Tales from the Far North
THE CHALLENGES OF WINTER IN SUTHERLAND!
Welcome to the sixth instalment of Tales From The Far North. Spring is in the air folks!
Since my last column I have been flat out at work pushing on through a mixture of jobs from stock fencing, garden fencing and onto the current job which is deer fencing the island of nowhere. I’m sure the Bermuda Triangle is more easily reached than the job I’m currently on and there are more hoops to leap through to get there!
It’s a good job that my fencing mojo is strong or I’d have chucked the trowel in long ago, but I’m sure many fencers and agri contractors will know what I mean when I say it’s all about getting to the site as that’s when you can see! Happy days!
Once you get to site after 45 minutes of two ratio fitter gear after three lever tea, it’s actually not a bad job. Once I got across the river in the dry and the client was in with a digger and a deer fence with a good spec of tanalised timber with a wire netting line of 1700/1315HT and with line supports where needed. It’s proper works and bare-back stripping the wire!
I enjoyed building this fence and the weather has been ok except for one day that was a wasted trip. After getting to the site I soon realised the river was reading 1.7m high at the crossing point as opposed to the normal 700-800 mm on crossing. I decided to about turn and head home rather than get out and float the kit over. Once home again I downloaded the SEPA river crossing guide as measured from the local river station in order to give me an idea before leaving home if such a scenario arises again.
I’ve got about one week’s work left on the job as we speak and the weather can only improve. Famous last words!
One interesting fact I ate that on the drive up to the job I pass the old Orolick Church which is situated 10 miles up Strathcarroon to the west of the village of Ardgay in the county of Sutherland. It was designed by Thomas Telford and built in 1827.
The church played host to a tragic event in 1845 during the Highland Clearances of nearby Glenalchie. These events are scratched onto the church glass windows. Everyone gathered in the churchyard before leaving their glen for good. Many headed to boats bound for the Americas. It’s a bit more challenging getting over there these days to start a new life… or is it?
The job at Orolick lies on the outskirts of Lairg and at the other end lies a double deer fencing line from home. A bonus… and once that job is done it’s a bit of fettling for the new machinery and tools to see it set about for weaker bit of taming. A little tidy up for the workshop and we’re back out on it! Long break but a rewarding challenge and we are also looking forward to starting the whole new generation of mini fencers!
This really is the best life!
Thanks for reading and stay safe!
Mark (M Fence)
