An end in the wet

Catriona, Rod and I met at Coldstone cut carpark in less than ideal conditions. Despite a reasonable forecast the heavens had opened and put a dampener on proceedings. After a 30 minute chat in Catriona's car we decided to venture down to the wall.
I foolishly decided that weather proofs were not needed and by the time we reached the site I was soaking wet, thankfully Rod and Catriona had made the sensible decision to don their wet weather gear.
The sun eventually broke out and we were able to build up the gate side of the wall to under topper height, by which time I had dried out.

Richard H.
No Wallers: 3.

Underground

Rod and Barry were joined at Ivin by Elaine who we haven't seen in a while. I arrived late to find that the wall they were taking down had substantial foundations which were partially held up by a small bunny rabbit. Thankfully all the dry weather meant that placing the stone out in a reasonable order did not result in it sinking into the mire.

Elaine brought us some lovely things to eat and retired at lunch time. The rest of us managed to put a few courses up in the afternoon much of which was underground.

Richard H
Wallers: 4

The Inspectors Arrive

Graham, Barry and I wended out way down the hill, past a sheep with most of it's coat trailing behind it, like a cut price royal bride, to put some toppers of the nearly completed section of wall.
A small amount of building was required before the toppers went on, and a large amount of toppers needed hunting down in the out-crop to the South. The morning was spent, by Graham and I, stone collecting. We managed to shift a couple of tonnes down to the wall, whilst Barry made sure the wall was ready for the toppers.
The afternoon was punctuated by yelps and grunts from me whilst trying to lug the larger toppers onto the wall. Barry and Graham completed the task in graceful silence.
The inspectors came after we'd finished to moo their disapproval.

The inspectors gather to give their opinion

At the start and when finished

The 2 heaps of stone Graham and I lugged down the hill (Photo by Graham)

Richard H

Wallers: 3

Nearly topping

Reasonably productive day today with Catriona, Rod, Graham & me. Graham spent all morning gathering stone, and Rod made a couple of trips as well. The drizzle got more persistent at 2.30 so we finished a bit early. Visibility diminished too, but clear enough for a few pics at end of session. We should be able to top-out this section next time.

Wallers - 4
Words - Barry
Photos - Graham 

A long walk to Waite

Rod, Barry and I parked at Coldstones cut Car Park and walked down to site to try to finish off the first stint. Boggieness remained a problem but keeping mobile ameliorated the worst of the sinking feeling.

Rich.

No. Wallers : 3

That sinking feeling

As the sweet smell of the bog wafted up our nostrils for the umpteenth time today, I'm sure Barry, Graham, Rod, Matthew all joined me in thinking ourself very fortunate that we'd swapped the bright sunny vistas at Markenfield for the odoriferous sinking sensation at Ivin Waite.

Despite first inspection seeming to suggest that things had well and truly dried out, first inspection suggestion were wrong. It was wet underfoot and more importantly under foundations. We lugged a few big stones into the bottom of the wall and hoped for the best. Another 2 weeks should see the back of that particular stretch and then it's just the wall return and a small gapping job to do.

Such an accommodating landscape

Before work began

Pondering our predicament

Foundations! Yes that's right Foundations

At the close of the day

T'other side - at the end of the day - after Rod had put the fence back in place

Richard H.
No. Wallers: 5

Garlic and sunshine

The woods behind and around us were filled with garlic and blue bells for our final week at Markenfield.
Catriona, Barry and I were able to do a fair bit of walling in-between greeting the passing walkers, but we didn't managed to finish the section before we move on to Ivin Waite.

The wall at break time front an back

Lunch time

The end of the day

Richard H.
No. of wallers: 3