Another successful Cannonball clean-up

[Alan Garrett]

This year's clean-up at Cannonball Cave, Missouri went well and was very successful. Attendees were Doug Rorex, Jane Rorex, Larry Hodges, Debbie Dunivan, and Yours Truly. While Jane and Debbie focused their efforts on the surface around the site and on the hill above the spring, Doug, Larry, and I did a single-stage dive into the system. Once we were out of the cave, we did a thorough clean-up around the spring vent during deco and recovered two medium-sized bags full of cans, cups, and bottles. The ladies made a good haul too and left the whole area looking quite nice. On behalf of us all, I would like to thank Doug Rorex for organizing the event again this year, and also thank the NACD, Cave Excursions, and the CDF-based Cave and Spring Conservation Project for their generous support by promoting the event and furnishing prizes for the participants. We'll post some pictures as soon as we have them all in and sorted out. Thanks again everybody! -Alan

[FW]

Good job Alan! Thanks to you and everyone who helped.

[crazyduck]

Awesome job!!

Thanks for the report Alan.

Andrew

[Alan Garrett]

Thanks for the encouragement! I think Doug is awesome for keeping this event going and organizing it every year for the past few years. I'm just grateful that there is something like this going on so close to where I live, not to mention having an almost pristine cave to dive and a clean site all around it! These clean-ups are a great place to meet people and make some great cave diver friends too. -Alan

[SLIM]

Sorry I could not make it this time, but I did pick some up the week before when WJH and I were diving. How about that vis in there? Aint that a great cave, put many of the NFL ones to shame even if the water is cooler.

SLIM

[Alan Garrett]

Yeah, Cannonball is awesome! I know I haven't dived as many different systems as most of you have, but Cannonball is among the best caves I have ever seen, maybe THE best. But you're right about the cold. I was diving wet (as usual) and after an hour and a half in 56*F water I was spent. I was actually shaking during deco. I think I have ridden the wetsuit wagon about as far as I can go! BTW Slim, if you picked up some junk before the clean-up, would you mind going to the conservation site and putting in a quick report? I'd sure appreciate it. I was really hoping you could make it over last weekend because I haven't seen you in a while and I'd love to get in a dive or two with you soon. It's been too long dude! Also, I have a little "recipe" of my own that I'd like you to sample, you know, the kind that's served out of a mason jar? We need to set something up before too long and have a group of us meet somewhere for a day or two. Take care till then! -Alan