Saturday 23rd November

A crisp and sunny morning created ideal conditions for a well patronised photo charter train hauled by Wadebridge, but its presence also meant that the gang (numbering seven) had to transport sand and cement out to the new pway hut site the hard way, with wheel barrows along the cess from the A31 road bridge! Needless to say that one of the wheel barrows succumbed to a puncture, making the task even more difficult. Despite these hindrances, the objective of casting the foundation for the fireplace was finally completed by Neil, John, and latterly Adrian, albeit quite late in the afternoon under fading light conditions. 

While the mixing of concrete progressed, the other members of the gang comprising Keith B, Keith H, Graham, Peter, and Adrian continued with clearance work on the embankment, with two chainsaws  laying waste to a considerable amount of Buddleia, which had invaded the bank over the 5-6 years since it was last cleared. This was not made easy by the presence of Old Mans Beard, which had knitted itself both around and through the Buddleia stems.

Keith B took the opportunity in the afternoon to walk back to Aker Wood House by the side of the A31, to clear away some of the lineside growth at the request of the Owners, and open up the views from their house over the adjacent fields. This was rewarded at the end of the day by mugs of tea and cakes for a very appreciative, tired, and weary gang.