Dodd Naze
A team comprising Dick, Fred, Stella, RJ, Angie and Frank H continued last week's efforts to turn the Dodd Naze downhill 'Slide of Death' into an uphill 'Stairway to Heaven'. Here's the scene as it was left last week:
By lunchtime, risers had been added, revetment had been fixed in place and several issues due to very rocky ground had been resolved to get the flight of steps as follows:
In the afternoon, Fred and RJ who had been working at the top of the flight, started at the bottom filling-in and compacting the tread areas of the steps. The rest of the team continued with fitting risers and revetment. By the end of the day progress had been good.
There is still more to be done here - an awkward revetment 'gap' to fill and a large amount of in-fill work. Next week's team will be very busy!
We have not had a parody for some time, so as a tribute to those CROWS whose recent sessions have involved building steps, widening paths and constructing stiles, here's some verse {with apologies to: A E Housman's (1859-1936) 'A Shropshire Lad' xxxv}.
Ay! Paths are Bad.
In the leafy valley woodland,
Heavy with the flow of streams,
Far I hear a steady tapping:-
Tapping, like a noise in dreams.
*******************
East and West up banks forgotten,
Shards and splinters do remain;
Steps, once sturdy, but now rotten,
Soon be set to rise again.
Slowly up the winding mud-slope,
Riser, tread then riser go;
Gives the lonely walker some hope:-
Surer footfall if there's snow.
*
Through the trees it's greasy footing,
Angling badly side-to-side.
Edges crumbling, almost failing:-
Much of it is bound to slide.
Yard by yard the path is widened,
Scraping mud and mulch away
Leaving surface flat and hardened
Just side-pieces now to lay.
*
Wire-hung posts like giant clothes-pegs:
Useless timbers from a stile.
All around are broken step-legs.
They don't make a walker smile!
Now the posts are firm and upright;
Steps in place with level tread.
Deep in ground; pounded so tight:-
A top-rate job when all is said.
********************
Down steep hillsides, still but airy
Drifts the sound of heavy blows.
Hammer-hits, firm but squarely,
Echo out the work of CROWS.
Today's work (but not the 'poetry'!) was funded by local contributions. If you wish to donate to similar future tasks, the CROWS website gives details.
A team comprising Dick, Fred, Stella, RJ, Angie and Frank H continued last week's efforts to turn the Dodd Naze downhill 'Slide of Death' into an uphill 'Stairway to Heaven'. Here's the scene as it was left last week:
 |
| Dick masterminding today's action. |
By lunchtime, risers had been added, revetment had been fixed in place and several issues due to very rocky ground had been resolved to get the flight of steps as follows:
 |
| Work in progress! |
In the afternoon, Fred and RJ who had been working at the top of the flight, started at the bottom filling-in and compacting the tread areas of the steps. The rest of the team continued with fitting risers and revetment. By the end of the day progress had been good.
 |
| The full flight with RJ providing a sense of scale. |
We have not had a parody for some time, so as a tribute to those CROWS whose recent sessions have involved building steps, widening paths and constructing stiles, here's some verse {with apologies to: A E Housman's (1859-1936) 'A Shropshire Lad' xxxv}.
Ay! Paths are Bad.
In the leafy valley woodland,
Heavy with the flow of streams,
Far I hear a steady tapping:-
Tapping, like a noise in dreams.
*******************
East and West up banks forgotten,
Shards and splinters do remain;
Steps, once sturdy, but now rotten,
Soon be set to rise again.
Slowly up the winding mud-slope,
Riser, tread then riser go;
Gives the lonely walker some hope:-
Surer footfall if there's snow.
*
Through the trees it's greasy footing,
Angling badly side-to-side.
Edges crumbling, almost failing:-
Much of it is bound to slide.
Yard by yard the path is widened,
Scraping mud and mulch away
Leaving surface flat and hardened
Just side-pieces now to lay.
*
Wire-hung posts like giant clothes-pegs:
Useless timbers from a stile.
All around are broken step-legs.
They don't make a walker smile!
Now the posts are firm and upright;
Steps in place with level tread.
Deep in ground; pounded so tight:-
A top-rate job when all is said.
********************
Down steep hillsides, still but airy
Drifts the sound of heavy blows.
Hammer-hits, firm but squarely,
Echo out the work of CROWS.
Today's work (but not the 'poetry'!) was funded by local contributions. If you wish to donate to similar future tasks, the CROWS website gives details.
