Two teams out today.
Wainstalls (Calderdale Way)
Dick and Paul had 2 tasks today, high on the tops in brilliant sunshine.
There had been complaints that signage for the Calderdale Way, near the Moorcock, was unclear so 2 marker posts were installed making the way much clearer. This is the home of Jack our ever helpful CALVAG driver.
This work was funded by Calderdale Way Association.
Having been supplied with tea by a friendly neighbour, we moved on to dismantle and repair a broken stile.
Now known as Paul's stile.
Hardcastle Crags (Hawden Hole Woods)
Bernard, Gerald, Fred and Frank H did more work on the precipitous steps leading down towards Hebden Water.
After doing some waymarking, Bernard and Gerald cleared large amounts of mud and mulch off a series of steep stone steps. They also re-aligned and re-bedded some loose steps. A first-rate effort.
So we went from this:
Stone steps: Yes, they are under there . . . somewhere! |
To this:
Stone steps: Now much clearer. |
Stone steps: Tread areas re-levelled. |
Wooden steps neatly combined with stone steps to give a curving route up the steep bank. |
And this:
An awkward area, steeper than it looks. Some stone steps are needed. |
Changed to this:
Three stone steps in place and also, barely in view, one wooden one. |
A satisfying day all-round.
One of Gerald's favourite poems is 'Lessons of the War' by Henry Reed. The poem may be familiar to some; part 1 starts with the line 'Today we have naming of parts . . . '. As a 'thanks' to Gerald, Bernard and Fred for their hard work, here is a parody of that poem.
One of Gerald's favourite poems is 'Lessons of the War' by Henry Reed. The poem may be familiar to some; part 1 starts with the line 'Today we have naming of parts . . . '. As a 'thanks' to Gerald, Bernard and Fred for their hard work, here is a parody of that poem.
Lessons of Construction
Today
we have drilling of stobs. Yesterday
We
had heavy hammering. And tomorrow
We
shall have what to do after digging. But today
We
have drilling of stobs. Midges
Gather in clouds all over the
sunlit steps
. . . . And today we have drilling of stobs.
This
is the cordless power-drill. And this
Is
the drill-bit opening, whose use you will see
When
you are given your bits. And this is the spare battery unit
Which
in your case you have not got. The
insects
Flit from frond to frond with a
delicate ease
. . . . Which, in our case, we have
not got.
This
is the drill reverse switch, which is always moved
With
an easy flick of the finger. And please do not let me
See
anyone using their teeth! You can do it quite easy
If
you still have flex in your fingers. The
bees
Go forward and back to reverse from
nectarless foxgloves,
. . . . Without any need for a
finger.
And
these, you can see, are the pliers. Use them to
Pull
out the drill bit; the one you have carelessly broken.
This
is done by a quick left or right twist; we call this
Making
amends. And winding around the tree trunk,
The ivy clings to the bark and spirals forever upwards
. . . . With no thought of making
amends.
And
this is the sturdy, tin drill-box. The one with
The
tight-fitting lid, which the careless sometimes
Leave
open, for contents to get wet with the rain;
The usage card, and safety glasses and spare bit
And
pencil with a point which in your case
you may not have got.
. . . . For today we have drilling
of stobs.
(With
apologies to Henry Reed (1914-1986): ‘Lessons of the War’)
Today's work on this path (but not the 'poetry') was funded by National Trust (Hardcastle Crags).