Hammer and Cycle

Another glorious day for a cycle ride interrupted by a few hours of walling. Graham and I braved the heat for a good long while but we didn't manage to do the usual 5 hours, calling it a day when our brains were lightly coddled.
A couple of courses were added to the sterling work done by Tony last week, the fences were re-erected and we toddled on our merry way.

Richard H.
No. of Waller: 2

Two Cyclists

Graham, Tony and I met up at the wall to do some walling, 2 of us having arrived by bike. A walling group record I think, where the bikes outnumber the cars. It was pretty warm but not hot enough to really slow progress.
The smaller corner of the wall is nearly complete, barring toppers, and Tony put in a great stint clearing the ground for the wall returning up the hill.

I managed to rebuild the small drainage wall - although it may still require some work, so a pretty good day all told.

How Hill near Fountains - on my journey to Ivin

Graham's morning work and Tony's foundation clearing

Mid morning and after lunch on south side of the wall

North side and drainage wall

Wall return up the hill and nearly finished south side

North side and corner of wall

Tony standing above his days work

Richard H
No Wallers: 3.

A very dry day

Rod, Graham & Barry met at Coldstones on a perfect summer morning and marvelled at the dry conditions en route to the wall. Building up the wall corner to maintain a horizontal level required a generous depth of stone: gathering and trimming the chosen material involved some teamwork, fortitude, and perspiration, and conversation gave way to grunts and groans. We blessed the dry ground and preserved just enough energy to trudge back up the hill in the increasingly warm afternoon sunshine, having made some useful progress on the construction.

Words: Barry

Picture: Graham 

No Wallers: 3.

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