As is becoming current style we decided to start the dig early on Thursday with an extra (just because) social, breaking convention and trying a different pub.  The Star Tavern proved a good home for the evening proving Ed, MkII, Andi and myself with some rather fab, steak, steak, bangers and mash and pasta appropriately.  Martin, Lesley and Tunji also joined us to sample the alcoholic wares.

Back to usual on Friday with the minibus collection at Waterloo for Richard (Cool) and me.  We arrived as expected at 9:30 and set off to find the keys for the accommodation.  Typically this proved to be slightly less simple than hoped.  The dressing-gown-wearing bloke at the address we were given knew nothing of our elusive keys.  What followed was an eclectic selection of phone calls to everyone we could think of.  Problem was solved by a phone call to MkII in the pub, hence we set off to find the Snail and wence the keys!  Finally made it to the pub and there was more than enough time to sample the IPA at the bargain price of £1.50!!, before returning to toast.

Sat morning, and you will be pleased to hear that you will finally get to hear about the work.  We were reasonably early out of bed and following breakfast and some enthusiastic sandwich making we set off for site.  Luckily or unluckily it was decided that we were doing the wet weather plan.  To start the day Bob, Lesley, Nigel, Richard T cleared an area to provide a new home for the “teleported” container when it arrives.  Apparently they new it would take longer than they thought but was over quicker than expected.  Nigel also managed to split his trousers but that is an entirely different story.  Dave went to collect some more equipment, MkII persuaded Martin to give a Dumper lesson.  This left Rick, Richard and myself to tackle digging out the old culvert, which runs over the new access track and needed to be replaced with gas pipes.  Within minutes of starting all three of us had managed to cover not only ourselves but each other with copious amounts of the clay.  The more we dug the deeper the water became and the slipperier the sides.  The arrival of the gas pipes and sand bags prompted the start of my day in the excavator providing MkII with plenty of loads worth of practise.  Tea breaks featured as usual but work followed filling sand bags to create the new track area over the gas pipes. 

Lunch was taken in the minibus as the fantastic sunshine was just a bit too much (we wish, the heavens had opened and was living up to its wet weather plan!).  Post lunch work continued in a similar vein.  Minor entertainment provided by me managing to get locked inside the excavator cab and having to pass the keys out the window to MkII to let me out.  The afternoon finished with the completion of the track over the gas pipes plus the beginning of the terram laying.  At which point the heavens opened and we decided that since it was 5:30 leaving site was more than acceptable.  It was then back to accom for Coq au Vin with Plum Pie au Vin for afters!  As expected we decamped to the pub for several more pints of the IPA.  On returning to the accommodation we discovered a tad too much condensation on the ceiling in the entrance hall and for some strange reason decided to mop it off (trust me when I say it seemed like a good idea at the time!).

Sun morning came round all to quickly for those of us that were slightly later to bed, especially since we were woken up in Traditional Bob style ie lots of noise and bright light however the tea and coffee in bed were much appreciated.

Back on to site and work continued in the glorious spring sunshine (unbelievable I know but it was actually warm enough for me to work in a T-shirt – a bit of a novelty as am usually dressed more like Michelin woman!).  Richard Cool was living up to his name in the excavator, shades and all.  Whilst the rest of us were clearing the path of mud before laying terram and sand/stone mix on top to improve the new access track.  Unfortunately yesterday’s downpour had created some seriously gooey mud.  The most impressive hole was almost welly depth and several people had to have themselves dug out!  In order to remove enough of the mud and leaves sludge it was decided we had to dig until we achieved a firm bottom – am still not entirely sure if that applied to the track or us!  We improved several sections of the track with Nigel on dumper duty.  The final job of the day was to cover the area for the container with terram and tow path chips next to the canal on the site which was cleared yesterday.  Today’s site was brought to you by the letters T and Cake.

Extremely muddy we returned to the hall for the tidy up and then visited the snail again to return the keys.  A good weekend was had by all but I suspect there are several unhappy washing machines round the country as I don’t know about anyone else but two washes still hasn’t quite got that mud out of my trousers!!!  Many thanks to all, especially Martin and Lesley for their leading of the weekend.  See you all on the BCN Cleanup.