Two teams out today.
Erringden Moor
Ray and Frank H trekked across the blustery bogland of Erringden Moor, from Bell House to a point that can only be described as GR 989254. The tasks were to carry out some remedial works on marker posts and on some of the boardwalks.
Five of the former had suffered from a combination of the subsoil drying out (remember that long hot summer?) and the backscratching efforts of the odd half-tonne of prime beef! So digging out, re-embedding and some very heavy-duty pounding was the order of the morning.
This marker-post and the other four are now firmly in place. If they suffer from another bovine attack, then Frank H has a couple of technical (but very time consuming) tricks up his sleeve to make the posts virtually bomb-proof!
As you can see from the pictures:
Just as these jobs were completed, rain drove in on a stiff breeze, but all that remained of the day was to survive the bumpy Land Rover ride back to the depot for a session of cutting risers and stobs. The new mitre-saw blade (thanks, to Ken for fitting this) made short work of this late afternoon task, although, as ever, cleaning up afterwards seems to involve a disproportionate amount of time!
Erringden Moor
Ray and Frank H trekked across the blustery bogland of Erringden Moor, from Bell House to a point that can only be described as GR 989254. The tasks were to carry out some remedial works on marker posts and on some of the boardwalks.
Five of the former had suffered from a combination of the subsoil drying out (remember that long hot summer?) and the backscratching efforts of the odd half-tonne of prime beef! So digging out, re-embedding and some very heavy-duty pounding was the order of the morning.
 |
| Before: 'The Leaning Tower' of marker post. |
 |
| After: Vertical and rock-solid. |
This marker-post and the other four are now firmly in place. If they suffer from another bovine attack, then Frank H has a couple of technical (but very time consuming) tricks up his sleeve to make the posts virtually bomb-proof!
As you can see from the pictures:
'There's storm clouds amassing, over in the West* up above the moor . . . '
(New Model Army: 'No Rest For The Wicked' album, 1985)
(*A bit of artistic licence involved here:- technically, in the picture, it's nor'-nor' west!)
After a high energy morning, the afternoon stint was less arduous. Ray and Frank walked the length of the boardwalk path across the moor pinning and repacking any bearers that were threatening to come adrift:- the effect of a dry summer combined with increased footfall . . . and perhaps a minor amount of illegal mountain-bike activity! Some of this work was 'tidying' rather than functional as all the boardwalks are also pinned securely by a minimum of four long stobs. However, loose bearers look unsightly and CROWS prefer (where possible) to have a neat looking outcome.
 |
Foreground: Boardwalk re-pinned
Background: More clouds amassing . . . to herald driving rain!
|
Hardcastle Crags
Meanwhile a crack squad of battle-hardened CROWS consisting of Stella, Fred Graham, Bernard, Gerald, Stuart and Richard J, embarked on path improvements near the Midgehole car park in Hardcastle Crags. The following post reports . .
The donated rucksacks were used (Sherpa style) to carry step boards and stobs to site; much easier on the back and shoulders on rough and steep ground.
This work was funded by the National Trust
The donated rucksacks were used (Sherpa style) to carry step boards and stobs to site; much easier on the back and shoulders on rough and steep ground.
 |
| Step construction on the path to Shackleton. |
 |
| Strimming and clearing the upper section. Now the path is accessible for use. |
