4th July     L118, Poulacapple Project 

PMcG, PC
11:00: Cloud 100%, base 70ft: Wind SW, F5/F 7: Visibility 2Nm: Temp 15°C: Gauge 0mm: Ground wet. The Plan: Dig. Picked up PMcG at Gragan’s Wood (ITM 519145 x 701600). Grim weather conditions kept the turf footers away. PMcG descended to review progress, handing up bits of ‘Benny’ to clear the area, the pieces used to continue building the neat wall east of the depression. Continued lifting more spoil, clays and small rocks. Changed places, split the two large boulders using P&G’s, depth noticeably increasing. Substantial amount of clays and rocks had collapsed from beneath the ‘pinned’ boulder, covering the previous weeks view. Another boulder was uncovered, and dismantled; its neighbours too - offering a clearer view of the southern side bedrock, and unstable, compacted debris above. This overhanging face needs shoring, to avoid injury when emptying the developing rift feature below. More stone, clay and rock removed, achieving a further metre of depth – exposing three holes, each with darkness beyond, and bedrock exposed on the west side. Spoil area behind the western shoring at its limit. The bedrock converges forming a rift, its gravel floor, around a metre, or so, below the present dig invert, seemingly heading SW- ish. No light, so a clear view into the voids was inhibited. Had tea, out of the gale, and rain. This situation requires infrastructure, to contain the dodgy area and facilitate hauling, not least create a small working platform, both diggers a target for small pieces of spoil during hauling. Intend allow exposed area to ‘stabilize’, say a few weeks, in the meantime shift operations to L199, (Dig) and L200, (possible open passage), purchase galvanized scaffold tube, convey it and scaffold clips to L118, en-route to the southern sites, to reduce ‘down time’. PMcG took photos. A Crackin’ session.
Pat Cronin

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