A brief pause while we added 30m of extra rope and swore at the CCPC rigging guide, and we reached the bottom.
Tim started down the natural passages and ferreting in the South Western most passages. Two possible dig sites were identified in a tight vertical rift. "1b" was judged to be a bit tight. "1a" has more space and certaily goes down. Both sites are a little awkward to get to and spoil removal could prove a little difficult. More exploration and ferreting took place in the East series above "Lords Chamber". Tim was shoved down ¹ a hole off a mined passage. This turned out to get very tight and then open out into a small chamber. This chamber has a mud / choss floor and has at least two ways on forward. Coming out, the site was labeled "2" and plans were made. OK this site may not be as low as "1" but its easier to get to (forgetting the 100m+ of SRT to get to the Dig face) and also has large mined passage that goes nowhere to dump spoil.
Now all we have to do is organise the dig.
On 18-Feb-02 Tim phoned the farmer. Nothing can now stand in our way² !
23-Feb-02 TW + BS trip down. Enlarge entrance crawl and then 4 feet of progress going down at angle of 45° in natural passage. Started off as miners choss / clay. Now into pure mud with a few rocks. On the way out of the cave replaced a P-Bolt.
10-Mar-02 TW + BS gain another few feet of passage and haul out a large rock. The passage on the left of the spoil dumping passage just before the drip is voice linked to "Girlie Medic Chamber"
17-Mar-02TW + BS trip. Dig for a few feet and then survey the 10m of passageway that we broke in to :-) . Complete plan of Robins including new passage here³. OK we knew this passage was going to be there because at the end of the previous session, we could see the passage though a 2 inch gap. Hence why we "happened to have survey kit with us". New passage drops down at about 10°. Clear rock roof with mud floor. Passage ends in small chamber with a diggable way on as a 1 inch gap at floor level.
Mar 2002 - Fame!!! http://www.hnh.dircon.co.uk/cave0203.htm#robins
21-Apr-02 TW, BS, BMcK trip. Enlarge beginning of new passage then dig end. Way on observed as more airspace of 6"+ for 2-3 m
25-Mar-02 TW, BS, Bill trip. Chumpy chamber enlarged. Previously observed airspace entered and enlarged for 1-2m
23-Jun-02 TW,BS, Biffa Ben. The only way on is to drop the floor by a foot. Another 2m and crowbars waved into the "event horizon". It helps if you're thin and flexible
7-Sep-02 BS, Biffa Ben, Bridget (SWSS) . What happens if you let Welsh cavers down your dig? They break the buckets!
Oct-02 TW, BS, DP , ??.What happens if it rains lots before you go digging? Tim spends an hour and a half in 1 1/2 ft of water in the bottom.
2005 Digging has continued. We're now some 6m beyond, chumpy chamber, which is now some 4 feet deeper than it used to be.