Updated Feb 18 2012

15th Feb Ham Hole

An early start by Chris and Tosky who were continuing the enlargement of the entrance passage that they had begun at the weekend.
While Tony worked on the calcited boulders with plug and feathers, Dave, Tosky, Chris, Mandy and Clive cleared spoil from the low passage before the chamber and Gonzo mercilessly patronised Richard who was walling (not wailing) in the shaft.
When Tony had concluded his work Chris managed to squeeze into a 3m continuation beneath the boulders and, after 20 minutes with a hammer and chisel, successfully reversed the procedure.
Then on to the W&H to join Duncan and Naomi in beer and cider.
In Fred Wedlock's words:
I said, 'What you drinkin' kiddo?'
She said 'Sommat, long and cool man'
I said 'Beer or Scrumpy?'
She said, 'Cider, cider, the distillation of the forbidden fruit of Paradise
Full of the true, the blushfull hippocrene, with beaded bubble winking at the brim and purple stained mouth.
Cider, loosens my libido, transports me into realms of ethereal delights and blows my cosmic mind - Yeah, wow, too much
I said, 'Bloody hell,' said, 'How do you rate beer then?'
She said, 'Ah beer's a drag man, makes me fart'.

Regards
Mark Lumley

Wed 8th Feb 2012 Ham Hole

Last night was a photographing/surveying and general tidy-up trip with some ridiculously sticky spoil coming from the far end.

Alan, Chris, Dave, Duncan, Gonzo, Richard, Tav. Tosky.

Matt and Mandy on pub support, Vogon making a brief appearance on his way home from Cloford

Gonzo

hey everyone just to let you know, i had look over the top of the new chamber, with just my furry suit on. i can report that it goes around the corner, to a blocked alcove, with some small stals, and a very nice decorated aven, that closes down after about 3 foot. there is also a glimps of what is below us, you can look downwards for maybe 5 or 6 meters, and when droping a small stone down you can hear it fall alot further down, and roll off in front of you.

Chris

Sun Feb 5th Ham Hole

"05/02/12 (Ham Hole)
after having a nice breakthrough on Wednesday, it was time for another. me and tosky started the day but digging at the sharp end of the passage, which is about 2 foot high, going downwards. after spotting a small black hole on the right side of the passage, we broke into a nice sized chamber, with a mass of boulders staled together. but you can see open passage underneath the boulders, but there is a boulder blocking access to the passage."

[There are apparently some very nice photos on online but I don't have access to them.  I guess the way on may need appropriate attention.]

Chris

Sat Feb 4th Ham Hole

Gonzo, Dr’s Smasher & Boycott

Drilling was delayed by some creative type making us drill a hole where a hole didn’t need to be.  Gonzo then left to watch the rugby and three shotholes were prepared – two in the floor of the “ledge” into the new stuff and one in the roof.  These were fired and we left amid the snow.

Duncan

Wed Feb 1st Ham Hole

Chris, tosky, dan, gonzo, duncan, dave, mike, tony, Rich, Alan & Tav.

Well the mission was on, to get to the new passage. after a massive boulder destroying session on tuesday night, we started the night by clearing a massive rubble slope, all the way to the bottom of the cave, and then started work enlarging the hole at the bottom, to the new passage. after a very hard graft after atlas left, we were determined that we were getting in there, and we did, me and tosky managed to squeeze through, the hole and found about 8m of new passage, sloping downwards to a mud blockage. there are some really nice formations, about half way down the new passage and is all looking very good.

Chris.

Tues Jan 31 Ham Hole

Duncan, Dave and Clive but preceded, as ever(!) by Chris!

 The pit prop was put into position and has taken care of the rear end of the roof block very well.

 The new way on looks very promising appearing to be a low chamber – its impossible to see much due to a low threshold.

 Between us Duncan and I drilled a dozen holes in assorted boulders and fired two sets of charges including a small one (last dregs of drill battery) on the lip of the chamber which may be enough to grant access.

 I suspect that there will be a fair amount of rock shifting to do tonight plus there are a number of bags and a pile of mud to move as well.

 I won’t be at the cave but will join you at the W&H for an update.

 Chris, Dan and Toskey will not be going down before the main Atlas contingent to give a s long as possible for the fumes to disperse.

Clive

Wed 25 Jan Ham Hole Chris, Dan, Tosker(?) – early shift

Dave, Rich, Alan, Mandy, Tav & Clive – late shift

Gonzo, Dylan – later still shift

Matt – even later shift

 Apart from Daves efforts at the sharp end a fairly relaxing evening removing a couple fo dozen bags and some (often large) rocks.

 The end is now a metre wide rift with three very large boulders jammed across with a couple of medium sized ones sitting on top of  them.  A lot of mud has been remove to reveal their size.

 All is ready for some chemical persuasion.  I’ve arranged to collect supplies next Tuesday (the earliest we can both do it) so the options could be

 a.       Bang on Tues evening having put in place a 90cm timber to finish off the support for the ‘roof boulder’

b.      Bang on Wed evening (including the timber work) but no digging as a result (could do some cementing perhaps above the pitch).

 The Tuesday option would mean their could well be fumes present on Wed at the bottom (no air movement yesterday below the pitch level)

And the Wednesday option obviously means no digging.

 Any thoughts either way?  I’d favour the Wednesday given the choice.

 All best

 Clive

Sat 21 Jan Ham Hole

Saturday 21^st – Dave and Clive with coverage by local ‘pap’ Paul carried various lengths of scaffold pole, drills and cameras across to Ham Woods to sort out the ‘roof boulder’….

After a lot of careful measurement, sawing of poles to length etc and drilling of two 25mm holes, two short lengths of 24mm rod were inveigled into place followed by the scaffold tube.  (Makes it sound really easy!)

 The result is that the boulder now has a really substantial support at its upper end (there is a tiny gap yet to be filled between it and the bar).

We looked again at its lower end where we were proposing to put cemented rocks and decided it would be easier and probably more effective if we install a length of sleeper or telegraph pole onto a prominent ledge about a metre below.

 We have measured this against a steel rod – Dave will ‘convert’ this into feet and inches and let us all know so we can look out for suitable timber.

 I have ‘tapped’ the roof boulder with the lump hammer and it does sound good and solid – but no reason not to have taken the precautions we have in respect of the banging expected there.

 On which subject we can start this when I get new supplies which could be this week.  Unlikely to be in time for Wednesday though.

 The dig itself looks very dramatic – what a change since the last time I was at the end.  No draught apparent but looks very good down there.

 It would be good to see a survey – I fancy the right hand wall is a parallel to the cliff face.  Where we were drilling on the right was definitely limestone…..

Clive

Wed 18 Jan Ham Hole

Earlybirds: Dan, T... (?!,) Marie, Chris.

Later: Gonzo

Late on parade: Richard, Alan, Mike, Duncan, Mandy, Ian (ACG), Dave K and Clive

The dig is progressing downwards nicely with more clay removed and boulders put aside for later demolition.

A couple of holes were revealed today with a slight draught coming along a small rift and through a tiny hole, probably from the downward continuation of the parallel rift that Chris entered in 2011.

Gonzo

Wed 11 Jan 2012 Ham Hole

Chris (plus 4 friends), Tav, Smasher, Gonzo, Mandy, Clive, Dave & Alan

 Digging downwards continued with much happy banter and repartee despite Richard’s absence.  The more keen having been on site since 4 pm.  A large boulder was exposed which requires reduction though not perhaps before the rock in the roof which is supported by the force of habit is restrained.  A significant breakthrough is predicted before the world ends/next ice age/UNIX clock falls over.

Duncan

Wed 4th Jan 2012

Ham Hole

Alan, Chris, Dave, Gonzo, Mike, Richard.

An enthusiastic 2 hours of removing loose spoil from the floor of the dig on an inclement evening.

More of the same to follow...

Gonzo