Middle of Nowhere!
Right-of-way Todmorden 102 traverses the hillside and runs approximately parallel to and between Stones Lane and the Bacup Road (see map). It's a longish walk from either end to reach the worksite but fortunately we had the landowner's permission to access the stile by walking directly down from Stones Lane.
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| 1. The worksite: East of Stones Wood |
The task, on an ever-improving day, was to replace a rickety, partly collapsed stile by installing new side-posts, constructing a stone and treadboard combination of steps, and adding parallel cross-rails with some side-rail extensions. Phew! Lots of digging and careful alignment for Kasher, Kris and Frank on the Autumn Equinox (the first day of Astronomical Autumn).
Today's work was funded by Todmorden Town Council. Many thanks.
The detail:
The existing stile was in a sorry state:
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| 2. Before view from East: Old, wobbly and awkward |
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| 3. View from West: Multiple posts and collapsing cross-rails. |
Despite the early rain, it was a pleasure to work in a pasture and woodland setting with:
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| 4. . . . a rainbow overhead (just visible in picture!) . . . and |
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| 5. . . . a spooky tree guarding the woodland. |
The work begins:
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| 6. Overview before: |
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| 7. More open than usual: |
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| 8. "Lots of digging to do" . . . "starting now!" |
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| 9. Team work? Frank puzzling over a stile leg. Kris excavating for a side-post |
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| 10. Progress: Side-posts in place and cross-rails being positioned over stone steps. |
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| 11. Rails: Four main cross-rails in place. Side 'stubs' being fitted to block a slight gap. |
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| 12. Overview after: (compare with picture 6) . . . but will it take a load? . . . |
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| 13. . . . never in doubt! |
