28/10/24 Still too flooded to dig

 From Matilda

Water level has probably dropped about 3m

22/10/24

 From Mike

Serenaded by a pair of tawny owls, Mike, Jon and Matilda discovered the whole passage was flooded to just a couple of feet below the railway, as was left dig, so two hauls, 4 digging tools and one krab on short handline are underwater. Anything we could reach was moved up to spoil heap, a couple more bags filled to even out wall, then spare bags, tubs, ropes and the "railway carriage" were stacked in higher side passages, whilst 2 bags of sand, metal work, scrapers, buckets and anything not used recently were hauled up above ladder. Fran had arrived by then. I have one of Stu's krabs and a clip from bolt at end of railway

15/10/24

 from Mike

Jon went to end to check and it was diggable (left side still flooded), so Matilda filled all the buckets (except 2 with broken handles, although a third did go down and get filled - all taken to surface after). Digging was apparently fairly easy, then Ed passed them back to final haul, with Mike and Jon on either end, who also flattened out the conveyor belt and moved the middle sized rocks back to start of that haul. We then staged all buckets up to spoil heap and emptied them, leaving the tools and skip on shelf at start of final haul. It started to rain as we headed out just after 8.30, where we found Duncan and Fran (who had arrived late), but fortunately it didn't pour down until we left the waldegrave (everyone except Matilda)

8/10/24

 from Mike

Ed, kat, Jon, Matilda Doel and me. Flooded to 1 foot below conveyor belt, we moved a load more rocks back to entrance - mostly just larger ones left at end now. Tawny owl greeted us on departure (and insects taking cover) 

1/10/24

From Mike

Ed, Kat and Mike - End of dig half flooded, could just see tops of tools! Moved sensible sized rocks from end chamber to start of last haul, then 18 buckets of smaller rocks back to entrance.