Martin and I had almost arrived at West Byfleet when we had a phone call from Ed W: "we're in the pub... can't find the hall... it's too foggy..." Luckily Martin remembered where Woodham Church Hall actually was, and various cars & the van soon got there. Making our way pubwards across a path through the wood was interesting - "it's not muddy, honest guvnor". It was pitch-black, and following the person in front was not helped by Helen & Moose wearing army-style camouflage jackets. But we soon arrived in the "Bleak House" pub, where the local organiser explained our tasks for the weekend.

This was to be the first London WRG dig on the Basingstoke for a number of years. It had been found that water supply is a great problem on the canal. So a backpumping scheme has been proposed to lift water from lock 6 back to lock 1. But first, as a precaution against the backpumping overdoing itself, bywashes are needed.

We were working at lock 1, where a new bywash is being installed on the off-towpath side. This is to supplement the existing bywash, which had proved inadequate. The bywash is to be constructed of concrete piping sections, laid on a concrete base. The base is needed to stop movement of the pipes, which could cause them to go out of alignment. One of our main tasks for the weekend was to dig-out and lay the concrete base. Despite Clive's demonstration of digger driving skills, work was soon underway.

Another major task was the construction of the inlet and outlets for the bywash. The latter required piling to be done, and soon a piling team went about it with a will. Controlling a piling hammer was much more knackering than it looks, especially if you are holding it 2' above your head!

"I hope we're not going to have to go and drink this beer tonight, I'm not sure I've got room" quoth Martin (!) after an excellent lasagne from the man himself, followed by Maria's apple crumble... But of course, he was proven wrong!

Sunday was much of the same, except this time, piling tie-backs needed installing... "Oh no, me nuts have fallen off", said Ed B in summary. There were also some b****rd piles which just wouldn't go in, so we had to take the angle-grinder to the tops of them.

Overall, a good dig, with lots of progress made, on what looks like an interesting site. I'm sure we'll all look forward to going back there again soon.