!

Wednesday 7^th April 2004 - (THRUPE SWALLET)
Tony Boycott & Gonzo.

Pitch head improved a bit but still decidedly squalid. Drilled (and hopefully removed) the first 2 bends on the way to Tav's viewpoint. Looks good.

Wednesday 7^th April 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)
Dave King, James & Richard Witcombe

Moved the remainder of the Poltergeist rock pile up to the abandoned dig, built another step in Bleak Hall South, and shifted about a dozen bags of "slurry". Dave managed to free a large rock which was jammed at the end of the dig - no black spaces behind it unfortunately. The dam was a little more effective this time.

Wednesday 21^st April 2004 - (THRUPE SWALLET)
Gonzo, Tav and Nik-Nak.

Moved spoil back to Quality Street and squirreled it away neatly. Removed scaffold bars and bucket of wedges from Inside Out. Everything looks much more clean and tidy.

Sunday 25^th April 2004 - (THRUPE SWALLET)
Tony Boycott, Juliet (UBSS), Simon M-K and Tav

Ferried kit down to the face, drilled 4 holes, etc.

Cheers

Wednesday 28^th April 2004 - (THRUPE SWALLET)
Gonzo, Tony Boycott, Tav, Nik-Nak.

Sunday's efforts had completely removed the offending blockage. Ahead, the way appeared to divide, with a short, constricted drop to a pool (requiring more work) and a narrow way over the top. The team mascot (Nik-Nak) was inserted into the latter and, after a simple 10 ft wriggle, reached an 8 ft drop into the pool (with an amusing lack of footholds for the shorter members of the party on the return!). There was room enough for us all to stand up here.

The way on is a narrow passage, taking the whole stream and warrants a summer siege. After about 6 ft a body sized phreatic passage heads off to the left but chokes after a few feet. All in all we gained about 30 ft of passage and one entertaining landmark (the Droplet?).

Sunday 2^nd May 2004 - (THRUPE SWALLET)
Nik-Nak & Tav (Sunday 2nd May)

Tav Installed a short handline on The Droplet, which helps a bit (but not a lot). Nik-Nak drilled two long holes with his shiny new Bosch, etc. All in all, a pretty knackering trip.

Sunday 2^nd May 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)
Rich and Clive

The 'B' Team amused themselves usefully in the Old Wells Road area. Rich had brought a new load of poly bags down and spent his time probing the end of the dig, piling the spoil into the cleft on the left side.

Clive, meanwhile inserted himself into the confines at the start of the Old Wells Road and drilled one full length and another short hole on the right-hand side of the passage.

Wednesday 5^th May 2004 - (THRUPE SWALLET)
Nik-Nak, Tav and Suntan

Simple trip, to clear the debris from Sunday. Nik-Nak very pleased with the results. The way on looks much better as a result, basically a slightly too narrow descending canyon. Following the heavy rain, the cave was SUPERBLY wet. Proper water spouts at all the drops. It should be awesome in the depths of a wet winter. Ever onward and downward.

All the best

Sunday 9^th May 2004 - (THRUPE SWALLET)
Nik-Nak & Tav underground. Clive as surface support and Tony Boycott turned up unexpectedly as well.

Dragged the kit down to the face, drilled two and half long holes, etc., and dragged kit out again.

All the fields around the swallet have been deeply ploughed. It'll be interesting to see how this affects drainage patterns, if at all.

Regards

Tuesday 11^th May 2004 - (THRUPE SWALLET)
Nik Nak, Swiss family Vanderplank & Geoff Ballard

To the end to clear the results of Sunday's session.A little disappointed with Sunday's results, but the passage IS increasing in size. No walling material was produced, only gravel. At least six feet of enlargement required :-(:-(:-(:-(

Simon (Nik-Nak) Richards

Wednesday 12^th May 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)
Clive and Gonzo

Down to the start of the Old Wells road where we cleared the results of Clive's last efforts and Clive did some invaluable research into the effects of Chert on new drill bits!...3/4 of a hole for a lot of effort and a blunt bit.

Mark Lumley

Wednesday 19^th May 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)
Clive and Gonzo

We continued the enlargement of the start of the Old Wells Road. A large block (the end of the left hand wall of the constriction) was kicked forward to allow easy access to the roomier passage beyond.

Having crawled through it quickly became apparent that the left hand wall had been resting on the now-removed block and was actually quite keen to become part of the floor! Worked for about half an hour to maintain the exit, with debris falling in as quickly as we could clear it.

Mark (Gonzo) Lumley

Wednesday 19^th May 2004 - (THRUPE SWALLET)
Dave K (welcome back) & Nik Nak

Dave tried the end slot for size and confirmed it doesn't get any bigger so the campaign continues. 2½ holes drilled, etc.

Simon (Nik Nak) Richards

Sunday 23^rd May 2004 - (THRUPE SWALLET)
Tony B, Tav & Nik-Nak

Cleared the previous gravel then drilled 5 holes, etc.

Cheers

Rob Taviner

Wednesday 26^th May 2004 - (THRUPE SWALLET)
Dave K & Tav

Sunday's session had done the trick; an hours clearing and stacking enabled us to crawl forward a few feet to reveal another small (2-3ft) drop a few feet ahead into a man-sized cavity with a pool in the floor. The way on from this pool remains invisible at present and the noise of the stream gives little away. All in all, a bit more encouraging.

Cheers

Rob Taviner

Sunday 30^th May 2004 - (THRUPE SWALLET)
Tav & Nik-Nak

2½ holes.

Rob Taviner
[A man of few words _(T.A.)]

Wednesday 2^nd June 2004 - (THRUPE SWALLET)
Tav & Dave K

We cleared a substantial pile of rubble, then trenched the floor down to bedrock. The chamber ahead is larger than first thought - at least one-large-man or two small-men sized. The stream definitely turns left. Air quality was pretty poor.

Regards

Rob Taviner

Wednesday 2^nd June 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)
Nik Nak and Rich.

The Old Wells Road run-in appears to have stopped. A substantial amount of rock was brought out from Bleak Hall and dumped down Poltergeist Passage and in the drop below the upper dump.

Rich Witcombe

Wednesday 9^th June 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)
Rich, Gonzo and Clive

To the end to check out the collapse area in the Old Wells Road. This has now finally stopped moving - there is now a fine solid bedding-plane roof about 4ft above the crawl. Several bags of soft and small stuff taken to Bleak Hall. Rocks and a few bags of spoil taken to Poltergeist and Bamboo Aven.

Clive North

Wednesday 9^th June 2004 - (THRUPE SWALLET)
Dave K, Bob (the builder) Hardiman & Nik Nak

To the end to sink two long holes and one short; Nik Nak drilling whilst Dave & Bob expertly cleaned up the streamway.

Cheers

Simon (Nik-Nak) Richards

Sunday 13^th June 2004 - (THRUPE SWALLET)
Tav & Paul Stillman. (Welcome back Slab)

Tav was now able to wriggle easily into the large ensmallment (4ft long x 3ft high). The stream disappears down a choked hole in the floor beneath on-going bedding which zig-zags left and then right from the 'Chamberlet'. It is small (no surprise!) and will need modification. Good draught though.

Regards

Rob Taviner

Wednesday 16^th June 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)
Clive and Rich

To the end to drill a short hole in the wedged block at the start of the Old Wells Road. Rich furgled at the end of the dig while Clive persevered trying to find a spot in the block which had no chert lumps or cavities. A few blocks were brought out on our exit.

Clive North

Wednesday 16^th June 2004 - (THRUPE SWALLET)
Tav, Nik-Nak, Gonzo, Dave K, Tony L & Charles Bailey (A big welcome back to Tony L).

Gravel clearance session. Enough removed to create a turn-around area in the new chamber allowing a view of the way ahead.The stream turns left and sinks into a cattle-trough shaped hole. The main passage continues over this as a too-tight dry canyon, reverting to its WSW course. A short distance beyond (maybe 3m) the stream can be heard rejoining as a small cascade - possibly another Droplet. Beyond that may be a deeper rumble ??. All to play for.

Rob Taviner

Wednesday 23^rd June 2004 - (THRUPE SWALLET)
Nik-Nak & Tav

Drilled a ring of bright holes, etc. Retired. Water spout in Persistence was high following the heavy rains.

Rob Taviner

Wednesday 23^rd June 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)
Dave King and Clive.

The rubble, mud etc on the floor was cleared, bagged and removed to the tip area in the Old Wells Road. A selection of rocks were brought up to the top tip on the way out.

We both had a trip to the end of the Old Wells Road and were amazed at Simon's tenacity over the years with his solo digging exploits. A dismal place though in the very final rift.

Clive North

Sunday 27^th June 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)
Simon (M-K)

Simon was down Thrupe on Sunday and removed ALL of the poly bags of spoil up to Poltergeist and then dragged them to its end!

Clive North

Wednesday 30^th June 2004 - (THRUPE SWALLET)
Tav, Nik-Nak, Suntan & Suntan's mate

Another excellent session. Cleared a considerable amount of debris from the last commotion, then hammered off several additional large flakes. Nik-Nak then fired and retired. Very good draught and the sound of distant falling waters draws us ever onward (and downward).

Rob Taviner

Wednesday 30^th June 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)
Dave K and Rich W

Regretted not inserting the dam as there was heavy drip in Bleak Hall. DK filled a dozen bags with sludge but despite much furgling with the bar he could not prevent the end from ponding up. We manhandled the bags up to Bleak Hall, and then carried a few rocks up to the top dump.

Rich Witcombe

Sunday 4^th July 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET OR THEREABOUTS)
Simon, Speedy(!), and Clive.

Simon, in his continuing quest to follow the sewage to Wells, had been looking around the valley south-west of Thrupe and came up with a round stone-lined feature in the valley bottom about a quarter of a mile from Thrupe. Also a section of steeply angled bedrock protruding from the stream bed just beyond Parfitt's property. On investigation, the first was a lime kiln, the other a (large) detatched block. Ah well - back to Bleak Hall then!!

Clive North

Wednesday 14^th July 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)
Rich, Dave Everett and Clive

To Bleak Hall where we removed ALL the remaining bags of spoil and rocks and deposited them in the tipping area in the Old Wells Road. The skip ran well through the connecting passage. In the dig itself the water had drained away leaving just a layer of 'goo'.

Clive North

Wednesday 21^st July 2004 - (THRUPE SWALLET)
Steve (The Womble) Shipston and Dave King.

The plan was to go to the end including the latest small extension to refresh my memory and to report the findings which neither Tav or Nik Nak found time to do before their French trip.

Well here it is, better late than never. The last chemical attack opened up a 3ft drop into a small chamber, about 5ft round, 6ft high, the stream was followed on under a low arch into the next chamber. This chamber is approx 6ft in diameter and about 10ft high with a rubble floor and the stream flowing underneath.The chamber is lightly decorated with stal and curtain formations. Above, two inlet passages enter (just a trickle), becoming restricted with calcite flow about 15ft from the floor.

The way on is a tight squeeze over a stal boss (was two until Tav & I persuaded one to divorce the other on an earlier trip) a couple of feet above the stream heading down at about 30 degrees, this then pinches with calcite flow after about 10ft. From this point the stream can be heard babbling on down probably much as the preceding passage. 10ft above where the stream disappears the passage is blocked with calcite and stal, but more stal can be seen in the space a few feet further on. The average trend of the passage seems to be in the same direction and inclination as that which has gone before it.

Length of this latest extension, about 20ft.

Dave King

Wednesday 4^th August 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)
Dave King, Rich and Clive

Resumed proper digging at the end of Bleak Hall and in the process removed approx. 20 bags of stream debris up to Bleak Hall ready for the next session of moving them into the Old Wells Road tip. We're going to drop the floor about 4ft to give us room to move forward in relative comfort. Current width of the rift at this point is about 2.5ft.

Clive North

Wednesday 11^th August 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)
Dave K, Rich and Clive

Returned to Bleak Hall to remove the assembled stack of bags through to the Old Wells Road. Nearer 40 rather than the 20 we had thought! The new skip worked well, rocketing through the connection in about 2 seconds!

Clive North

Sunday 22^nd August 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)
Rich, Dave K. and Clive

After all the heavy rain, the Bleak Hall dig was a small lake. After unsucessful attempts at bailing in buckets upto the Old Wells Road, we took a look at the 'natural' end of the Old Wells Road just before Simon's abortive blasted route off to the left.

Here the main rift stops in apparent blank wall but there is a tube going up to the right with the faintest, but a still discernible, downward flow of air. We'll dig here when too wet in Bleak Hall. Plenty of tipping space available (downhill) into Simon's old dig.

Clive North

Wednesday 1^st September 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)
Rich, Dave K, Nik-Nak and Clive (where was Gonzo then?!)

There was a lake in the Bleak Hall dig, so we went to the end of the Old Wells Road. Nik-Nak and Clive set-to clearing Simon's old spoil heap at the bend before the final blasted passage. Dave and Rich went through the latter and stacked the spoil pushed through from above. A large 'tombstone' block became wedged in the tunnel and briefly entombed the stacking party beyond.

We lowered the back wall a couple of feet exposing possibly the start of a bedding. (This site is not COMPLETELY without interest).

Clive North

Wednesday 8^th September 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)
Rich, Gonzo and Clive. (Dave K. and Nik-Nak to Thrupe)

Still a pool in the Bleak Hall dig so on to the end of the Old Wells Road and attacked the sand and stream-debris filled cavity at roof level. A couple of holes appeared over the top of the fill - no air movement apparent

Clive North

Wednesday 8^th September 2004 - (THRUPE SWALLET)
Dave K and Nik Nak.

Drilled one long and two short holes in the stal flow at the end, a nightmare as the powder mixed with the minimum of water to produce slurry that caused the drill to drag and stick.

Simon (Nik-Nak) Richards

Wednesday 15^th September 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)
Gonzo, Tav & Rich

To the end of the Old Wells Road. Continued the overhead dig, removing large quantities of stream fill and two small pieces of boiler suit! Enlarged the updip air space seen last week and attempted in vain to find a downstream continuation - it is all solid wall to the west. Any way on in that direction must be deep in the floor, and a fairly impractical digging proposition. However, it is worth pursuing the upstream option for a while. We are quite deep at this point and an extensive inlet series could lie above the mud fill level. A useful little session and not entirely without interest.

Rich Witcombe - his mark

Wednesday 15^th September 2004 - (THRUPE SWALLET)
Dave K. & Nik Nak

Dave chiselled at loose rock before taking a look through a hole and reported open(?) passage beyond of at least 10ft. The stream cascades down a short distance and then continues horizontally; however, stal and very large flakes hinder progression. It won't be a simple break through? One long and two short holes were drilled to the right of the last ones, etc.

Simon (Nik-Nak) Richards - his mark

Wednesday 22^nd September 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)
Gonzo & Rich.

Continued clearing the OWR overhead extension. This is developing into a choked, narrow (12" to 18" wide), inclined rift passage heading updip but with a hint that there may also be a downdip continuation.

Rich Witcombe - his mark

Wednesday 22^nd September 2004 - (THRUPE SWALLET)
Nik Nak & Dave K.

Chiselled off the remaining fractured rock on the left hand side, then the first larger flake reduced and removed, and the second only reduced, making it possible to squeeze into but not past the flake restriction. The stream is visible for approx. 10ft, and then reduces to about a foot with more stal blocking the way on.

Dave King - his mark

Wednesday 29^th September 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)
Clive and Gonzo

Enlarging the archway on the left of the updip dig towards the end of the Old Wells Road.

This is beginning to look quite promising as, with the roof rising and the sharp left turn, it could possibly be the continuation of TOWR which we were hoping for. The downside is that it is totally choked, with rocks, clay, mud and a lighter section of grit and cobbles towards the top. Spoil management has became a squalid affair.

Mark Lumley (Gonzo) - his mark

Wednesday 6^th October 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)
Rich W, Clive N, Gonzo, Tav and Alys Mendus

Continued digging the arch at the end of the Old Wells Road. Spoil was ferried up to Richard in bags. The archway continues to trend left and open out, not without interest but totally choked with soft fill.

Mark (Gonzo) Lumley - his mark

Wednesday 6^th October 2004 - (THRUPE SWALLET)
Dave K & Nik Nak

Hammer and chisel work on the left and right hand walls. Both of us were able push feet-first to the end, it reduces to 1.5ft in diameter but there is no indication of what is to come. We need to widen the passage before pushing forward.

Simon (Nik-Nak) Richards - his mark

Wednesday 13^th October 2004 - (THRUPE SWALLET)
Dave K & Nik Nak

The dig is getting wetter. We spent an hour 45 minutes clearing and chiseling, removing copious amounts of rock and five bags of gravel, which was hidden in the floor of the last chamber. Two sessions should see us to the visible end - and a view of what happens next?

Simon (Nik-Nak) Richards - his mark

Wednesday 13^th October 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)
Gonzo, Tav, Clive, Richard.

Digging the Old Wells Road archway again. Slow progress through total choke. We now have a solid left hand wall which curves overhead before cutting up to a minimal, localized airspace. Right hand side is still fill.

It's still a promising site but there's plenty to do...

Mark (Gonzo) Lumley - his mark

Wednesday 20^th October 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)

Uhh....nothing actually.....Rich was suffering with a bad throat whilst Dave K was hacking nicely. Dave was determined to go down Thrupe with Nik-Nak (who didn't have a sore throat...yet) which left Clive with a free evening.

Clive North - his mark

Wednesday 20^th October 2004 - (THRUPE SWALLET)
Dave K & Nik Nak

The end passage is now a lot roomier; although beyond the face the passage height is currently only 6-8 inches due to stal.

Dave gathered up the debris whilst Nik Nak broke down the larger pieces and hammered them into the floor of the chamber. As we worked the water levels rose, the last heavy drip became a small stream and the combined water in the cave was a mini torrent.

Simon (Nik-Nak) Richards - his mark

Wednesday 27^th October 2004 - (NO DIGGING)

Owing to authorised absences and inclement weather, there was no A or B Team activity on Weds 27 Oct.

Rich Witcombe - his mark

Wednesday 3^rd November 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)
Gonzo, Rich, Dave K, Dave E., Clive

Further progress by Gonz and Dave K. at the Archway dig while while Dave E and Clive ferried bags upto Rich at the tip site. Dave E. opened a small hole on the right at the back of the dig. The whole right hand wall here and roof is a bit dubious for stability - might it be worth digging up to find a high level route?

Clive North - his mark

Sunday 7^th November 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)
Mark and Sam Lumley

Due to a cancelled Daren trip (and nothing better to do) I've just taken my son, Sam, 5 metres of flexible piping (4"?) and a couple of short sections of perforated pipe down to the dig.

Mark (Gonzo) Lumley - his mark

Wednesday 10^th November 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)
Rich, Nik-Nak and Clive. Tony A (surface support).

TA turned up with a 15m lightweight hose, washing up bowl and connector.  CN, Nik Nak and RW took it down to the Old Wells Road.  Clive sank the bowl in floor at the bottom of the first rift in OWR and successfully collected the tiny streamlet and piped it down to the bedding plane cleft.  The water was left "on" to wash away the spoil.

Unfortunately, after Gonzo's kind and valiant efforts in transporting 15ft of heavy duty pipe down there - we dragged it all out again! Sorry Gonz.

At the dig face some excavation of the right hand wall around the air spaces took place but no further voids could be found.

Rich and Clive - their marks

Wednesday 17^th November 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)
Gonzo, Tav, Clive and Richard

A substantial section of loose fill was removed from the roof and right hand side to reveal a solid wall and suggestions of a roof, all phreatic in nature.  A large boulder at the end came loose and crashed into Gonzo's head.  It was removed :-)

Mark (Gonzo) Lumley - his mark

Wednesday 24^th November 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)
Gonzo, Clive and Richard

Dug, enlarged and cleared to reveal more of the same ahead.   We now have solid walls to left and right and have cleared vertically to reveal a roof in places.   Passage is phreatic with pronounced roof pendants.   The way on is totally choked but ...

Mark (Gonzo) Lumley - his mark

Wednesday 1^st December 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)
Gonzo, Pat C  [Cronin] & Dave K.

Several loads of spoil removed and bulldozed down TOWR and washed away as a slurry.   At the face, a slot in the roof opened revealing a small phreatic cavity with a solid rock roof going a couple of feet in each direction.

Open passage may not be to far ahead (but who can tell?).

Dave King

Wednesday 8^th December 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)
Tav, Dave K, Dave E, Rich W and Gonzo

Continued with the Arch dig, we removed a lot of spoil to gain easier access to the void discovered last week. The main way on appears to be buried in the floor - perhaps things will become clearer after another session.

Mark (Gonzo) Lumley

Wednesday 15^th December 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)
Gonzo, Rich and Clive.

At the end of the archway dig on the right hand side was a wall of sand and cobbles etc and in the roof was a small opening in solid going updip.   Attacking the sand wall produced a area varying between a 18" - 2ft across and 2.5ft high.   After pushing back a couple of feet there was a spot in the roof where it was possible to waggle the bar around in space.

Further excavation revealed a bedding aligned passage going roughly back updip for about 8-10ft, approx. 3ft wide visible and about 1ft clearance above the sand floor.   All to play for!

Clive North

Wednesday 22^nd December 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)
Gonzo, Clive, Martin Beale (Chelsea) & Dave K.

Digging out the sand, cobbles & clay continued to enlarge the air space in the roof of the passage heading up dip.   After advancing 5 to 6 feet, the space opened up into a small chamber (3' x 5' x 5' high).   To the right over the remains of the gravel/sandy floor a rift appeared, heading in the same approx. direction as the approach to the chamber.   It starts off as 18' wide and 3' high, the floor stops about 4' in at a wedged rock.   Thrutching in to this point revealed a rift dropping about 12' to 15' feet to another sandy floor and then dropping again beyond another wedged rock 10' on.   The rift can be seen going up & on for 20+ feet undulating in width from 10" to 15".

I think we've managed to put the 2004 annual report out of date before the year end.   Sorry Rich.

Gonzo's sketch survey of the extension is HERE

Dave King

Wednesday 29^th December 2004 - (THRUPE LANE SWALLET)
Gonzo, Tav and Richard.

Removed the constriction at the beginning of the clean-washed rift, stacking the rocks in the alcove beneath the aven and most of the loose spoil in the approach from the arch.   We also managed to hammer off half of the furthest wedged boulder but progress will now require drilling.

It's difficult to see clearly but the rift appears to be about 20ft long, 20 ft deep and narrow all the way. It also continues upwards, possibly connecting with the open space we can see above the boulders in the aven at the start.

Gonzo (Mark Lumley)

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