Sunday 8 March 2015

So Much Going On

Not so much happening on the boating front at the moment but on the restoration side things are getting very busy. The scrub and trees on both sides of lock 15 on the Grantham canal have had to be removed to allow access for plant to begin the restoration and it all had to be down before the start of spring and the nesting season. The volunteers set to with a will and it’s good to see how big the work parties are becoming these days. It would seem that the more people can see something happening the more there are who want to be part of it and it’s great to see. Just wish I could remember all their names.
In here somewhere.
 
 Slash and burn
 
You couldn’t see those farm buildings before.
 
Once the scrub was cleared WRG forestry section came in to drop the big stuff.
All down by February 28.
 
Never knew that gate was there.
 
Just leaves us to clear away with the very welcome help of local farmer John.
Now it’s all back at Woolsthorpe with the intention of selling it for firewood to raise funds for the society once it has been split and dried.
 
There are some lovely pieces of ash, willow and hawthorn I have purloined with the thought of turning out tiller handles with the different types of wood recovered during the restoration.
Otherwise on the GCS front. Osberton is now fully functional thanks to the efforts of Dave and Steve. Just needs to be blacked now before putting it back in the water, unfortunately it has taken a bit longer than hoped because of the deadline at lock 15.
Platform repaired and back in place.
 
And joy of joys the chains I remade didn’t break on the first operation.
 
Three Shires the trip boat has been serviced and the front seats braced and strengthened. The seats take an extra pounding because of all the people stepping on and off especially on the bank holiday trip days the society runs.
On the home front the trees have all been given a haircut and the rotavating has just been completed though the ground is still a bit on the soft side. They reckon it has been a sunny winter so why do we seem to be running later than usual? Karen has given the grass its first trim but the mower is playing up as it looks like the engine brake cable has frayed in the sleeve. New one ordered but it will take two weeks to be delivered.
In the workshop a new router table with elevator assembled and is up and running but I haven’t had a chance to play with it yet because the is so much going on.
Don’t know if I have been bored or countersunk at the moment. Hopefully I can catch up as the days get longer J