We started the day wondering if Phil's bike would be able to stand up by itself. At one point a spade was produced, but this proved to be unnecessary.
So then we moved down to the digger: here you will notice the starting routine involves Jim swinging the handle, and a minimum of two chaps (Phil and Steve) standing around watching. 
 Come on Jim! Put some energy into it! 
 As you can see, the magic moment of "smoke creation" won't occur until Roy puts in an appearance. |
So, having recovered from the obligatory coughing fits, we moved down into the Cut to clear out the narrow channel. At present, not much water is flowing, so it only requires a small channel, which tends to silt up. So, we sent some brave men in wellies (Roy, Phil and Steve) with shovels to add a little landscaping:
Graham lifts a rock (that weighs nearly as much as he does...)
Phil discovers exactly how deep that silt is....
While Roy supervises...
|
Bob decided that we were digging too slowly, so he brought in the heavy machinery (no, not Roy, the digger):
|
Later on, having got the taste for blue smoke, we sent Roy and Bob out to clear the field drain, in an attempt to get some more of the wet stuff flowing into the Cut:
 But once again, it wasn't good enough until Roy had been pushed down into the ditch with a shovel, and told to finish the job: 
|
| Later in the day we were joined by St Mary's, who bravely picked up rubbish for us, including rusty metal, and any amount of broken glass.
"Say Cheeeeese, everyone!"
 |
| Well, no-one fell in, a good time was had by all - even St Mary's!! - and we made good progress with our continuing project to protect, repair, and preserve the Childrey Wharf, ready for the glorious day when the Wilts and Berks canal once more has boats in it. |