Duncan and I did an enjoyable morning session at Markenfield, finishing at lunchtime when the rain started to get unpleasantly heavy
Barry and I had company for our topping out day, a Bull a few cows and a some calves. We were kept from one another by a single electrified wire running a few feet from the wall. Truth be told the cows weren't really interested in us.
We had some breaks in the rain, for almost 5 minutes! However I spent most of the day resembling a drowned rat, though underfoot remained mercifully solid (for Fogfield)
Just two stiles and the gap at the end of the wall to go.
Toppers on:
End of last week
Graham, Duncan & I made some more progress on the Park Wall. Duncan continued to clear the next stint while Graham & I laid more of the courses until coffee time, after which Duncan & I swopped places, he & Graham taking the wall just short of full height by the end of the day. I grubbed around exploring the foundations for the next stint, adding to the increasing piles of rubble from the exceptionally wide previous re-build that constitutes the remaining stretch to the stile. There was some nice stone amongst it all and we might be able to face the east side with the limestone for a few more metres yet.
Pictures at close of play at 2.50pm.
Barry S.
No. Wallers:3
Catriona and Roderick continued work on the main wall, whilst I faffed around at the stile leading to the road. As they diligently worked towards the final height of the wall I stood and stared at the stile wondering what the heck to do. After having taken it down, my final though was - Sugar it. So I went to hamper Catriona and Rod at the wall face.
The main wall is now up to height, looking good, and ready for toppers next week. With just the gap at the east end to fill in.
I've rung North Yorks County Council pathways department, who told me to e-mail in my request for guidance on the stile - so I expect we'll be hearing from them some time in 2022.
Progress on the main Wall:
Disassembling another stile:
Richard H.
No. waller:3
A lovely sunny day at Fogfield! Barry, Rod and I made our way (at intervals of 5 minutes) down to the wall under clear blue skys. The grass was verdant, the stone honey coloured under the suns glare and Darley beck murmured gently as we worked away.
Was it a nice day?
Ey it were alright.
Liz and Clive (and four legged companions) came to, respectively, check our covid distancing, and our walling progress. I'm not sure we passed either inspection, but we haven't had any report cards yet.
The stile is finished and functional, and the main wall is not far from it's final height, thanks to the sterling work by Barry and Rod nether of whom seemed to want to leave. We walled till nearly 5 o'clock and I think they would both be still there had I not asked them if it might be time to go home.
Progress on the main wall:
Progress on the stile:
Original state of stile:
Richard H.
No. Waller:3
Due to a bit more interest this week we've now got two sites on the go.
Finally a return to Markenfield last visited in March!
Duncan and Graham lifting all the stones previously
sorted so they were easily visible as lots of grass had grown around
them. Then Graham and I put a line across and I started laying a new
course while Graham started to dismantle the old wall further down.
The
main feature of the day was that we had at least four groups of walkers
come by and they all stopped to chat for a while. We told them about
Nidderdale AONB volunteers and what we do.
Duncan S.
No Wallers:2
Barry and Catriona got started at Fogfield and after having seen Graham and Duncan at Markenfield to handover gloves and 1st aid supplies I arrived an hour later. We made reasonable progress but the rain decided to spoil our fun at about 2.30, so we wended our way back home.
Main wall progress:
Progress on the stile:
Richard H.
No waller: 3
Total wallers for the week: 5
