October 8th – The Drilling Continues

(Mark Nash) We started the day at 7:30 AM. We started the day at 7.5 meters (25 feet).  Digging all day went really slow due to the amount of clay we have encountered.  When we broke for lunch at 2:00, we were down to 12.5 meters (41 feet) and we have been in clay since we passed the six foot mark.

Our drill team we are training has proven to be very resilient through the first three days of training.  Yesterday was hot, but today was like that late August day in Oklahoma when its 95 degrees outside with high humidity.  Now think like 75% humidity… all day and with no shade from 11:30 on.  While I’m drinking water a half-liter at a time, these guys go half the day without a swallow of water.

At day’s end we had reached 13 meters.  Before you think we took a long nap after lunch, I should explain that lunch was from 2:00 to 3:00 and the team had been told that we would be done for the day at 3:00.  The team actually dropped the auger into the hole right after lunch and hit the no progress zone; an area where the auger would not cut anymore. 

At that point we got to change the tool we were using and broke up a small hard patch of clay.  Cutting back into softer clay, we called it a day.  We are now hoping we hit gravel tomorrow.  Wish us luck!