One Lock Down in Lockdown
One Lock Down in Lockdown
by: Will F.
Week two and the team have dried out their clothing ready for Monday’s downpour! The first new oak plank goes in ok, but soon the cramps are at full stretch, so next middle planks have to be squashed reversing the heads and bracing them against the old planks.
With a full team we had a production line going, Chris bashing nuts on the rusty 20mm bolts to ensure a snooth fit, Will and Jerry cutting out the old planks, Ray cutting the new planks to length.
However the planks near the heel post caused us to stop and think how to get the bolts holding the steel T plate bolts out safely. And despite the vast majprity of the old oak planks being rotten, the far bottom left hand bit took over 30 minutes of sustained effort with wrecking bars, chisels and big hammers before coming free. Shall we frame this bit?
By close on Tuesday all the planks were in place with the final 4 bolts to fix on Wednesday. However this meant moving our work boat Jasper out of the lock to get to the downstream side of the gate, so lots of boat shuffling ensuded, then the other gate was so awful wed decided to cover up the worst cracks .
By lunchtime,we were packed up and on the way back to Harpers Field with the kind help of Ian and the Wookey Crew. The second gate will wait to Covid restrictions mean we can work safely.
