Blue Spring Cave Work Day III Photo's

[L Roebuck]

Here are a few photo's from the Blue Spring Cave Work Day III which was Sunday, Nov. 5th 2006. Apologies that I didn't get photo's of all the caver's who attended. Approximately 26 caver's and 5 visitors came out to Blue Spring Cave.

Here's the list of participants who deserve Big Thanks!
Tim Moore, Rosemarie MacDonell, Anne Elmore, Tony Pugh, Bob McCormack, Paul Moser, Brandon Powers, Jonathan Roberts, Marion O. Smith, Daniel Titus, Bill Walter, Chris Walter, Lonnie Carr, Don Harter, John Osteen, Terry Trubee, Mark Haggerty, Karl Niles, William Brown, Bill Jennings, Jay Greene, Kelly Norwood, Lisa Andrews, Kimberly Avery, Lynn Roebuck, Brian Roebuck

It was a great day to be in the cove!

An overview of the zip line for the bucket brigade

Humm? Where did that sign come from?

Spencer Mountain Grotto Chair, Tim Moore

The always inspiring, ever amazing, "Daniel Titus" arrives to help!

[L Roebuck]

Bill Walter and Anne Elmore take a break from the action. Note: Anne's camo wear: She does blend nicely into the fall scenery.

Don Harter mans the gravel chute in the cave's entrance.

Bill Walter on a return trip after driving the wheel barrow loads of rock to the flowstone.

Anne Elmore works in the cave to line the trail with big rocks.

A big thanks to Lonnie and Carolyn Carr because even Colonel Sanders showed up!

Paul Moser agrees the chicken was Finger-Licking Good!

"Good friends, Good Food, Good Times. Ain't that what its all about?" ~ Rob Robbins


Blue Spring Cave Work Day III Photo's Part 1

[Anne Elmore]

Wondering how it went in the cove on Sunday? It was great. We had 26 people who worked. Spencer Mountain Grotto was well represented with 15 members: Spencer Mtn. Grotto: Chairman Tim Moore, Lynn and Brian Roebuck, Rosemarie MacDonell, Anne Elmore, Tony Pugh, Bob McCormack, Paul Moser, Brandon Powers, Jonathan Roberts, Marion O. Smith, Daniel Titus, Bill and Chris Walter, and Lonnie Carr.
Others: Don Harter, John Osteen, Terry Trubee, Mark Haggerty, Karl Niles from Kentucky, William Brown, Bill Jennings, and Jay Greene. We even had three cute caverbabes who drove all the way from Atlanta for the day: Kelly Norwood, Lisa Andrews, and Kimberly Avery. (did I leave anyone out?)

On Thursday, Mark Joop, John Osteen, and myself (Anne Elmore) went in around noon with a generator, 16' 4x4s (you should have seen those suckers squeezing in the entrance), power drills, screws, and lumber for the new 30'x2' foot bridge over the low mud bog section. This was Mark's construction plan to avoid tracking mud in and out of the new entrance, and we believe it will make a tremendous difference in the mud situation in the cave. Good idea, Mark. By 6pm we finished the construction of the bridge and began outlining the trail with border rocks in preparation of Sunday's work day. When the crew showed up Sunday morning, everything was in place, including the zip line for the bucket brigade, the gravel chute in the entrance, and three wheelbarrows. Lonnie delivered the first of many scoops of white rock for the trail. He and Bob McCormack insisted on doing the back-breaking job of empting the scoop each time, guess Lonnie was counting the rocks. Everyone swapped jobs as their backs and shoulders gave out. Stubborn Bill Walter just wouldn't quit, while Marion O. kept asking when he could quit. You never know how these two are going to act underground; that's why you have to keep an eye on both of them. The trail is now graveled past the new foot bridge and continues to the left of the huge column formations, where it has been re-routed to stay on higher ground during rainy weather. The low section to the right of the formation area fills up with water and stays muddy; also there is a tiny little stalagmite fellow on the floor where the trail used to turn right that needs protection. We can't believe he's still standing!! A lot of the debris on the left has been cleared out, and the huge boulders have been broken up and moved to outline the trail. Lonnie thought it looked like a commercial cave (when do we get colored lights?).

There will be more work days scheduled in early spring on Saturdays so workers can camp out and we can then work you BOTH days. A tremendous amount of work was accomplished on Sunday; we were rewarded with fried chicken, compliments of Carolyn Carr, even though we couldn't get her to stick around and work. The Atlanta chicks left the cave with aching muscles and smiles on their faces. I thought if they drove that far, we needed to give them the hardest job so they could feel good about coming over (sorry, Kelly).

Luckily no one was injured or hit in the head with a bucket of rocks, but hey, maybe next time, huh? You'll just have to show up and see who gets rocked. As soon as my professional photographer, Lynn Roebuck, gets the photos posted, we'll send out a link to show the progress.

At the end of the day when we exited the cave in the dark, we saw three cavers standing there grinning (yea, good timing, guys) wondering if they could help??!!! Bill Overton, Brian Krebs, and Owen Walker: they said they were looking for caves or something like that. I thought I would mention them, even though they were too late to get their names in the first paragraph.

Here are Lonnie's "rocky" calculations for the day (that's why he was counting each rock):
"One load at 83 buckets. I figure each weighed approximately 40lbs. I hauled four buckets so that would be 83x40= 3320x4=13280 lbs./2000=6.64 tons." The expenses for the on-going project also keep adding up; Lonnie has paid for all the gravel and some of the grotto members have paid for the construction material. If there are individuals or grottos who would like to donate to the project, we will set up an account through the Spencer Mountain Grotto in Spencer, Tennessee. Rosemarie MacDonell is our Secretary/Treasurer. If there is an interest in making a cash donation, contact me off-line, and I'll provide you with a mailing address for the grotto account.

If we keep telling you how much fun we're having, more of you just might come over and see for yourselves. Next time you'll be obligated to work TWO days (you should have come this time instead). (posted on Tag-Net 11/7/06.....anne elmore

[Sharon Faulkner]

Welcome to the forum Anne.


Thanks for posting photos from the workday Lynn!

[Anne Elmore]

Thanks Sharon. I can't believe no one was camped out in the cove Saturday night; normally I'm out there, but I was in Knoxville at the grotto's 50th party until late. Someone said you left a note on the gate. We had a blast spraining our backs and shoulders. The cave is beautiful. Next time you're in this neck of the woods, bring Casey and we'll run you through the "tourist" section of the cave. It's breath-taking....anne

[Sharon Faulkner]

There were a lot of things going on last Saturday with the multiple grotto Anniversary celebrations. I don't know where the normal camping spot is in that cove, but there wasn't anyone other than us around anywhere near by Saturday night. But hey, we did show up for the workday, just earlier than anyone else. ;D We'll try again next spring when the workdays are announced. Glad there was a good turnout and I don't think you could have ordered nicer weather.

Thanks for the offer Anne, we'll take you up on that tourist trip one day.

[L Roebuck]

Hi Anne! Great report!

Hey Sharon, I hate no one was around when you got to the cove. Wish you would have thought to stop by our house instead of driving all the way home.

[Brian Roebuck]

Sharon,
You were missed! It is too bad it didn't work out for camping up there as you would have enjoyed the fun we all had working together. What a great bunch of cavers and owners they are! I always enjoy the cave and the beautiful area surrounding it. Lonnie is lucky to own both a great cave as well as a great natural area there. We'll make sure you have a place to camp or watever for the next workday if you decide to come. Hopefully other cavers will show up and lend a hand as well. I hate to keep all the fun to myself and the rest of our regular little gang!

[Sharon Faulkner]

Thanks Dr B! No worries, we're not going to let you all keep that fun stuff to yourself....we'll make the trek back up when spring rolls around. Camping will be an added bonus.