An early morning run around the upper series of Swildon's. Zig Zags, Long dry way, Old Grotto, Water Chamber, Eight Foot Drop and back out the wet way. @RichM: Having agreed that a run round the upper series of Swildon's would be useful before LCMLA assessment as normal finding the time to achieve it proved difficult. Following a knotting practice earlier in the week we exchanged texts then had an indecisive phone call - ending in LETS JUST DO IT !. Entering the cave at 00:15 in true JC / RM style w ...

Cleared all spoil from the bottom of the dig which has filled with water, stopped draughting and no obvious way on - perhaps it's time to rest the dig for a while?

A productive digging session clearing Enema Result passage @RichM: After a break for a few weeks to let the water levels drop three of us headed for Bath. Having got very cold on the last trip battling out against copious quantities of melt water I decided to wear thermals and a neofleece in case it was still wet and cold. All very dry with massive cold draught but much warmer than the surface, so I soon started to bake and wished I had worn a fleece. Lots of fresh silt in the cave and many areas wa ...

First outing in the Perception Dancer K2, pleasant conditions, paddled down into Bath. @JonnyC: For once this log starts before leaving the house, only so that I can extend my thanks to Rich for putting up with my little paddy and snapping me out of my moody moment! We arrived at Batheaston with a slight feeling of trepidation, mindful that this place quite often represents cold, wet, near hypothermic dissapointments from our K2 winter training programme. After retrieving 'the tank' from the roo ...

A short paddle in the winter sun. Water flowing fairly fast but approximately 30cm lower than normal. Launched from the jetty and paddled upstream to the wier and returned planning to run downstream. Due to the shallow coditions the concrete under the road bridge caused me to ground - couldn't turn or reverse but managed to get free, others didn't follow I then couldn't get back up so had to exit downstream up the steep muddy bank.

Cleared all the spoil from the bottom of the railway to the surface whilst more was prepared at the dig face for next week

Cleared spoil out of the bottom of the dig back to the end of the railway and 7 skips to the surface. Everywhere very drippy and quite cold. Rift looks like it changes direction. @RichM: Following a misfire last Sunday due to the delayed get not going off this was rectified during the week with further charge - successful, lots spoil produced. Further charge placed in the rift.

Walk on the Beacons from SWCC, path & micro nav in low vis, great terrain, damp with variable cloud base shrouding high ground @JonnyC: Out from SWCC heading out toward Fan Fraith along the dismantled tramway and then the 'motorway', quick dash into the quarries for a cache allowing the army cadets to overtake. Heading up the shoulder of Fan Gyhirych we reviewed ground conditions and decided rather than breaking path to the East for Fan Nedd we would break West for the summit of Fan Gyhirych. Micr ...

Led trip into Dany, with some route finding, exploring, photography into Cloud Chamber and Flabbergasm and return, quite wet. @RichM: After an early start, we met up at the national show Caves of Wales. Having negotiated the guard of dinosaurs we entered via the trade entrance (cunningly hidden in a big door)we quickly did the tourist area and arrived at a sign danger deep water. As the sign made no mention of cold water we climbed over the railings and were soon swimming upstream in fffreezing water ...

Smooth downhill section, refreshments and tough uphill ride. @JonnyC: The challenge was in the uphill section!!