Templton dig

[darren]

Bit late posting this trip report, but I thought Cookie may like to read it.

Thurs 12th oct.

Went to WCC where me and joker waited for root until 9ish. He did say go on without him to Swildens, but the company was good at WCC so we waited.

9:00ish came and it was time to stop waiting. Mr and Ms farmer said we could tag along while they showed Known a dig called Templetones dig, or possibly temple dig. Lesw came too so he could demonstrate how not to get muddy

Drove into the middle of a field, parked the car and


HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA icon_biggrin.gif icon_biggrin.gif icon_biggrin.gif icon_biggrin.gif icon_biggrin.gif icon_biggrin.gif icon_biggrin.gif HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH icon_lol.gif icon_lol.gif icon_lol.gif icon_lol.gif icon_lol.gif hahahahahaha icon_smile.gif icon_smile.gif icon_smile.gif icon_smile.gif icon_biggrin.gif icon_lol.gif .

Didn't stop laughing for the next 30 minutes as I climbed up and down this dig.

It had Dumper truck, Hydraulic lift, more ladders and platforms than a fire escape from a 5 story building. The dig was described as 8 foot long, but 150 meters deep. Yep that about sums it up.

I paid my pound and had a go at rock breaking. I can now claim they couldn't have done it with out me.

Did I mention the seven years it has taken so far?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHA i :ang: :ang: :ang: HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHA .

Explosives have I mentioned the explosives 
I am still sitting here laughing as I type this.


I have just read this in preview and am still smiling.

Must go and have a proper dig, if I'm allowed, when they are working one evening. I'll do it soon in the winter shouldn't be a problem with all the spotlights they have and the two generators. I'm not sure but they may have to use the smaller generator to start the big 38kva one. Oh had I forgotten to mention the generators.

I have probably also forgotten to mention the 4x4 pick up they use to power the hydraulic pump for the hoist. They have connected the pump to the front/rear diff box.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHA i :ang: :ang: :ang: HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHA

Rooks, clunk you have just got to see this.

Post script.
The trip was well over a month ago, and I am still laughing and smiling as I write this

 

[shotlighter]

38KVA - what on earth is your dig, a small working pit!

 

[Les W]

You could say that http://tinyurl.com/2ho356  :-\

 

[shotlighter]

You could say that http://tinyurl.com/2ho356  :-\

Hmm open pit mining too. It'll be Volvo dump trucks next!

 

[Les W]

You've not seen the dumper yet then 

 

[shotlighter]

Good grief, it looks fun - lots of luck with it.
I know if i looked through my back issues of Descent I'd find the answer but is it in the blank bit between Swildons & the Cheddar caves?

 

[graham]

No, it's roughly between Swildons and Wookey.

 

[shotlighter]

No, it's roughly between Swildons and Wookey.

Sorry, as you've probably guessed my knowledge of Mendips (being a very minor caving area ) topography is very sketchy - I thought  Wookey was in the Cheddar gorge.

 

[Elaine]

If you drew a triangle that connected Swildons and Cuthberts with Wookey Hole then Templeton is nicely in the middle.This places it nicely above where Eastwater could also drain. Hopefully all three meet up before they get to Templeton and we will break into the master cave. 
Also we are nicely placed to pick up Hillgrove on its way to Rodney Stoke Risings. 

Templeton is becoming an increasingly expensive dig to run though. I have a cunning plan. Based on Darren's trip there. I thought we could take people there for a guided tour, and pile up a couple of rocks at the bottom, hand them the sledgehammer, tell them to go for it... and then give them a certificate at the end which says we could not have done it without them! Cost - ?5?

 

[darren]

You'll all have to get a move on if you want to visit this dig.

When I was their I was assured that their was only a couple more feet to  go and they would break through in a week or so. :-\

 

[wormster]

Templeton is becoming an increasingly expensive dig to run though. I have a cunning plan. Based on Darren's trip there. I thought we could take people there for a guided tour, and pile up a couple of rocks at the bottom, hand them the sledgehammer, tell them to go for it... and then give them a certificate at the end which says we could not have done it without them! Cost - ?5?

OOOOO I'd happily pay that to have a looky next time i'minnarea forsure

 

[Goydenman]

How deep is templeton pot now then and how wide is the shaft at the bottom?

 

[Hughie]

It's still 170'! However digging is about to recommence now the new winch is installed and pumps have been re-arranged.

At the bottom it's an eliptical shaped rift about 12' x 5' at it's widest.

Also the "Pot" bit can be dropped - it's officially recognised as "Templeton".

 

[cap n chris]

Surely Templecity would be more apt?

 

[graham]

Who is it that has officially recognised the name?

 

[Elaine]

Mr Whitcombe.

 

[graham]

How times change. Wig would simply have recorded all the alternates that had been used.

 

[bru]

I'll chip in for a rock breaking certificate  I'd love to check out the dig and help out sometime guys as I've only seen Templeton from space* so far....

*on google earth rather than from a rocket obviously

 

[Elaine]

You will be very welcome - come along on a Monday or Wednesday evening for a guided tour. Let me know when you want to come, and we'll look out for you. We have the new winch working though there is something wrong with it and it goes about a metre every 10 seconds or more. Hopefully we can speed it up very soon.