The main footpath away from the Lair goes right up the ridge behind the cabin and has two steep bits.
There’s lots of little rocks embedded in clay and sand, and over time my back-and-forth breaks those little rocks loose, to the point where they’re a real traction hazard. Also the upper steep part always gets a little erosion groove in it after a wet period. Tobie, in a move he may not understand threatens his meal ticket, has a bad habit of hitting the afterburners going down those steep bits and since we’re literally tied together that can be an issue.
So every now and then, at least annually, I need to go up there with a hoe and a rake and pull that gravel down.
On the upper part, I dig into the dirt to try and smooth out that groove, bringing the rocks and dirt down to fill in a bit of the middle part of the path where a wannabe-gully tends to wash it out.
Then the gravel I rake down from the lower steep bit goes to filling in what would otherwise be a muddy patch under the eave of the power/tool shed. And when I’m done…
…I have a nice smooth traction-friendly path again. For a while. Till next time.
It’s kind of a pain in the ass but it really doesn’t take long. And it probably helps prevent a much more serious pain in the neck in the fullness of time.
It looks good and if it makes things safer, well, that’s a win-win. The whole, old guy being dragged down a steep hill by an overzealous dog, thing isn’t something I really want to read about.
It looks good and if it makes things safer, well, that’s a win-win. The whole, old guy being dragged down a steep hill by an overzealous dog, thing isn’t something I really want to read about.
Do not forget to thank Tobie for driving you to do so!
Could you put up a handrail to give you something more than air and a prayer to hang onto? A row of posts with a rope rail on top. Of course, Tobie will immediately run under it and clothesline you. Can one hobble a dog?
Probably a foolish question, but do you have/use a walking stick? I bought one (Yeah, I could have made it but couldn’t find a suitable tree/branch) a few years ago and it makes a big difference, even walking on pavement. Also handy for unfriendly dogs.