It's been a long while since any of us have got underground and
this afternoon we ended up going down Tynebottom. In the morning we had been to
visit and have a trip into Ayle Colliery (but that's another story), so with
time short for a lengthy trip, visiting here worked out nicely considering we
wanted to look at the state of a shaft that we could not find last
time.
Having paid the trespass fee, we kitted up and headed in via the
river entrance - Tynebottom A / Sun Vein Level. All the way to the mine
everyone had been grumbling about having something to eat so the first thing we
all did was have lunch as soon as we reached the flats at the junction with
North Vein.
After this we ended up looking at the state of a shaft
bottom to see how it could be cleared - but that is all that can be said for
now. Once evaluated, we made our way through the flats looking at formations
and then back into the level that passes under them. Near to where the level
ends we climbed back into the flats and came across an aluminium ladder,
followed closely by someone collecting specimens. We had a chat, and were
pointed back the way we came to look at some pink stalactites - the result of
cobalt staining. We had seen pink cobalt staining before but had missed the
stalactites. These were small and very pretty up on the roof of the level.
Returning back to the flats we carried on, meeting another collector and then
stopping at a calcified rise we met Helen Wilkinson perched up on some deads.
Had a quick chat and carried on through the flats until we came out onto the
Tynebottom B / Wisen's Level junction. Here we went to have a look at the start
of the deep water and the rather splendid calcite flow from a rise. On the way
out we passed a little mine pearl nursery, and that was
it. |
