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Chelms Combe Quarry, Cheddar - 25 Feb Gonzo, Tony Boycott, John Aylott, Alison Moody, Secret Diggers Matt Davies and Chris. After a slight hiccup with Lee (from the company who own the quarry) arriving early and asking one of workers on site to leave the gate open for us we visited CC Quarry Cave and Box Cave. Reynolds Rift was under a small pile of rubble, together with one boulder of about 1.5 tons right over the entrance. I've just spoken to the owners and suggested that we do a day/weekend there sometime later in the year to remove the boulder (easy) and build some kind of wall around the entrance to protect it from the same thing happening again (plenty of raw material on site). Perhaps we could also re-stabilize the entrance and fit in a substantial belay. At the same time we could investigate the site in the combe, right next to the cliff edge described by John as a pot about 20 ft deep, loose-boulder filled, heavily scalloped and strategically well-placed. Any volunteers? Any suggestions for a date? Gonzo Chancellors Farm and Bowery Corner, Priddy - 24 Feb Gonzo, Tav, Paul Checked out the 5m deep well by the driveway to Chancellors Farm. Flowing water at the bottom but no obvious way to dig. Then checked out the first few metres of Bowery Corner to compare the flows but the streamway appears to be at a lower level.. Gonzo Fernhill 24 Feb Present: Alan, Clive, Dave & Duncan Duncan served several courses of finest spoil. First up were several skips of locally produced freshly broken limestone (prepared last week by our resident rock butcher, Clive) with a thin calcite dressing. The main dish was a spread of free-range rock pieces nestling in a bed of East Mendip mud and gravel. Digging was ended with trays of organic sediment compot, delicately carved from the walls of the rift, accompanied by calciferous chippings. The way on is down, possibly beneath an undercut, in feculent conditions. Duncan Fernhill - 17 Feb Dave, Rich, Mike, Alan and Clive Last weeks bang had done a good job and Alan spent some time at the base of the rift loading the skip with rocks both large and small. By the end of the session a pile of 5 large blocks remained to be banged along with the 'base' of last weeks mega boulder. These were duly drilled and popped on departure. The working area at the base of the rift is now becoming more comfortable - the rift width at this point being around 3.5ft. The base of the overhanging wall (to the right) is clearly well undercut, waterworn and slightly stal'ed and is heading away fairly horizontally. It impossible to see how far it goes due to the rubble in the way. No obvious draught at this point but the air does stay fresh. There will be quite a bit of boulder removal to do yet awhile.... Clive Hilliers - 17 Feb I use the term "team" in its minimal sense since it was a team of one. Work resumed surveying inwards from station 66 to 95. 1 1/2 hours until my bladder, thirst & boredom got the better of me. Its is awkward going due to the bouldery chokey nature of the cave. Duncan Fernhill - 10 Feb Rich, Dave, Gonzo, Duncan, Alan Gray, Clive Having bagged up the tipped rubbish - most likely the aftermath of a rave or similar .... lots of bottles, cans crisps packets, T-lights and the occassional sleeping bag etc - and left it in the car park for the Martin Grass rubbish lorry we quickly got underground. That is after some of us were reduced to defrosting our hands on the radiator in Daves car! Last weeks bang had done it job - a large piles of large rocks at the bottom and a very large detached piece of boulder left in situ at the top. This was duly roped-up and dragged out. It then just remained to drill three full depth holes in the massive block at the foot of the rift then 'fire and retire' to a packed Waggon and Horses. Packed upstairs that is with the country and western crowd - who were absolutely quiet! You could have heard a pin drop! Much publishing discussion ensued over the Wookey-Bookey etc and by around 11pm we had decided that we call it a night. It was commented that Mandy and Matt hadn't shown up and that as it was a freezing cold night and the West End Series wasn't our cup of tea - we go home! (We felt they'd be in the hunters in front of a much warmer fire that the one in the Waggon!) Clive Fernhill - Feb 3rd Mandy, Matt, Alan G, Rich, Clive, Gonzo & Mike R. Oh! nearly forgot, & Dave. The Padlock on the Quarry entrance gate was probably the trickiest part of the evenings activities. With the padlock now at the end of its useful life. The right noises will be made in the right places to have it dispatched and replaced. On arriving at the rift dig in Fernhill, Mike commenced digging at the bottom, passing up the spoil in the usual fashion whilst Matt, Mandy and Dave took a look at the passage that Alan had announced looked promising in the bottom of Curtain Passage. Neither Mandy or Dave managed to squeeze into the confined space, so that just left Matt to cast his eye over the potential site, suffice to it is without interest, so back to the main chamber. After a suitable amount of spoil had been removed from the rift, Clive stepped in to drill three (I think) holes in the left wall and proceeded to repack them with a material that would when excited make a break for freedom. Mike, after his gallant efforts in the rift was making his own break for freedom with the drill. Unfortunately, Clive needed to ream out one of the holes so Matt was dispatched to catch up with Mike, hopefully before he got to the car park, and retrieve the drill. Holes reamed, filled and communication link attached, all then join the exit queue at the bottom of the entrance rift. When all at a safe distance, Clive sent the exciting signal down the communication link to the hole filling material, which had the desired result of rocks being flung around. Dave, who had been waiting at the bottom of the entrance rift, cautiously entered the main chamber to observe the movement of the fine airborne particulates. The obvious draft through the break through passage kept the first half of the bench clear, but there was no discernable direction to the air flow within the main chamber apart from the void filling with the aftermath of the rock shattering commotion in the rift. Then off for the usual re-hydration therapy at W&H's. Dave K. Fernhill - 27 Jan 2010 Rich, Alan, Mike R, Clive, Gonzo and Paul continued work in the rift. Clive started at the face assisted by Paul with Mike at the top of the rift. The 'football' method of spoil removal was used with these being passed to Gonz and Rich for stacking. At the bottom of the rift is now a muddy puddle one side and on the other a slab bridging the rift with the way on below it. Lying on top of the slab it was possible to clear the spoil to the side but we were limited to a arms length. After reaching this limit Clive drilled and banged at the top of the rift. Mike uncovered a largish rock that needs popping before it can come out. We now need to plan how to attack the slab (calling it a slab maybe a bit OTT but its a word we dont use enough). It goes roughly 3ft into the mud below. Alan investigated a hole in Curtain Chamber and proved there is currently no voice connection with the rift. Paul. FCQ -27 Jan. Dave K, Matt and Mandy. Fernhill Wed 20th Jan. Matt, Mandy, Rich, Alan, Gonzo & Dave. On the way in to Fernhill it was decided that we remove the various redundant timbers from the bottom of the entrance rift, since we never seem to get round to bring them out at the end of a digging session, probably due to being too dry of throat. Gonzo then continued digging in the rift of the main chamber whilst Dave, Matt & Mandy passed the mud balls on up to Rich & Alan for stacking on the spoil heap. Towards the end of the session the plywood board that had been deployed to prevent the spoil falling down the rift was removed. More digging still required. Dave K. Withyhill - 20 Jan 2010 Final surveying trip (solo). Picking up a few bits in the area of East Rift. Resurveyed through Bypass Grotto and to Helectite Corner where there is a view into 5m + of open passage beyond some calcited blocks. This probably connects with the same passage that Tav looked at above Bypass Grotto. The survey has identified several leads but all would compromise formations if pushed. Got out at 10 pm to find Gonzo walking across the quarry to see if I was OK. Dave King kindly took my drink order as I got to the car park. Now there's service. Duncan Withyhill - 2 Jan 2010 Duncan did some more surveying in the area of East Rift and was later joined by Gonzo and Pete Bolt who had been down Fernhill. Then off to the W&H for some fermented apple juice. Honeymead - 30 Dec 2009 Rich, Al, Mandy & Tav to Honeymead to investigate the dodgy slab reported to Ali recently. Slab was found to be not much of an issue but with a bit of heave-ho was duly despatched to safer ground. All then descended to The Watershed and then Mandy and Tav went down to the terminal rift in Blood Alley to check CO2 levels, which were fine. Had a good nose around everything we could do without a ladder before heading out. Nice to see the old place which I'm happy to report remains a nice cave and still in remarkably good condition. Withyhill - 30 Dec 2009 Antoinette & Duncan surveyed East Rift (near to Elephant's Trunk Chamber). The area is more complex than Wig's survey suggests therefore we didn't have time to pick up a couple of other places so another trip is required. Withyhill - 23 Dec 2009 Duncan, Dave K and Rick Stanton surveyed from Pillar Chamber to the end. The final chamber is undoubtedly the best in the cave but a tight squeeze guards entry. This caused considerable gonad trauma on exit. Rick's first ever caving trip was to Withybrook Slocker in 1979 but we didn't have time to see the "other end". One more trip should complete work (I said that last time). Duncan Withyhill - 20 Dec Duncan Price, John Cooper & Barry Weaver surveyed from Perl Chamber to the end of Pillar Chamber. The survey is complete bar a couple of bits near to Elephant's Trunk Chamber which I hope to do on Wednesday before drinking mulled wine over at Fernhill. No cats this time. Atlas Xmas Dinner - 16 Dec A wonderful evening was spent at the Waggon & Horses with new and old friends.The evening started with skittles and after the meal the Fernhill film was shown. Alan Gray read out the annual report. Withyhill - 9th Dec 2009 Duncan Price & Mike Richardson. Surveying the area of the 2nd boulder choke, the top of which is 10 m below the surface at ST 65571 47202. This is 2 m to the north east of the field boundary with the land containing Withybrook Slocker/Parfitt's Cave. The bottom of the choke is at the same level as the base level in Withybrook Slocker some 35 m away. Duncan 9th December 2009 - Fernhill Cave [Fairy Cave Quarry] – Alan Gray, Gonzo, Pete Flanagan, Clive North, Alan Merry, Dave King, Richard Witcombe. Alan Fernhill - Wed 2nd Dec Alan, Richard, Dave K, Mandy, Tony B, Gonzo and Paul. The evening started with Dr B plug and feathering at the top of the rift. This was to allow more room for hauling the skips (certainly not the diggers!!). During a break Gonzo persuaded Dave and Mandy into the rift and digging commenced. After the clag had been persuaded from the skip it was passed to Richard for stacking. Alan inspected the rift wall and pointed out a worrying fault/crack much to the delight of the diggers below it. Around 20 skips were emptied and then to the W&H to join the secret diggers who had ventured into Swildons. See you on Wed I hope. Paul. Withyhill - Wed 2nd Dec Duncan & Tav surveyed from the junction of Green Lake Grotto to the base of the ascending choke of doom close to Parfitt's Cave (station 197). One more trip would be required to take this in. The only major part of the cave un-resurveyed is from Pearl Chamber to the end beyond Pillar Chamber.
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