Portsmouth: Border Country!
Ray, Neil D and Frank H worked near the Calderdale boundary re-building a stile on footpath Todmorden 055. Weather conditions were ideal - broken cloud with sunshine and a light breeze.
Here's how the (long) day went:
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| 1. The stile: It's on a very popular walking route but can only be described as 'much patched'! Shelf brackets, wooden battens, coach screws and piles of stones seem to feature strongly! |
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| 2. Detail of the creative support systems for the stile step! It does hold together . . . but it wobbles! |
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| 3. It was a day of digging into stony ground and overcoming . . . |
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| 4. . . . a 'massive stone at just the wrong depth' problem! |
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| 5. Guest appearance by Mick C . . . just as we had finished the backbreaking bit! Mmm! |
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| 6. Technical 'tweaking' of side-post and stock fence. |
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| 7. The finished product. A one-step 'swing-leg-over stile with dog gate . . . but will it take a load? . . . |
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| 8. . . . of course it will! 85 kg - no problem! |
Sharp-eyed observers will notice that the stock fence to the left has been secured to the side-upright by the traditional 'single staple and twist' method. This is a neat finish that saves on staples but requires more effort, skill and time. The stock fence to the right has been temporarily stapled to the side- upright because there are plans to improve that section of fencing.
We were pleased with today's efforts. All that was supposed to be vertical was vertical. All that was supposed to be horizontal was horizontal. All that was supposed to be secure was secure. Approach stone 'steps' are firmly in place and the dog-gate works, Several dog walkers came past but we just weren't quick enough with the camera to capture the evidence!
Today's work was funded by individual donations to CROWS. Many thanks.
