The "hose fairies" are working on it as we speak 😉

80m @6m = 14lengths = 84m total. Bauer connectors.

Can't visualise the arrangement off the top of my head.....could any of this be done with lay-flat? Its not easy but we have done a few where we initiate the syphon and then attach lay-flat to discharge? Just a thought....

Marvellous :)

6m lengths easy to carry, but needs 1 person each. If these, by the magic power of the Adit Now crew, could generally make their merry way to the western end of DE floor (where it connects to Cwm) for Tuesday (when the GB team are there), then we'd be able to get them installed, working and draining for Thursday Night 2nd June.

Baoer couplings are fine. All the others are Camlock but I can make up an interface hose so your Baoer ones running down the level to the sump connect to our Camlock ones running along DE and down the shaft to the butterfly valve near the bottom on G floor.

Layflat can't replace the suction hose as the vertical drop in the shaft is only about 45' I think. Layflat could however be used beyond this to direct the discharge neatly.

So for a plan:

1) Sinker tries to aquire hoses
2) AN crew attempt to get hoses to site by Wednesday
3) GB crew on Tuesday initiate sipon and get water down to E
4) GB crew on Wednesday use Baoer pipes to chase water down E floor
5) Water should be all gone for Thursday trip

...Does this seem possible?

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Short story...

We tried to get the two 30m lengths down in one go. They we all rolled up and taped into neat coils, ideal for rolling.

Miles (at head of BVI): "Bit heavy this innit lads..."
Lads: all nod disapprovingly
Miles "Do you think we should just let it roll down the BVI?"
Lads: "dunno, should be alright?"
Miles: "Whats the worst that can happen?"
Lads: all look nervous and start shuffling foot to foot
Miles: "ahhh be reet!"

...Cue two huge rolls screaming down the BVI at terrifying speed, not stopping at all, smashing into everything sending shattered pipe fragments everywhere to the horror of all who witness it...

Oh my.....;( They were solid coils too eeek.

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When is this getting carried in? I have a fair bit of free time until Tuesday and would be awesome to be a part of this 😉 I'll check back.

It sounds like the plan might not be going as swiftly as set out above. Is any lugging and/or admiring expected this week?

Not heard from Sinker about the extra hose, poor chap is probably struggling with it :confused:

Plan is that some of us GB lads are in there anyway tomorrow (Wednesday) and as part of our work we will restart the siphon and get the intake strainer as deep as we can, at least to chamber floor level.

This will then start the water clearing, but it will take easily a day or two to shift. We don't know exactly because we've not done it before.

However, hopefully by Thursday night it will have finished, or at least nearly finished, so we can go back up for a look :)

So hopefully yes, Thursday evening will be a "see what we can of Old Vein E Floor" trip :)

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Sounds good to me! 😮

And im going to miss all this.

bloody work :curse::curse::curse::curse::curse:

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It looks like I'm not the only one who thought going back the day after was a bit early! Any plans forming regarding a return visit tomorrow?

It looks like I'm not the only one who thought going back the day after was a bit early! Any plans forming regarding a return visit tomorrow?

I didn't get back in today, sounds like nobody did?

I *might* be able to pop for quick look tomorrow (Saturday) but if I do it'll have to be a flying visit!

ttfn :thumbsup:

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Just thought I'd provide an update for those who couldn't come.

We arrived at the DE-OV link to discover the water about 5-6 foot lower than normal and that we could pass into cwm's OV with ease and dryness.

The water was still dropping (having been dropping for about 30 hours) but was almost at the intake.

With the level dropped it was easier to see the lay of the land on the chamber floor and became obvious that the intake was not at the lowest point.

Edwin rather heroically got into the water which went up to his nose at the deepest point, and he got the strainer down to the floor at this point so now it really is at the bottom.

Right now then I would expect the chamber to virtually empty.

So what did we see?

The level progressing towards the incline was just emerging but of course it slants downwards slightly so progress that way was not possible at that time.

Particularly satisfying was the presence of the level going the other way (east), which going slightly uphill had enough airspace for Edwin to go for a swim along it. He went a reasonable way but opted to come back before finding the end. On the map this level is shown as blind, and almost certainly is but you never know.

Of interest (to me at least) in this level were some well formed stalactites on the roof. This roof level was certainly below the normal standing water surface level.

These could not have formed when the tunnel was "dry" as although the tunnel was cut about 120 years ago, it has been submerged for at least 115 of those. Therefore my conclusion is that this tunnel *must* have retained some air space under pressure. I remember having this debate a couple of years ago, as to whether this phenomena was possible over many decades.

Anyway - not much else to report at this time.

MM

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TwllMawr and I had a look this morning; we could go all the way to the dead ends on both sides. Will post pics later!

Ps I tried but my computer struggles. Will try tomorrow!

Was it still siphoning?

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I don't think so, the siphon was only under inches of water.

Was it still siphoning?

No. water had risen above the spout by a few inches so not long since broke the syphon... Timing!

Deepest point of OV-E is at the incline sump (as expected there I suppose). Chin deep and because of the roof height. Playing footsy with the compressor pipe is interesting. A few things discovered. Others may find more though.

TwllMawr and I had a look this morning; we could go all the way to the dead ends on both sides. Will post pics later!

Ps I tried but my computer struggles. Will try tomorrow!

Must have just missed you, I went back (with Chris) just after lunch today.

Must have been a bit deeper, yes the siphon had stopped and it was on the way up. The intake was maybe a foot deep by the time we were there.

I followed the level to what must have been very almost the incline but alas there was barely a few inches of airspace left and frankly I thought it best to turn around. So I didn't make it to the incline foot - but it sounds like you did?

I did go the other way (East) to the end of the level. I found an old oak ladder here and a small rise, which I did not climb. I saw a smallish looking hand print in the mud which looked fairly fresh - so I wondered if anybody had been before me.

What did you find beyond the incline then?

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Yes we got beyond the incline. We saw the chambers that are on the map. The narrow one is quite cute! But photography in that region was hard as our tripods were lower than the water level... And we also went into the level on the other side, with the ladder, so yes that was my hand print you saw! I have a picture of that rise, which indeed must have been dry all the time.
And we were veritable keen beans; we were in by 8 and out by 10AM. In hindsight, that was perfect timing!

Yes we got beyond the incline. We saw the chambers that are on the map. The narrow one is quite cute! But photography in that region was hard as our tripods were lower than the water level... And we also went into the level on the other side, with the ladder, so yes that was my hand print you saw! I have a picture of that rise, which indeed must have been dry all the time.
And we were veritable keen beans; we were in by 8 and out by 10AM. In hindsight, that was perfect timing!

Yes, sounds like you timed it absolutely spot on. A few hours earlier or later, you probably would not have been able to get through.

SO - it would be nice to extend that pipe all the way into the OVI sump. What do you reckon the distance being? I figured about 80m, which I still think is roughly on the money.

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Blimey I was so interested in vertical distances (water level vs bodily dimensions) I struggle to conjure up horizontal ones. But I suppose the map gives a good idea?

Hi Miles.

We guestimated the draw down so figured around 7.30am. I think we were there about 8.20am. At that time the OV sump was about 5' deep with <1' clearance at the east roof. 80Mts would be around the distance. Steepens more towards the OV incline (each side). Few artefacts were found and not many landmarks. And as Margot mentioned difficult to photograph. The known downward Easterly D roofing shafts could make interesting trips if the syphon could be made automatic. Apologies for being the early birds. By the way, that easterly tunnel was a lot easier at CWD!:)