Welcome to another episode of PRoWlers’ Progress. Today’s episode covers Ricky and Jonny’s adventures on the 10th October.
As you all know, they’ve been busy in the workshop creating numbered markers (well, mostly Ricky to be honest) to go below the existing way-markers. The plan being that it will be much easier to follow the map.
So this week they finished marking up FP34 all the way from the Churchill Steps, right up to its northern end at the parish boundary beside Yarde Farm.
While they were up there, they noticed that one of the wooden gates was tied tightly shut with nylon string. This seemed very strange as the gate was in good condition and closed snugly. What could be going on? As this was a recently and officially re-routed path (requested by the Landowner), Ricky suggested they go and speak to them and pose the question.
Dutifully, the pair strolled to the owner’s front door and the conversation went something like this…
“Good morning – we are the Prowlers, I’m Jonny and this is Ricky. We’ve been out prowling and numbering footpaths so that walkers don’t get lost and end up trekking through your farmhouse which, we understand, might be a tad inconvenient!”
“And good morning to you. Thank you, that is a very good idea and I love it. Hopefully it will help keep walkers on the (correct) straight and narrow path and save me washing floors.”
“Yes – we the hope so to. By the way, have you had a problem with people not closing your gate as we noticed it tied with string?”
“Oh! No. No such thing. I had to tie it up because my horse has learned how to open the gate and escape to the hills.”
Well, who’d have thought it? We discussed how the situation might be improved with a looped chain, but it might be that Ricky and Jonny also need to change the closing mechanism. So, they made a little note to remind themselves to give it some thought.
Apparently, in midge season, the nasty biting critters annoy poor horsey so much, it has to keep scratching its head and neck on the gate – and – Hey Presto! gate opens and horsey trots off with a cloud of midges in pursuit. And there was Jonny imagining a horse with opposable thumbs. Silly boy Jonny!
Moving back down the track, they went back to surveying a short path (FP44), that branches north-westward off FP34 and heads to the parish boundary, where it becomes Membury’s FP4.
This path is really pretty at this time of year, especially with some lovely, dappled sunshine, but it’s a bit wet as it dives down toward the stream and bridge that’s right on the boundary.
The walk did reveal that a gate (in good condition and recently replaced) needed some work. The post on the catch side of the gate was rotten and being dragged over by an adjacent fence, vegetation and a fence post. This meant the gate just couldn’t stay closed without being tied up.
Ricky and Jonny sized up the job and decided it’s one they can tackle themselves. But they needed the land owner’s permission to sort their fence out. They continued to the stream and saw several fallen trees – some small (and some not so small) blocking the path. Chainsaw required.
All duly noted, they returned to the Prowler mobile for a cuppa and a biscuit.
As luck would have it, a car pulled up and the window slid down…
“Good morning – are you the PRoWlers? I’m a big fan of your adventures on the web site!”
(Blushing) “Wow! Thank you. Yes, I’m Ricky and this is Jonny… and who do we have the pleasure of speaking to?”
“I’m Heather and I live just up the track.”
Jovial conversation ensued, then Ricky asked if she knew who owned the land adjacent to the gate as he explained what the problem was; In order to fix the gate they need to put a bracing post in the owner’s field.
“Well it so happens, I own that patch – and you have my blessings, permissions and best wishes if you want to fix the gate, gate post and fence post.”
“Thank you Heather – and don’t forget to click LIKE.” A bit cheeky but if you don’t ask… Heather drove off into the mist.
Now that’s a result! So, thank you to Heather. All Ricky and Jonny must do now is gather the supplies and schedule the repair.
Driving back down to the village, they stopped to chat to another local out with their pup.
“Great job on the Stairway to Heaven.” Not really us – but our excellent contractor Steve. It seems that the toil is worth the effort.
Before I go, here’s a little extra something to make you (hopefully) chuckle…
So, this week, no mention of the unmentionable and no sightings of the Black Bunny (unless you look REALLY closely – answers on a postcard). Let’s see where the next episode takes us in a week or three.
Until then… (you know what I’m going to say – don’t you?)
Enjoy your walking, follow the Countryside code and Shut That Gate!
See ya!
PS. Some (lots of) artistic license was taken with the conversations… but you get the gist.