CROWS on Tour: Stiles, stiles, stiles and a seasonal sing-along

 Wicken Hill, Lower Burlees and Wadsworth Lane. 

On a day that started wet but eventually cleared Paul and Frank H carried out surveys of several stiles that needed attention. A sharp wind of the 'lazy' variety (i.e. one that goes straight through you rather than around) made recording construction detail a finger-numbing experience.

However, we persevered and came up with the following:

Area 1. Wicken Hill:  on the Golf Course boundary:

1. Two-step stile in state of decay

Work here: 

i)   Replace the step-legs on golf course side of stile.
ii)  Replace both treadboards. 
iii) Fix 'overlaps' to tie step legs together
iv) Add a protective sleeve to the top strand of barbed wire (not visible in picture)

Area 2. Right-of-way from Little Burlees Farm down towards Broad Bottom Farm

2. Wobbly structures creatively braced!

Work here (and it's a tricky job):

i)   Remove both stile-posts (totally rotten at bases) and cross-rails (re-usable)
ii)  Cut right-hand post to make a new (short) side-post for left side.
iii)  Install new (tall) right-hand post.
iv)  Brace new right-hand post
v)   Replace both treadboards.
vi)  Refix cross-rails to give suitable treadboard lengths on either side of stile.
vii) Replace rotten diagonal brace on fence post (to left of shot).
viii) Sort-out and refix wire fencing.

Area 3. Right-of-way off Wadsworth Lane leading across toward Carrs Farm.

Three stiles are involved:

3. Stile i) Too low and too wobbly.

Work here:

i)  Replace both step-legs and treadboard.

ii) Adjust cross-rails to suit.

4. Stile ii) Off the rails or rails are off!

Work here:

i)  Refix existing cross-rails.

ii) Sort out wire fencing.

5. Stile iii) Rickety step, gate and fencework task.

Work here (tricky! - needs a major re-configuration and liaison with the landowner)

i)  Install an extra step on down-slope side.

ii) Simplify up-slope fence/gate construction with brand-new gate-posts, gate and side-rails.

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Mmm! That's five stiles to go on the ever-increasing 'to-do' list.

By this time we were chilled to the bone . . . but it's always possible to warm-up by singing something seasonal . . .

WE THREE CROWS

(Any resemblance to 'We Three Kings', a 19th century carol by John H Hopkins (1820- 1891) is purely coincidental).

We three CROWS of Calderdale are.
Bearing gifts we traverse afar;

Field and woodland

Moor and bogland,

Wondering where we are!

Chorus . . .

O map of wonder, colours bright;

Map with contours not quite right;

Compass leading - wayward reading;

Getting lost always our plight.

Out from Tod on moorland again

Posts we bring to make the way plain;

Pointing Westward,

Sometimes Upward -

For-us it's all the same.

Chorus . . .

Wobbly stiles to offer have I,

Both the steps being too high!

Shin-bones grazing,

Blisters raising

Making the walk-ers cry.

Chorus . . . 

Steps are mine,

Their shaky old wood . . . hints

Decay of no thing good

Sagging, settling, crumbling, creaking

Stuck to the bank with mud!

Chorus . . .

O map of wonder, colours bright;

Map with contours not quite right;

Compass leading  - wayward reading;

Getting lost always our plight.

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Mmm! Roll on Easter!