Hebble Hole- Steps! Steps! Steps! and the Jan-mobile!
We improved these steps about five years ago but they now need additional work to bring them up to scratch. A team of Jan, Frank, Rich, Ian and Steve went to install a number of new steps, replace some that were damaged or rotten and to widen many sections that were overgrown . Today's work was funded from the proceeds of the recent quiz at the 'New Delight'.
Many thanks to all who took part . . . and especially to Mark for organising it.
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| 1. Map: 'blue' line marks the path being repaired |
It is a long way from the vehicles to carry all the tools and timber along a narrow(ish) track to the top of the steps. However, Jan and his 'buggy' arrived to save the day. Hooray!
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| 2. Transport: The Jan-mobile and fully loaded trailer |
But who is in the background? . . .
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| 3. Transport: Frank and a plank! |
Some items were too long to fit on the trailer so human power was needed. Good technique - back straight, eye on path ahead, load skilfully balanced and well within carrying capabilities.
The work begins. Here's a series of photos of the completed tasks. This steep stony path is now much easier to walk down . . . and up!
Some time later, lower down the path towards the stone footbridge: . . .
The weather conditions for working were ideal - no rain, little wind but a sheltered location.
The work begins. Here's a series of photos of the completed tasks. This steep stony path is now much easier to walk down . . . and up!
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| 4. Steps: new interspersed with old |
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| 5 Steps: Start of clearance of overgrowth |
Some time later, lower down the path towards the stone footbridge: . . .
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| 6. Steps cleared and a 'box-step' added to solve the 'too large a drop' problem |
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| 7. Steps: Series of wooden risers (anchored by stobs) and stone steps (pinned in place) |
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| 8. Step detail. Massive stone step anchored by stob and pin with a 'crusher-run' of infill. |
The weather conditions for working were ideal - no rain, little wind but a sheltered location.
However, the task was not straightforward! Ground conditions were very rocky. Driving pilot holes (for wooden stobs) with the heavy bar required maximum and prolonged effort as did the hammering-in of the stobs (think 50 dynamic impacts per stob). Re- orientating large slabs from a 'down-path' sloping position to become an 'across-path' step needed skilfully directed strength and much patience.
There is still work to do here. The new steps are safe although some extra in-fill will be added and there are perhaps two more new steps to install.
Is it graffiti? John Garbutt must have had a lot of time on this hands to carve this!
It's lunchtime! Some volunteers get the comfy seat on the buggy . . . others have to make do with a plank . . . is it a matter of seniority or is it just first come, first served? No matter, they both enjoyed the 'rock-cakes' provided by Jan. Yummy! . . . and thanks.
Every picture tells a story . . .
It's lunchtime! Some volunteers get the comfy seat on the buggy . . . others have to make do with a plank . . . is it a matter of seniority or is it just first come, first served? No matter, they both enjoyed the 'rock-cakes' provided by Jan. Yummy! . . . and thanks.
