Russ, Nigel G and Mick went down New Goyden and Alan, Richard, Mark and I went down Frog pot. We had agreed to try a voice connection at 8pm for 2mins and then continuously between 8.15 and 8.30. We arrived at the top of the aven that leads to the too tight bedding by 7.30 so we started to dig out the crawl. The idea being to make a large way through to the bedding so digging out the bedding would be easier. The first section to the right hand bend was dug out to standing height making plenty of room for access.
It was then 8pm so I went into the bedding and blew the whistle. I heard a faint whistle was it an echo. No, I heard it again it quite far away. So I then shouted and to my surprise heard Mick shouting that he was in the passage approaching the bedding and would be there soon! After that we were not only able to talk to each other without shouting but could see each others lights. It was just the one bend prevented a visual connection. People then swapped around to chat with each and then the New Goyden team left for the surface having a longer trip. Mark and I dug a 3m trench in the sand/mud towards the bedding and then time was up to meet the others in the pub and celebrate. A rough guess is that the connection should be made by end of June.
NOTE: Plans have been made to re-open the Manchester Hole to Goyden connection
Sat June 17th so that we have two connections by end of June.