cap n chris
Well-known member
CUCKOO CLEEVES' NEW ENTRANCE INSTALLATION WORKING WEEKEND:
Saturday 6th & Sunday 7th January 2007
Wayne S (owner), Les W (foreman), Carmen (photographer, belayer and general dogsbody & calming influence), Phil H (belayer, digger, general assistance), Doug H (general advice and general assistance, mud monkey), Stu (rock shifter), Hughie & Elaine (cavalry and savers-of-the-night).
The weekend for the installation of the new entrance arrived. The structure was designed and fabricated courtesy the caving landowner Wayne S and Dave M who provided the concrete ring (thank you!). A keen and enthusiastic working party was assembled to undertake the preparation, delivery and siting - the smiles couldn't be wiped from our faces, we were that keen! First off was the need to clear the previous entrance of the mud, stonework, metalwork and belay and take out all and any obstructions so that the new concrete ring could sit on top of the rings already in situ. The weather was dull and wet and didn't improve so the conditions underfoot were appalling.
Les drives across the fields (with acknowledgements to the farmer) to deliver tools and fortitude: Wayne and myself had to push the vehicle from time to time as it got bogged down
The parlous state of the previously unloved entrance, mostly covered in mud causing problems with the padlock and the lid's hinges rusted apart
The first job on the Saturday was to clear all the mud away from the entrace, to expose the stonework and then to remove everything! Given that huge amounts of concrete had been used to secure an over-engineered monster of metalwork this was exceptionally hard going requiring perseverence with the crowbars and a lot of prising and breaking of rocks. The mud became very claggy which sapped energy from the workers in addition to the hard graft willingly and cheerfully engaged in. It appears that we had to eventually dig down somewhere in the region of about a metre altogether! Blinkin' heck!
The mudfest begins....
Digging down to expose the concrete rings was never going to be easy but work continued well after darkness had fallen.
Wayne and Les slog on....
Eventually work on this stage was completed and a return to base resulted in a rethinking of the next step: the original plan was to deliver the concrete ring to site in a trailer being towed by Les's 4x4 but this was obviously not going to be possible given the conditions and something a bit more heavy duty was going to be needed: a hasty begging phone call resulted in Hughie saying "Yes, I'll do it for you; but I can only come after 7:30 in the evenings". I asked whether he could come soon and he said "OK, I'll be there at 8:00pm". So, action stations, we're back on! ... Hughie and Elaine arrived in style and collected the new entrance and then we went in convoy to the gate and followed on foot to the surface depression.
The Cavalry arrive and make quick work of an otherwise impossible task....
The heavy concrete ring was eased into place whereupon it promptly slid downhill before coming to a halt, causing some raised heartbeats.
Hughie lowers the ring to the ground shortly before it whizzes off downhill doing a mud slalom narrowly avoiding key members of staff
Off then for liquid refreshment and supper at the Hunters. Day 1: 12 man hours labour; tractor delivery (another hour x 5 people, 2 of whom were spectators the other merely expendable targets).
Day two: the story so far...
The weather was far better and we had a larger working gang, the group of three being augmented with Carmen, Phil, Stu and Doug to make light work of a heavy problem. The concrete ring was belayed via two ropes so that its slippery descent to the bottom of the muddy slope was somewhat more controlled than last night's excitement and it was eventually levered, prised and coerced into place after much chipping away of rock and slithering around in the quagmire. It was like the First World War only without the death, or Germans.
Given the amount of mud spread everywhere it is unsurprising that I didn't get any photos (my gloves were coated) until the work was largely complete. The stream running to the entrance was piped and cemented into place and the ring was backfilled around the edges with all the extracted boulders from yesterday and then covered with some of the spare mossy rocks which are bountiful in the doline.
Wayne then had the honour of being the first to descend the new entrance (and also retrieve a chisel which Butterfingery Les had thrown down the hole yesterday evening).
Wayne goes caving....
Doug, Wayne and Stu
Day Two: 21+ person hours.
Total: approximately 38+ person hours.
With thanks to everyone who generously assisted with this worthy project! The fencing still needs to be replaced, the ground to recover and become grassed over, a culvert built etc.. - a BBQ/Drinks session will be organised and advertised in due course so if YOU want to come and assist with the completion of this project when it's less muddy, warmer and FAR EASIER, then there's plenty of room and you're welcome to help.
Watch this space.
:hug:
P.S. Carmen and Phil also took plenty of photos which should also show much of the "interesting" stuff when the concrete ring was being eased into place.
Thanks to: Wayne S, Dave M, Les W, Doug H, Hugh T, Elaine J, Phil H, Carmen, Stu. Sustenance was achieved at the Centre of the Universe. This was a joint CSCC/WCC/ACG endeavour.
Saturday 6th & Sunday 7th January 2007
Wayne S (owner), Les W (foreman), Carmen (photographer, belayer and general dogsbody & calming influence), Phil H (belayer, digger, general assistance), Doug H (general advice and general assistance, mud monkey), Stu (rock shifter), Hughie & Elaine (cavalry and savers-of-the-night).
The weekend for the installation of the new entrance arrived. The structure was designed and fabricated courtesy the caving landowner Wayne S and Dave M who provided the concrete ring (thank you!). A keen and enthusiastic working party was assembled to undertake the preparation, delivery and siting - the smiles couldn't be wiped from our faces, we were that keen! First off was the need to clear the previous entrance of the mud, stonework, metalwork and belay and take out all and any obstructions so that the new concrete ring could sit on top of the rings already in situ. The weather was dull and wet and didn't improve so the conditions underfoot were appalling.
Les drives across the fields (with acknowledgements to the farmer) to deliver tools and fortitude: Wayne and myself had to push the vehicle from time to time as it got bogged down
The parlous state of the previously unloved entrance, mostly covered in mud causing problems with the padlock and the lid's hinges rusted apart
The first job on the Saturday was to clear all the mud away from the entrace, to expose the stonework and then to remove everything! Given that huge amounts of concrete had been used to secure an over-engineered monster of metalwork this was exceptionally hard going requiring perseverence with the crowbars and a lot of prising and breaking of rocks. The mud became very claggy which sapped energy from the workers in addition to the hard graft willingly and cheerfully engaged in. It appears that we had to eventually dig down somewhere in the region of about a metre altogether! Blinkin' heck!
The mudfest begins....
Digging down to expose the concrete rings was never going to be easy but work continued well after darkness had fallen.
Wayne and Les slog on....
Eventually work on this stage was completed and a return to base resulted in a rethinking of the next step: the original plan was to deliver the concrete ring to site in a trailer being towed by Les's 4x4 but this was obviously not going to be possible given the conditions and something a bit more heavy duty was going to be needed: a hasty begging phone call resulted in Hughie saying "Yes, I'll do it for you; but I can only come after 7:30 in the evenings". I asked whether he could come soon and he said "OK, I'll be there at 8:00pm". So, action stations, we're back on! ... Hughie and Elaine arrived in style and collected the new entrance and then we went in convoy to the gate and followed on foot to the surface depression.
The Cavalry arrive and make quick work of an otherwise impossible task....
The heavy concrete ring was eased into place whereupon it promptly slid downhill before coming to a halt, causing some raised heartbeats.
Hughie lowers the ring to the ground shortly before it whizzes off downhill doing a mud slalom narrowly avoiding key members of staff
Off then for liquid refreshment and supper at the Hunters. Day 1: 12 man hours labour; tractor delivery (another hour x 5 people, 2 of whom were spectators the other merely expendable targets).
Day two: the story so far...
The weather was far better and we had a larger working gang, the group of three being augmented with Carmen, Phil, Stu and Doug to make light work of a heavy problem. The concrete ring was belayed via two ropes so that its slippery descent to the bottom of the muddy slope was somewhat more controlled than last night's excitement and it was eventually levered, prised and coerced into place after much chipping away of rock and slithering around in the quagmire. It was like the First World War only without the death, or Germans.
Given the amount of mud spread everywhere it is unsurprising that I didn't get any photos (my gloves were coated) until the work was largely complete. The stream running to the entrance was piped and cemented into place and the ring was backfilled around the edges with all the extracted boulders from yesterday and then covered with some of the spare mossy rocks which are bountiful in the doline.
Wayne then had the honour of being the first to descend the new entrance (and also retrieve a chisel which Butterfingery Les had thrown down the hole yesterday evening).
Wayne goes caving....
Doug, Wayne and Stu
Day Two: 21+ person hours.
Total: approximately 38+ person hours.
With thanks to everyone who generously assisted with this worthy project! The fencing still needs to be replaced, the ground to recover and become grassed over, a culvert built etc.. - a BBQ/Drinks session will be organised and advertised in due course so if YOU want to come and assist with the completion of this project when it's less muddy, warmer and FAR EASIER, then there's plenty of room and you're welcome to help.
Watch this space.
:hug: P.S. Carmen and Phil also took plenty of photos which should also show much of the "interesting" stuff when the concrete ring was being eased into place.
Thanks to: Wayne S, Dave M, Les W, Doug H, Hugh T, Elaine J, Phil H, Carmen, Stu. Sustenance was achieved at the Centre of the Universe. This was a joint CSCC/WCC/ACG endeavour.
