A Slow Start
by: Buffs
Today yard was as slow to come to life as the day itself. The
low cloud which obscured the blood moon during the early hours of Monday
persisted into the dawn dashing any hope of seeing the receding lunar eclipse
in the time between the siren call of the alarm and the fullness of sunrise.
Driving to WD through sunrise is always a differing pleasure, will I be able to
see the foothills of the Cotswolds through the mist or will the hilltop trees
be etched into the horizon by the barely seen sun?
The ragged start was reflected in the slow increase in the
number of volunteers arriving on site. The task list for the day required
drivers to go to Ham Mill and Dudbridge on simple but separate jobs. Fuel had
to be delivered to the tugs at Ebley requiring a trailer proficient driver. But
wait, a phone call from Ham mill. The job needs a trailer to be moved and the
nominated driver isn’t qualified. Oh! And by the way can someone go to
Gloucester to collect a mixer that Jason has obtained. It will need a trailer
to collect it as it is very heavy and can’t be lifted like the others we have. Reg
is juggling tasks and drivers until he has to leave for a meeting at 10. It all
worked out in the end but it required goodwill and the use of more than one
personal vehicle to meet the early day tasks.
Our tasking ultimately comes from Peter Best, Chair of the
Stroud Valleys Canal Company. He is takes an increasing interest in the
appearance and maintenance of the restored and watered lengths of the canal. He
takes time to walk his parish and passes on to WD his observations and tasking
for work to be done. One of Monday’s tasks was to follow up on some of Peter’s
requests by visiting the sites on his current list to better understand the job
and how many volunteers would be needed to complete the job. Jobs at Ebley and
Harper’s field will be programmed for the near future.
Whilst I am on the topic of jobs to enhance the appearance
of the Stroudwater I must offer a peon of praise to the Wergies who had their
Christmas camp with us. Over 6 days a large party of the Red Army, never less
than 30 and ultimately 40, set about clearing the banks west of the A38
roundabout. Getting as far as the site of the old aqueduct beyond Stonepitts
Bridge a large number of overhanging branches and trees were cut down and were
either burnt or taken away as fire wood. Vast amounts of brash and undergrowth
were strimmed, cut or mashed and added to the growing number of bonfires.
Jasper and Stuart, the two WD built work punts were used to great effect
providing stable platforms for the chainsaw teams to work from and to collect
loose timbers from the water. I thoroughly recommend a walk from the roundabout
to the river bank and back to see what the canal can be as Phase 1B progresses.
A before picture from the western end of the section crossed
by Stonepitts Bridge. The fallen large tree is on the off bank. To see the
‘after’ picture why not take a walk from the A38 roundabout along this section.
The end of a very productive day!