Pond Digging at Pyefield rides again! 10-12-2013

In spite of the mud bath of last week no fewer than 15 NCVs turned out again this week to continue with the pond digging task. I had hoped that by arriving just a little later than everyone else there would be nothing left for me to do, apart from eat an early lunch. Needless to say this hope was dashed as soon as the proto-pond came into view.

 

Still plenty to do at the start of the day.

 Alistair feels glum when he sees what lies ahead.

But - let's get started and see how we get on.

Jan gives Will a helping hand into his waders. 

He was certainly not going to risk getting 

his best working trousers dirty.

Graham wonders if these new trainers will 

suffice as appropriate footwear for the day.

Anyone who read last week's blog will have seen the muddy photos. Well, this week was worse. Far worse. Oh yes indeedy. Think mud. Thick, oozy, deep, runny, slurry style mud - as muddy as a muddy place can possibly get. The hollowed out area had already started to fill up with water during the intervening week and the effect on the work area was fairly spectacular. 

Laura avails herself of this week's special 

offer at the Pyefield health farm - 

a half price total body wrap and mud pack.

Mud was being flung here, there and everywhere in an attempt to shift the liqueified soil up and onto the top of the banks created last week (a golden time when there were still areas of solid ground that could be stood on without disappearing beneath the surface). Within minutes of joining the gang I was more than ankle deep in yuckiness and had gained a lovely muddy deposit on top of my head from an over-enthusiastic fellow mud-slinger. One team were slicing away the ever-decreasing bit of island and passing it onto another group who shifted it across the boggy divide and onto the banks. Wellies were stuck on a regular basis. What fun we had.

Different teams race to eradicate their bit of the island first.

 

NCVs wallow in the bog of eternal doom.

Lunchtime was a treat - not only some solid green grass to sit on, but also some delicious mince pies and biscuits provided by Laura. Thanks Laura! 

The NCVs sit and enjoy the sunshine, 

a visiting grey wagtail and kingfisher (and the home baking).

Fortified by our feast we went back to the task and, surprisingly, managed to get the job finished by about 2:15pm. The most exciting part of the afternoon came when the dam between the two halves of the pond was broken through and all the water that had collected in the lower end during the past week rushed through, tsunami like, to cover the base of the whole area. 

Watch out Julia - the tidal wave may knock you over.

Right - that's enough. Job's a wrap! 

Time for the group photo. 

Exactly which way are we meant to be looking?

The finished pond - from close up and afar.

We all finished off the afternoon in the waters of the River Nidd, cleaning off our boots, waterproof trousers, gloves and tools. What a good job we had such easy access to this natural bathroom. 

Laura and Dave B. take a refreshing 

dip and emerge mudless.

Only one NCV didn't really need to carry out much in the way of ablutions......

Dean manages to stay clean for the whole day.

Hmmm. I wonder why?

Hopefully when we return in February, to plant the area with some trees, the pond will have filled up completely and the banks will have compacted down. Watch this space!

Ros E.