How do you gravel-proof a mining program?

Ok, so I have a simple mining program I use in loops, but it gets stuck when encountering gravel. I would like to make it able to go through gravel without prematurely ending.

turtle.dig()
turtle.forward()
turtle.digUp()

I would try it like this:
Dig
Wait a short time

if turtle.detect() then

turtle.dig()
else
turtle.forward()
end

and run that code again

Try:

while not turtle.forward() do
turtle.dig()
end

You do something like this too which will wait until the path is clear

if turtle.forward() == false then
		repeat
		turtle.dig()
		sleep(0.25)  -- small sleep to allow for gravel/sand to fall.
		until turtle.forward() == true
end

This will also help if a mob/player steps in front of the turtle as well.

Thanks, all.