Danger Deep Mud

The tide is still going out at Doe Park.

The dangers of deep water have been replaced by the dangers of deep mud. The mudscape is reminiscent of Morecambe Bay at low water and, in the evening, if you listen carefully, you can hear the the gentle sucking sounds of drying mud.




Apart from the new mud warning signs, the only sign of activity at Doe Park is some markers near the tower: presumably to gauge the water level if/when it rises again.

The marks are coming to rest on the shore. Here's number 9..

Number five...

and number six.

Apart from the industrial ugliness around the slipways...

the reservoir's emptiness is full of beauty. The valley is reverting to a place of calm and green as the stream gurgles peacefully through the middle.

Plants, like this montbretia, are sprouting on the valley slopes and floor, possibly even to bloom.

The question is, though, if the reservoir dries up completely, what will happen to the Doe Park monster?

The Last Sail

As reported in the Sailing Club Update, the water is now too low for sailing.

From today, sailing is suspended until the construction work has been completed and the reservoir has filled up again. For the last sail to take place, we needed enough people to recover the safety boat at the end of the afternoon.

After some time waiting around for people to arrive....

(not least, someone who had keys to the clubhouse), the decision was made to sail, despite the ominous presence of some blue-green algae on the water.

It wasn't easy to launch the safety boat...

because the mud at the waterline was so soft that the trolley wheels got stuck. To prevent this happening again, Peter and Cameron laid some netting on the ground to make a safe surface for launching.
Eventually, dinghies were launched and sailed.

It was an interesting sail as the newly steep sides of the pond had a strange effect on the wind. It was also very gusty as the weather changed from sunny-ish to rain. Cameron, Danny and Ray retired due to equipment failure. Aisha and Dick both fell in the water. This left Anne to win the final race of the season - congratulations!.

After sailing the safety boat was recovered and put away for the last time.

The 2006 sailing season at Doe Park is over.

Lost things

As the water continues to fall, the reservoir gives back some of the things that it has taken from fishermen and sailors.

Cameron tells me that this is a 'lure' but some people call it a 'wobbler' because when you cast it into the water it wobbles, simulating the movement of a small and tasty fish. Apparently, a lure of this size would be used when fishing for pike.


From neither a sailor nor an angler, I hope!

Screwdriver...

hat...

spectacles.

Here are the glasses again. Does anyone recognise them? They look like prescription specs rather than sunglasses (the dark shading is mud).

DENHOLME SAILING CLUB UPDATE

As at 30 June 2006

The water level has dropped and it is no longer viable to sail.

The committee has decided that sailing will be suspended from Sunday 9 July 2006. If there are enough members available to launch and retrieve the Safety Boat we could have this last weekend on our own water.

Regarding other venues while our water is ‘out of action’. Some members have opted for Scammonden Water where there is excellent racing organised. For members who prefer something nearer we would suggest Halifax SC. Lots of room in the boat compound and a great expanse of water. If you prefer other venues please refer to your March Newsletter.

Members' boats can be left in our boat pen, but this is at their own risk. In the future we could ask members to remove boats to allow YW to make alterations to the pen. We will keep you informed.

Also check our website and and this blog to see future developments.


The Committee