The Old Ruminator
Well-known member
This month I have passed two significant milestones for me. First my 70th birthday and second my 100th digging trip at the current site ( which I am not supposed to write about but you know where I mean ). Both events have caused some rumination and I am rather amazed that I have even reached the age of 70 intact and still compus mentus ( ish ). Regarding the latter ( my 100th days digging ) makes me ask myself what sort of caver I am. Explorer, digger, photographer ? So to answer that , Ignoring the fact that I might be a speleological polymath, I ask myself what aspect of the hobby would I miss the most. Well it's the digging. I just love it and would sorely miss my weekly trip. I look forward to it as well. It is said that the journey is the most rewarding and that the destination an anti climax. That is very true with cave digging. Sure The Frozen Deep was a fantastic find for us but I recall what I said at the time. " That's a pity we have lost our dig ". We still have "Magic Smoke" down there but the trip back and forth was getting a bit tiring.
Off we went to find an "easy " Summer surface dig. The site we chose was obvious. It had a site hut already there. No Mendip surface dig is complete without a site hut. Sadly we cant add a nice little patio or tart it up too much because it is in an SSSI. You might have gathered by now that Mendip surface digging is somewhat akin to having an allotment. Lots of older people congregate there make tea and spuddle about. Very good for the soul. ( if you have one ). So, yes, a digger first and foremost. You can at least carry that on into old age. It's my visit to the gym and a good exercise in problem solving. You could say its an adjunct to my social life. ( poor that it is ). Three of us have dug together for 55 years. Never a cross word --- er no not true we are always arguing. We dont actually expect to find anything. There is no significant cave for over a mile away. Well in any case that would ruin a good dig and the last thing I would want is a great big hairy pitch. Some poor diggers further over on Mendip had that. Such a nice site hut too.
Yesterday was my 100th trip in just over two years. I actually enjoyed it being wedged in a rift passing boulders up a vertical shaft held together with scaffolding and mesh. You have to have a small degree of trust in your fellow workers. Actually I havn't as they have dropped things on me before breaking my arm. ( ouch ! ). No I don't trust the blighters at all but hey ho needs must. Well only a heavy karabiner got dropped on me yesterday. Right on my poor arm. You might think that digging with two retired doctors would improve my confidence but it doesn't. Add the vet and the pharmacist and we seem to have it all covered . ( The vet asked me to stick out my tongue when my hand got hurt -- I did say " shall I say miow ?") You have to see the funny side of pain sometimes.
So here I am marveling at the scaffolding recently inserted. Perhaps the rift below could be called " No Place to Run " and the shaft above " The Egg Timer ". I think you get the point.
So here is " The Egg Timer ". About 10 metres of dodgy boulders held neatly together by scaffolding. ( "Heresy, heresy" the Mendip purists shout ). Well just lets hope the time is not running out again.
Here is " The Demolition Man " at the sharp end blowing dust from his drill hole. Very useful that generator up top until it stops and a volunteer has to go out and sort it. Not me. I have not a clue about mechanical things.
Off we went to find an "easy " Summer surface dig. The site we chose was obvious. It had a site hut already there. No Mendip surface dig is complete without a site hut. Sadly we cant add a nice little patio or tart it up too much because it is in an SSSI. You might have gathered by now that Mendip surface digging is somewhat akin to having an allotment. Lots of older people congregate there make tea and spuddle about. Very good for the soul. ( if you have one ). So, yes, a digger first and foremost. You can at least carry that on into old age. It's my visit to the gym and a good exercise in problem solving. You could say its an adjunct to my social life. ( poor that it is ). Three of us have dug together for 55 years. Never a cross word --- er no not true we are always arguing. We dont actually expect to find anything. There is no significant cave for over a mile away. Well in any case that would ruin a good dig and the last thing I would want is a great big hairy pitch. Some poor diggers further over on Mendip had that. Such a nice site hut too.
Yesterday was my 100th trip in just over two years. I actually enjoyed it being wedged in a rift passing boulders up a vertical shaft held together with scaffolding and mesh. You have to have a small degree of trust in your fellow workers. Actually I havn't as they have dropped things on me before breaking my arm. ( ouch ! ). No I don't trust the blighters at all but hey ho needs must. Well only a heavy karabiner got dropped on me yesterday. Right on my poor arm. You might think that digging with two retired doctors would improve my confidence but it doesn't. Add the vet and the pharmacist and we seem to have it all covered . ( The vet asked me to stick out my tongue when my hand got hurt -- I did say " shall I say miow ?") You have to see the funny side of pain sometimes.
So here I am marveling at the scaffolding recently inserted. Perhaps the rift below could be called " No Place to Run " and the shaft above " The Egg Timer ". I think you get the point.
So here is " The Egg Timer ". About 10 metres of dodgy boulders held neatly together by scaffolding. ( "Heresy, heresy" the Mendip purists shout ). Well just lets hope the time is not running out again.
Here is " The Demolition Man " at the sharp end blowing dust from his drill hole. Very useful that generator up top until it stops and a volunteer has to go out and sort it. Not me. I have not a clue about mechanical things.