If we were hardened criminals serving long sentences in a
penal institution, and as a part of our incarceration we were pressed into a
chain gang to work on a similar project to this one, I think we would have a very strong case to support an appeal to the European Court
of Human Rights. I
am sure I have read about cases of applications from
prisoners for much less.
Anyway we are not criminals, we are the AONB volunteers (hoorah!)
and made of much sterner stuff. Today we had 16
volunteers including Paul and
Catherine. In fact, we started with 17, as Will turned up at 10.00am, not to
participate, but to, literally, point us in the right direction with his
bandaged finger, after a successful operation to correct the bent bit. In
fairness to Will he did offer to help out and enquired if there might be any
light filing to be done but Paul struggled to find any.
The weather today was fine with a blustery wind. The tasks
were similar to previous weeks involving step construction, to which a small
group dedicated their day, whilst the remainder and the majority, which I shall
call the “Bucketeers”, flogged up and down the steeply sloping path carrying
bucket, after bucket, after bucket, after bucket………. of gravel to fill the
steps and provide a serviceable surface to the path. As last week we shovelled
and carried 2 tons of the wretched stuff. Well done to everyone.
The woodworkers get busy constructing the steps.
Quickly the path takes shape.
Graham tries the new steps out for size....
....but soon comes to the end of the road.
The distance from the car park at the back of the AONB Office to the top of the path is a little over 0.4 miles but the ascent is 425ft. Adding to that the trips up and down the path carrying the gravel I should think we have all climbed the equivalent of a fairly respectable Dales Peak. Gosh!
However let’s not get too carried away, it’s all to do again,
with possibly three more visits to complete the job. Hoorah, I hear you all cry.
Ros brightens the day with a smile in spite of the task in hand.
Up and down.....
... and up and down.....
Terry and Joanne model this year's new look in gravel shovelling wear.
As gravel arrives down the slope it is deposited in the waiting boxes.
Finally I am sure we all wish Jan “Bon Voyage” as he sets
forth to join the crew of a 39ft Westerly yacht to sail across the Atlantic
over the course of the next 3 weeks. Good luck Jan, I am sure the
“bucketeering” will stand you in good stead for all that winching and rope
hauling you will be doing.
Dave L.
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