Team A: Luke and Jon
Team BD: Joe and Rob
Team C: Jim and Sam
Continuing with our theme of caving as antisocially as possible, we agreed to split into three minimally-sized teams tonight. Whilst me n Joe were getting ready (pre-beers in the glorious sunshine) the other teams started to slowly appear, so we headed straight down. We were to be stationed at Black Draught tonight, popping the last boulder out of the “roof” and having a look beyond. Meanwhile Team A were to go around to Rat Roof and try get a light connection with us, or at least an idea of direction. Then Team C, slightly at a loss on what to do, went for a look around the other side of Cussey (the nice side).
I was last in the Black Draught dig so I explained the objective to Joe as best I could and let him set to work, especially as he was keen to learn “the tech”. Whilst he was in there Team A came past, had a quick rave with me, then disappeared down Loper Lust.
Once all done Joe came back to Inglorious and we fired the gear. Nothing… Oh dear.
Hoping that one of the wires may have come undone whilst Joe crawled back I went in to check. Unfortunately they were still attached well and actually looking much better than how I would have done it. Whilst there I hear the jovial vulgarness of Jon approaching from beyond. He sounds so close. We do a light check but nothing. I therefore untie the cables and squeeze through past the boulder, as I had done the previous week. This is a very tight manoeuvre and one that needs to be done very carefully so as not to apply much pressure to the boulder which is directly above you. Once through I spend a little time trying to locate Jon’s voice and unfortunately realise to my big surprise that he wasn’t along the crawling passage heading off west, but actually behind me to the south through a very tight bedding plane. This is not good news. I carefully change my position to get a better vantage point to see and hear into the bedding and for sure his voice is at the back of there. I can see ~2-3m but it’s no more than 20cm high at the biggest bit. The floor and roof look like solid bedrock throughout. Oh dear. Surprisingly a light check in either direction doesn’t work, so there’s a chance I’m wrong, I do hope so.
Deflated, I eek my way back through the boulder blockage, rewire the cables, then head to Inglorious. I bring the big drill back too, so we can try fire with a bigger battery. Nothing again. Double bugger.
Joe goes in and cuts off the wires from the dud so it’s left as “safe” as possible. We then head out with our heads down, knowing that the Black Draught connection it still a long way off being realised….
Luke and Jon emerge to the surface not long after us. Seems that Sump 2 in RAT was very low and Jon was able to navigate through to the first small airbell. Only maybe 200mm more and the whole thing would be open. They set the syphon going so hopefully next trip we’ll be able to get through to SMMC.
We then all head to the Moon for tea and medals (beer and pork scratchings) at the Eldon monthly meet and discuss what to do now!