Gough's Orchard Syphon

Yesterday, a conduit was laid from the top float switch into the brick enclosure.  It now resides under the surface out of view and away from rodents.  We operated the syphon for a couple of hours, but the air leak problem still exists and will only get sorted once all the joints are fully back potted.  

One indicator of full flow having been reached is the tip of a sunken wheelbarrow just breaking the surface!  

The Armada has gathered

Access through Wallbridge Lower Lock will not now happen until Monday as the chamber is still blocked with scaffold etc.  Bowbridge Lock is now full, but with not quite enough flow to to take the level over the spill weir.

What awaits is the section of pound below Stantons Bridge to Bobridge Lock, plus a small area up near Griffin's Mill Lock which cannot be reached with the diggers.  So plenty for Augustus to get on with.

The long reach diggers have now almost completed their work above the bridge.  The dredging spoils will be emptied from the barges along side this section

Wallbridge Lower Lock

Today just as we were leaving site, I took a couple of pictures from the front deck of our dredger.

One shows the Lock almost free of the steelwork which has been supporting the offside wing wall for what seems like forever!  The permanent horizontal supports can be seen at the top of the picture. The second photo is the last support being lowered to the ground. 

In the next couple of days, the Dredger, both work boats and a mud hopper will be on the move upwards to assist with dredging the Bowbridge to Griffin's Mill pound. 

Bob Hallam.

"May your bilges always be dry and your anchor always hold."

Ham Mill bank retainment.

Just received, some pictures from Andy of last weeks activities at Ham Mill where the screw piling has been taking place.  The team has been making good progress.

Return to Gough's Orchard Syphon

With another small supply of potting material to hand, we dropped in at GO to tackle another joint and had just had enough to complete the job.

What is quite pleasing, is when you spot a small dribble leaking out from around the joint as this would certainly have been the site of a troublesome air leak.

We are now awaiting delivery of enough potting to complete all the joints.  That is currently being made for us as part of a generous donation from Robnor Resins at Swindon.  More about them another time.

A small hole is made at the top in each of the joints and the potting poured in until you can pour no more.  We're looking forward to testing the system again once all joints have been attended to.

Sponsored Bricks - The first laying at Capel's Mill

Bob and his team left Western Depot this morning with a trailer loaded with the first 30 sponsored bricks and all the weapons and materials to set them in the ground.

During the morning, they were set in concrete along the towpath at Capel's Mill, during which, a number of passers by showed much interest in what we were doing.

The first named brick in place

It won't be too long before we are back there, given the steady trickle of new orders arriving in the in-tray at Bell House.

...and what you could describe as an important milestone......but what's this......

Sitting alongside the bench was a fine piece of Cotswold Stone with one of the new replica T&S cast mile plates attached to it.

Matters of low water,

The level in the Ryeford - Newton Lock pound has been lowered.  There were 2 reasons for this, firstly, improved access under Bonds Mill lift bridge for the contractors dealing with the fallen willow trees and secondly - I can't remember the other reason! - please remind me if you know.

This presented some difficulties for the Boatability craft as it had to be persuaded off the mud into deeper water and then it was due to run a trip for a wheelchair bound gentleman, so access could have been tricky.

From this shot, you may have noticed some of the black stuff has been laid at the wharf.  Again, contractors were on site this morning laying the tarmac.  This operation should now be complete.  There is hand rail work planned to take place on the disability boat's mooring stage.

Tree clearance has taken place on the east side of Bonds Mill bridge.  Mid morning, the WRGies were just planning their attack on the trees laying in the cut on the west side.  Much had been achieved over the weekend.