BLACKSHAW/HEPTONSTALL (Noah Dale)

The CROWS' team of Mick, Bernard, Gerald, Ginny, Frank H, Frank S, Ken and Tristan were gathered at GR: SD 913282, a small lay-by beyond Blackshaw Head on the Calderdale-Lancashire boundary. It was the last firm surface that we would see for several hours. The weather was mixed with sunny intervals (brief), rain showers (frequent), hail (stinging) and a rainbow (fleeting). Where were we? Yes! Our favourite place:- Noah Dale! What were we doing? Building footbridges!

This is where we left-off a few weeks ago (see picture). One long footbridge is in place but needs bracing at the sides to eliminate a slight 'bounce'. The shorter footbridge (on right of picture) needs completing.
Why two bridges?
The longer bridge replaces the original structure, but is higher and slightly longer so will provide an all-weather crossing. The shorter bridge is partly made of cut-down/re-cycled remnants of the old bridge which may not survive a big rush of water and saved our having to carry a stack of old timbers back to the road (nearly an hour away).

Mick ('two bridges') Chatham in quality control mode.

 Despite sleety showers work progressed.

Side-bracing being installed ... although Mick appears to be drilling the reeds!

That's better . . .  and Mick's groupies (see next picture) were impressed!

Frank S, Tristan and Ginny simultaneously astonished and entertained by the progress.

View of both footbridges, the shorter one having been constructed by Frank H, Gerald and Ginny while no-one was looking!

In addition, drainage work and some cutting-back of the approaches to the footbridges was carried out. With all jobs done, it was up over Hoof Stones Height (479 m) and down to the vehicles. Noah Dale is now noticeably wetter than it was in June; the once dry surfaces are gradually reverting to their traditional swamp-like state! The driving sleet, into our faces, on the return was such a special 'treat' that walking backwards was contemplated! Gerald can be particularly cheerful in these situations and often entertains us by quoting extracts from poems. However he may not have come across this one:

There was a young man called Noah

Who wandered all over the moor.

He had quite a travail,

So named it his Dale . . .

. . . but the forecast was rainfall galore!

(Traditional? . . . or perhaps just made-up two minutes ago!)

Special mention should go to Tristan who was on his first session with CROWS. The fact that he remained up-beat all day, was not too bemused by the banter, survived the weather and didn't actually sever his leg with an azad means he is probably fully qualified to join us!

Thanks should be expressed to Blackshaw and Heptonstall Parish Councils, and a local running group for funding this work in Noah Dale.