by: Bob Hallam
After moving the Long Reach digger to a new site last week, preparations began today to commence dredging on the Ryeford to Dudbridge pound.
The dry dredging boys Les M and Andy J commenced levelling a platform to stand their machine on. Not easy as the ground is mainly clay and rubble, baked hard by the Summer's Sunshine.
Meanwhile Bob H (normally found on the Wet Dredging team,) today demonstrated his skills with the mini-digger. This was used to find the blue clay lining closer to the towpath. While this excavation was in progress, a wildlife rescue took place. A large frog was disturbed and tried to hide in the mud. Carefully lifted out, it was repatriated to a more congenial and safer place.
Look carefully, he's the light patch in the middle and his left eye is almost dead-centre.
Boat traffic also today, Margaret the Tug passed by and here's Wookey Hole as seen through the mini-digger boom.
The Long Reach is on the left, Ryeford Locks in the background.
As always in the continuing lovely weather, hundreds of people pass by. The Best Banksman, Maurice H is always attentive to them and warns the driver to stop to let them pass safely. This happens every couple of minutes, sometimes more often. Today we had a bike jam, cyclists in profusion from both directions at once. Maurice sorted that out very professionally!!
"May your bilges always be dry and your anchor always hold."