Saturday 25th April

Our Western correspondent, Jes Mania reports.........

The day started wet and as we assembled over an early brew, we realised that we were in for a good day because of the numbers attending. Keith H and Pete went on the walk to Alton, Adrian, Ian J, Keith B and Jim ( new volunteer.....welcome) walked to Alresford, leaving Eddie, Martin W, Ian R, and John to prepare for an early start on the continuing fishplate oiling task. 

The weather improved through the morning, the Alresford bound team having the benefit of all the points being oiled by Eddie's team first thing. Neil joined us at Alresford for breakfast and we returned to base, where we split the teams up for the afternoon. Your correspondent went to join the fishplate group. A wonderful location at Northside, out there in the countryside with all the wildlife, including sightings of skylarks, buzzards and a kestrel in the area we were working. By 3pm this group had oiled 52 joints. At this rate (50ish) a saturday, the line will take 18 or 19 saturdays to complete. Come and join in the fun!

Meanwhile Adrian's group went to the Chawton Heights hut, and completed the floor, started on the foam filling and corking, and begun the preservation coating, with the door receiving attention. All teams were back at base by 4pm, where an unexpected delivery of birthday cake from the Wagon Group went down well with the boys over the final mug of tea and a review on the day. Neil brought over with him today a superbly painted up sign, for our new hut. Top quality.

The concrete slab floor to the hut is completed

Pete starts to seal the joints in the timbers with

expanding foam,  while new member Jim blocks up

rail chair fixing holes with corks

Keith H smoothing out the mound of spoil covering

the remains of an original concrete hut at this location

External ground levels are reduced to allow concrete slabs

to be laid in front of the door (one of the jobs for next

Saturday)