Everyone bailed. I met Rob in the dogging park at the agreed time, expecting a 'proper' cussy digging trip where he informed me that Luke had bailed due to catching covid and Jon had some other urgent business. This would mean the digging would be postponed and we would survey up to a boulder choke that Rob think is heading toward the Stoney Master Cave. Beers consummed we changed into wetsuits and headed down. This would be my first time down Inglorious Bastards and through Loperamide Lust and it did not disappoint. Lovely slick mid made for easy progress in a wetsuit and I must thank the diggers for finding such a lovely bit of cave.
Rob Calibrating, photo by Kristian
After reaching the base ladder below Doom, Rob Calibrated the disto and we set off for the main mine levels surveying as we went. We arrived at the large mine level where I had a piss and we shot many splays all over the shop as rob enjoys data. We headed down a side passage which name I cannot remember and passed though a very pretty bit of breezeblock construction to entered 'the wet bit' where my willy got wet and I will never forgive Rob. A bit of hip height wetness was surveyed and we managed to work our way through a lower section (thank god) and we were at this boulder choke.
Ladder below Doom (Can't be bothered to rotate it), photo by Kristian
No evidence of miners however there is a lot of dramatic sheering in the rock as well as natural development. These were all Rob's observations as I did not care. I just wanted to see his lead. It turned out to be a small hole at the end of a rift with quite a sizable echo beyond it. The constriction requires you to leave the floor at the end of this rifty section of choke. The hole is a slit to your right and is in typical fashion just small enough to allow for a little wiggle room if your fully exhaled but the constriction is just long enough that you might run out of breath whilst still in it. Rob's thinking of going back with some bang for it. The echo suggests about 15m of space to me leading upwards so where it goes we don't know but it could be caverns measureless to man. Rob had a look at another lead in the choke but it did not look as promising.
Record time out with no drama besides a nose dive by myself with a side of whiplash into the loper duck. We got out, got washed, and had a quick pint in the Moon before heading home to our respective duties.
Good trip. Going again Wednesday.
Your Author post Loper, photo by Rob