MYTHOLMROYD (Daisy Bank and Depot)

Two teams in action today.

Mytholmroyd (Daisy Bank)

Ginny's gang continued work on the popular but much distressed path up Daisy Bank.

Gerald worked on cutting back bilberries so that Lynda and Ginny could widen the path.

Much easier to walk along now.

And the steps that were only half showing are now a wide staircase.

We enjoyed a very pleasant lunch stop at the ruin of Daisy Bank? while Gerald read 'Naming of Parts' - the Frank Harris version (see Blog for 10th Oct 2018).

Funded (not the lunch) by Highways and Hebden Royd Town Council.

Meanwhile Ken and Nigel worked upon installing yet another flight of steps, repairing a stile and re-arranging some stones further up the same footpath.

This was the general idea before we started

This was after a re-arrangement of stones to reach the first timber step

This shows the new steps looking downhill. We were able to make use of large stones for the treads which should prevent any future soil seepage around the risers

This is the completed job. We shall need to return to add another lower step to the stile at the top and a grab post. At present it requires a rather delicate balancing act to get over this stile.

Mytholmroyd (CROWS' depot)

Paul and Frank H worked a half-day session in the depot cutting up timber to replenish the rapidly diminishing supply of marker posts, stobs and risers.

Paul on the power-saw.

Care, safety and concentration are essential here! Paul has the timbers well supported. The dust extractor is switched-on and, additionally, he is wearing a dust mask. He has his eye on the saw-cut and his free hand is well clear of any moving parts!

More of the same:-  good technique all round.

Cautionary Haiku for CROWS

Part 1. In the workshop

The sharp saw blade spins.

My concentration wanders

... Lo! My thumb has gone!

Saw-dust fills the air

With fine powder, like a mist.

A dust-mask is good!

The timber wobbles.

The saw-cut drifts from the line.

A clamp would have helped!

With the last verse in mind, the next picture shows Frank cutting marker posts. The post is clamped and also supported at the other end. Stance is good. Saw, forearm , upper arm and shoulder are all in the same plane.The fore-finger, in the saw-handle 'groove', is pointing in the direction of the cut and the eye (and hopefully the mind!) are focused on the task.

Panel-saw technique

The storage racks for risers and stobs are now virtually full, and there is a supply of spare marker-posts. Most importantly, the power saw and other equipment have been thoroughly cleaned and sprayed with WD40 ready for the next cutting session . . . . which, at the rate we are building steps, will be very soon!