4 for walling

A rather nice day was not spoilt by the lack of mad March Hares. Though our leading mad March hare spotter, Graham, was otherwise engaged in London, so there may have be hare there, of which we were not aware.
Catriona and Duncan coordinated to put a couple of courses on the first stretch, whilst Barry and I worked on opposite sides of the second stretch. A suitable point was reached by about 3 o'clock when all parts of the team were up to the same height, and so, at that, we called it a day!

Morning

Lunchtime

Hometime

Richard H.

No. Wallers:4

Retreat to Markenfield

Spot the hare competition. 

A nice sunny day for a return to Markenfield for Graham, Barry, Duncan and me. Weather, and more importantly ground conditions, have meant a retreat from Fogfield for a while. So it was back to Markenfield and a nice bit of solid ground (if you don't count the walk across the field.)

Graham spotted a couple of hare (s?) on the horizon, though you may have worked out by now they aren't in the photo above.

Getting back to cobble was interesting. Barry manhandled a monster into position ready to support the new section of wall leading up to the stile.

Graham did sterling work digging out the overgrown stone. I think it's important to point out that I'm not suggesting the stone has got larger, but that the plant life has grown and covered it over.

I believe we used cobble almost exclusively this week, saving the limestone for the front of the wall.

Here's some pictures, which don't really show the amount of work that got done.

 Morning

At lunch and at the end of the day

End of the day

Richard H.

No. wallers: 4

Full House

Leaving cars on the road ‘cos of myriad vehicles at Fogfield we (Roderick, Duncan, Catriona & Barry) trouped down to site in the bright sunshine, carefully picking our way round the ankle-deep mud adjacent to the wall. The blackthorn tree that moved in the wind last week had succumbed to stronger drafts at the weekend, easing access to the wall but necessitating the extrication of laid-out stones under its now horizontal position.
The impediments of trees and mud slowed our productivity but another course and a half were laid on the wall before our departure at 2.45 after a pleasant day of sunshine and birdsong.

  Blackthorn Down!

End of the day

End of the day

End of the day

End of the day

Barry S.

No. Wallers: 4

Terrible forecast

My prediction that the site would be relatively dry was completely up the spout. So Catriona, Rod, Barry Duncan and I slithered around all day in the joyfulness that is Fogfield. We were visited mid morning by Liz who promised new gloves and other such riches. 

The new section is now the same height along it's length and another 4 to 5 courses are still needed to get to height. Here's hoping we've enough stone.

Morning

Lunch time

End of the day

End of the day

End of the day

Richard H.
No Wallers: 5

Finishing Foundations

A forgathering of four for finishing foundation at Fogfield. The mud didn't deter Rod, Duncan Barry or myself from another stint at Fogfield.
Rod and I wallowed in the far section in order to finish off the foundations, whilst Barry found himself in the muddiest part of the whole field adding courses to the section over the drainage. On the Opposite side of the wall Duncan had similar conditions to contend with.
I'm glad to report that no injuries were sustained to man or hat this week.

Start of the day

Lunch time

End of the day

Richard H.

No wallers: 4

More mud and a bit of blood

FOur of us were back at Fogfield to slide around and put some stones in place. Rod and I put some more foundations in whilst Graham and Barry started on the higher courses. It was particularly treacherous underfoot and up above. The Black thorns stole Rod's hat and dumped it in the mud, and later in the day took a nice chunk out of Barry's head. After a few near misses from the whole crew, Graham fell prey to the slippery condition and pulled something in his leg.

Despite the difficulties we managed a good few courses and added a course of through stones.

I think I shall declare this wall the most awkward wall during my time with the grouo. More treacherous than the steep banks of Hillend or Longside, more muddy than the gloop at Greenhow, and more thorny than any waller ought to endure.

And yet despite it all I quite like Fogfield really.

Morning

After lunch

End of the day

End of the day

End of the day

Richard H.

No Wallers: 4

New Year Same old Fogfield

Lovely sunny day but ground stll deceptively muddy despite  dry days previously.  Today it was just Barry, Roderick and Graham. The morning was spent clearing and getting ready to install the second drainage pipe and having a long  discussion about the final height of the wall .  

Barry arrived around 10am after a call for assistance elsewhere earlier: Rod & Graham had decided to dismantle the next few feet of wall to avoid having to start the foundations in the wettest area, but my arrival prompted some technical work on lines and levels. We satisfied ourselves on where we thought the wall should go and the height to aim for, and then Rod & I began to sink some large foundation stones into the soft mud while Graham continued the dismantling task and preparation of the ground at the north east end.

Clive extended his dog walk to bring us  the remaining piece of piping  for our second drainage arrangement. Barry and Roderick spent a very productive afternoon in the mud, bridging the drainage pipe and significantly extending the foundations. whilst Graham finished clearing the  next section and started on a second course

The relatively calm and bright day, drier ground conditions and enthusiasm to be back walling after the Yuletide break contributed to a sense of better progress. We still got muddy though 

 After lunch about to put in the pipe

 Roderick bridging the pipe

 Roderick sinking in  mud and the Next section ready for foundations

 Some decent foundations ready for next week

Barry S and Graham D.

Photos by Graham D.

No wallers: 3