Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Spectacular views from a spectacular home. From inside the house or outside on the deck you can see Helena Valley for miles. If that is not enough, out your back is the beautiful Mount Helena City Park. Trail heads are located right outside the back door. 5 bedroom, 3 1/2 bathroom air conditioned home that sits on cul de sec-like street leaving you with privacy yet, community. Enjoy your gas fireplace in living room while you sit and enjoy the views. An open main level living space, with plenty of natural light shining through. Stainless steal appliances, granite counter tops, and alder trim and cabinets. Beautiful hardwood and tile flooring throughout home. Master en suite with soaking tub and tiled shower. Landscaped yard that includes slate retaining wall and water fountain.

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3 of the Most Expensive Homes for Sale in the Helena Area - Helena Independent Record

Two of the biggest European cairns are facing destruction in the World Heritage city of Maulbronn, Germany. If it happens, the prehistoric monuments would be lost and scientific investigation impossible. This would be extremely unfortunate for all the citizens who would like to see these huge prehistoric cairns restored not buried under trash.

If the present owners of the citys quarry - Lauster-Steinbruch Stuttgarter Strae - had their way, the mighty buildings would be sold to the landfill operator Fischer in Weilheim and be covered by 400,000 cubic meters of construction waste.

The cairns in Maulbronn, Germany are under threat. (Author provided)

In the archaeology of Western Europe these impressive relics are generally referred to as megalithic cairns , but they are totally undervalued in Maulbronn. In other parts of Europe, these monuments have been investigated and restored for almost 70 years.

The long, stretched step-pyramids are similar to structures found in Brittany, on the Canary Islands, and in South America and Egypt (such as the mastabas of Saqqara). They are recognized as earlier, quadratic versions of the pharaohs pyramids.

Mastaba of Pharaoh Shepseskaf of the 4th dynasty. ( Jon Bodsworth )

Official and academic archaeologists have been aware of the existence of the megalithic cairns in Maulbronn for a long time, but no investigations have been completed. Some may believe that they dont like to be outperformed by citizen scientists announcing such sensational discoveries, but the discoverer Troy Hans Schliemann, was a citizen scientist too.

In Anglo-Saxon countries, citizen scientists may be considered as useful associates in public research, but in this country they are hindered by the state agency which protects historic monuments because they are forbidden by law to carry out excavations.

But it was only by examining the Zwerchhlde-Cairn of Sternenfels that we have proven that this supposed rubble heap does not only possess a circular wall, but also systematically set stonework deep inside it. In the early 2000s, geology students at the University of Karlsruhe performed geo-electrical measurements and detected a central cavity measuring 5 meters (16.4 ft.) in height in the mound. If this is the tomb, it is comparable in size with similar but more famous Egyptian structures. However, digging a tunnel to be certain of the find would require engineering skills and financial support.

The first time the three megalithic cairns of the area were mapped was by the surveyor Johann Michael Spaeth from Kleinsachenheim in 1761. The map is upside down, meaning the cardinal points are mixed up.

North should be located at the bottom of the 1761 map. (Author provided)

As you can see on the correctly orientated and shaded relief map in the image below, the volume of the quarry is virtually equal to the two purported rubble heaps. In fact, these heaps are built with square-hewn stones without mortar a technique that is seen in some of the oldest architectural features in the world.

A shaded relief map showing the three megalithic cairns. (Author provided)

You can see the exposed stonework at Cairn 2 next to the entrance at the corner of the building. If this was just a pile of rubble, it would consist of boulders, clay, sand, and remnants of broken stones. Yet here you can only find sandstone ashlars (finely-dressed stonework), which would have been used as paving blocks.

A dredger damaged the systematically placed stonework. Nonetheless, you can still see the horizontal set of stones at the very back. With the owners permission we could restore the wall within a day. But they have other interests.

The exposed stonework at Cairn 2. (Author provided)

The original faade of Cairn 1 is well-preserved all along the street side and obviously it was set with dry stones. The knee-high wall you see in the image below the prehistoric wall was built circa the 1940s - like the walls inside the entrance which were grouted with cement.

The original faade of Cairn 1 with the modern wall below it. (Author provided)

Cairn 3 is on the South-side of Stuttgart Road, on the citys builders yard.

Cairn 3. (Author provided)

This cairn shows ashlars over the entire wall. The typical stepped style of prehistoric cairn architecture is evident. This is one of the best-preserved specimens.

Cairn 3 is one of the best-preserved. (Author provided)

The megalithic grave it contains has been known about for a long time. It is closed by a steel door.

The steel door on Cairn 3. (Author provided)

You may not expect to find the entrance into the cairn so high up the side, but in the Schmie district we know of the existence of about 20 cairns and some of them have ramps to what are now destroyed grave chambers. This is especially true in Freudenstein, where one can see the existing foundations of grave chambers on what seem to be the second and third floors of a very tall cairn.

Over the years, people have used the well-shaped rock plates and cut stones of the grave chambers for their own purposes and so many of the cairns were reduced to their foundations. This is the sad story of the gradual destruction of our own culture. But it was not so different in Egypt - hundreds of pyramids shared the same fate. Since our monuments stood in archaic quarries the people who dismantled them may have been unaware of their importance.

Big blocks of stone were used in building the corner of the monuments. This was common in ancient buildings. But who would believe in the existence of prehistoric pyramids in this country if responsible archaeologists do not?

Big block cornerstones. (Author provided)

The former owner of the quarry, Rolf Burrer, told us that there are two more tunnels at Cairn 1.

A portal into a grave seems to be next to the access road at Cairn 2. There you can see big blocks of stone that are so familiar to people who have looked at the Egyptian pyramids. The burial chamber tunnel is arched in Cairn 2. The entrance is still walled up and the left side is obviously destroyed. It is the only part of the outer cairn where such big blocks are visible.

The visibly arched portal of Cairn 2. (Author provided)

As an art teacher who studied comparative art history I always compare such findings with more well-known prehistoric monuments, for example to the so-called kennel-hole portal tombs of Tobernaveen and Corracloona in Ireland , which are cut in stone too...

Tobernaveen and Corracloona portal tombs in Ireland. ( irishmegaliths.org.uk)

...and with the burial chamber entrance in the cairn of Montioux nearby Saint Soline in Eastern France. This Celtic period mastaba is dated by some archaeologists to about 1800 BC. However, others say 500 BC would be a more accurate date because iron tools were only officially used from about 800 BC.

Inside (Sylvain Crouzillat/ CC BY SA 4.0 ) and outside (Regissierra/ CC BY SA 3.0 ) the Montioux tumulus.

You can compare typical Celtic portals with the burial chamber portal of the mastaba of Pharaoh Shepseskaf of the 4th dynasty (2510 - 2500 BC), which was originally walled up, too. Such global comparisons are quite legitimate because pyramids are everywhere in the world and they are similar in architecture.

The Egyptian monument measures 99.6 meters (326.77 ft.) in length, 74.4 meters (244.09 ft.) in width, and 18 meters (59.06 ft.) in height. In comparison, Cairn 2 in Maulbronn measures 166 meters (544.62 ft.) in length, 82 meters (269.03 ft.) in width, and 20 meters (65.62 ft.) in height over the actual level of the road. Both the Egyptian and the German mastabas are comprised of red sandstone.

The entrance to the mastaba of Pharaoh Shepseskaf. (Author provided)

Because our portal is walled up to the archs apex it could be a wonderfully simple starting point in the search for the burial chamber. The retaining wall should be some meters thick, if you compare it with the Egyptian monument. But as things are, the prehistoric tomb is not allowed to be uncovered.

Following Dr. Wielands theory, the dry masonry walls should only appear at the base as an encircling wall of a rubble heap. But we find stone steps and horizontal stonework even on the crest of Cairn 1, where it makes little sense in terms of safety. In comparison, excavators found clay up to 4 meters (13.12 ft.) high along the sides of the pyramids of Teotihuacan, and in Giza meteoric clay from the monuments transformed into desert sands.

There are breaches on the summit of the cairn, which point to burial chambers that have been broken into. (Author provided)

At the street side of Cairn 1 you can see part of a stone step. The stonework could easily be uncovered down the side by removing the erosional rubble. (Author provided)

Horizontal dry stone masonry is visible on the steep Western slope of Cairn 2. The cairn has a length of about 166 meters. (Author provided)

In comparison Cairn F of Bougon has a length of about 72 meters. (Author provided)

If step pyramids were built all around the world, even by the prehistoric farming cultures of North America, why shouldnt there be any at the productive center of the prehistoric European continent? The preconditions were optimal. In the Celtic Iron Age they had enough raw material to produce steel tools thanks to their enormous ironstone on the Swabian Albtrauf.

Hill sides offered the necessary building blocks and after breaking the stable ground people were able to erect the monuments which are misinterpreted today, even by serious (?) archaeologists, as ordinary rubble heaps.

We do not know if both cairns on the North side of Stuttgart Road were built to be the same length. But there are clues. Near Schlaitdorf there are twin-cairns in front of a quarry too. They are not the same length, either. Maybe a King and Queen were buried together, side by side.

Near Schlaitdorf there are twin-cairns in front of a quarry too. (Author provided)

Nearby Roigheim has a similar layout at the long access path to the rock cut room. But here only one cairn was built along the way. Maybe the queen died and the king was lost on the battle field of the clan wars of the time. The rectangular quarry is completely filled by another cairn. Luckily this is one example which is not fully looted.

Nearby Roigheim has a similar layout, but only one cairn. (Author provided)

Another pair of cairns is standing at the top end of the cloister lake. It looks like the wings of a bird. The soul bird was a popular motif in ancient cultures and can be found on several rockfaces of our rock necropolises.

Another pair of cairns look like the wings of a bird. (Author provided)

The northern cairn. (Author provided)

Such well-preserved ancient stonework can be seen at the back side of the Southern cairn. Imagine, a wall in a rubble heap! I have never seen such a phenomenon before.

The back side of the southern cairn. (Author provided)

It is not the first time that impressive prehistoric monuments have been buried under rubbish. Near the city of Karlsruhe at Grtzingen there is a former quarry called Kaisergrub (Emperors pit or Emperors grave), a hint that once an emperor, presumably a Gallic Caesar, was buried in this stone grave. After World War II people built a landfill over this supposedly meaningless stone pit the garbage mountain is now taller than a forest.

Grne Heiner stands in Weilimdorf near Korntal. It is an imposing prehistoric construction. A triangular monument protrudes out of a quadrangular socket. The US military is said to have unloaded their rubbish at this site.

The rubbish heap over a monument in Weilimdorf. (Author provided)

And this is how it could soon look at Maulbronn. If it does, there is no chance of finding the entrance to the burial chambers.

The area of Fuchsberg near Haberschlacht, which served for decades as a nuclear missile site after World War II, was misused as a dump by the US army too. But there the triangular layout of the large monument is very well preserved. There seems to be a portal to an underground vault there, but concrete slabs block it. It could have been used as a storage space for unknown pollutants. We dont know.

The supposed portal is identical to the left eye of a stylized bull head. To the left side is the real dump. (Author provided)

It is incomprehensible that there is no acknowledgement of these big prehistoric monuments with us when you can encounter them everywhere in the country. They are never registered by archaeologists - quite the opposite of Great Britain, where people are proud of every single one, for example the tumulus of Langdale End, Scarborough, North Yorkshire.

The tumulus of Langdale End, Scarborough, North Yorkshire. (Author provided)

No one would dare to transform such a magnificent building into a dump. But with us only utilitarian thinking counts, our brilliant ancient culture seems to stand no chance against it.

Another significant example is found in Franconia near Nenzenheim. You can still see the long alley to the main doorway of this Celtic mastaba. It is 395 meters (1295.93 ft.) long, 230 meters (754.59 ft.) wide, and 27 meters (88.58 ft.) tall.

You can still see the long alley to the main doorway of this Celtic mastaba. (Author provided)

Every attempt to represent this building as a dump would fail because such an incision would never occur, it would have been filled in from the beginning. No one would try so hard to avoid a deep ditch like this. An entrance to the buildings interior should have remained open. You can imagine a subterranean disposal site, too. But you can only speculate how much rubbish was tipped on the original building.

If you compare the famous megalithic monument of Maeshowe on the Orkney Islands (circa 3000 BC) you see a similar long, deep incision. That mount is 7 meters (22.97 ft.) tall and its diameter is 35 meters (114.83 ft.) wide. The alleyway has a length of nearly 12 meters (39.37 ft.), but in Nenzenheim it is about 60 meters (196.85 ft.) long.

It makes you wonder, how vast are the hidden chambers of Nenzenheim?

The officials of the federal state of Baden-Wrttemberg are called upon to take responsibility for these colossal prehistoric monuments and start exploring the burial chambers we are forbidden to investigate ourselves.

At comparable taxpayers expense, unnecessary rescue digs are carried out just to explore the last cesspool of the Middle Ages, instead of important monuments of real world heritage, which could be restored for the people of our country and for all of mankind.

You can read more information about the current status of our research on our homepage: http://www.megalith-pyramiden.de

Top Image: The visibly arched portal of Cairn 2 in Maulbronn, Germany. Source: Author provided

Continue reading here:
Two of Europe's Biggest Cairns are About to Be Buried in Trash - Ancient Origins

In response to a news item published in Northeast Now on March 25, 2020, the district administration of West Garo Hills in Meghalaya has issued a clarification through its facebook page.

The news item was regarding repair of a retaining wall.

The post clarified that the permission to work on the retaining wall for the collapsing road was an emergency for which necessary permission was given one day before the lockdown.

Also read:Why did Meghalayas IAS officer defy Modis nationwide lockdown call?

The district administration of West Garo Hills maintained that the work continued as it was an urgent disaster management work exempted from curfew to be completed before the rains.

It further stated that the retaining wall was posing a threat to the health workers, police and other emergency services.

The wall was facing a threat of collapsing in case of rain, it stated.

The post further stated that as the labourers are now frightened by someone from working we (district administration, West Garo Hills) request concerned people to volunteer for work provided social distance is maintained in this crisis.

The work has been necessitated to avert another disaster on this road and adjoining houses.

The post, however, thanked Northeast Now in particular and the entire media in general for encouraging during these trying times.

Continue reading here:
Meghalaya: West Garo Hills administration clarifies on urgency to repair retaining wall - Northeast Now

Report Synopsis

XploreMRoffers a 9-year forecast for the foundation repair services market between 2018 and 2027. In terms of value, the foundation repair services market is expected to register a lower single-digit CAGR during the forecast period.

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Report Description

This research report provides a detailed analysis of the foundation repair services market and offers insights on the various factors driving the popularity of foundation repair services. The report includes an extensive analysis of the key industry drivers, challenges, trends and structure of the foundation repair services market.

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The foundation repair services market is classified on the basis of end-user, service type and region. Based on end user, the foundation repair services market is segmented into residential and commercial. Based on service type, the foundation repair services market is segmented into settlement repair, wall repair, chimney repair, floor slab repair and others (retaining walls, slope stabilisation, grouting and soil nailing).

A detailed analysis has been provided for every segment of the foundation repair services market in terms of market size analysis for the foundation repair services market across different regions. This section provides a detailed analysis covering the key trends.

The next section of the foundation repair services market report contains a detailed analysis of the foundation repair services market across various countries and regions across the world. This study discusses the key trends within countries, which are contributing to the growth of the foundation repair services market, as well as analyses the degrees at which the drivers are influencing the foundation repair services market in each region.

The key regions and countries assessed in this report include North America (U.S. & Canada), Latin America (Brazil, Mexico & the rest of Latin America), Europe (Germany, U.K., Spain, France, Italy & the Rest of Europe), Japan, APEJ (China, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and the rest of APEJ) and MEA (GCC Countries, Israel, South Africa, & the rest of MEA). The foundation repair services market report evaluates the present scenario and the growth prospects of the foundation repair services market across various regions globally for the forecast period.

To offer an accurate forecast, we have started by sizing the current market, which forms the basis of how the foundation repair services market will grow in the future. Given the characteristics of the foundation repair services market, we have triangulated the outcome of different types of analysis based on the technology trends.

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Key Segments

By End User

Residential

Commercial

By Service Type

Settlement Repair

Wall Repair

Chimney Repair

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Floor Slab Repair

Others (retaining walls, slope stabilization, grouting, & soil nailing)

Key Regions covered:

North America

U.S.

Canada

Latin America

Brazil

Mexico

Rest of Latin America

Europe

Germany

U.K.

France

Spain

Italy

Rest of Europe

APEJ

China

India

Malaysia

Singapore

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Australia

Rest of APEJ

Japan

MEA

GCC Countries

Israel

South Africa

Rest of MEA

Key Companies

BASIC FOUNDATION REPAIR

Foundation Repair Services, Inc.

Connecticut Basement Systems

Erics Concrete & Masonry Services Ltd.

Dwyer Companies

Supportworks, Inc.

SOS Foundation Repair

GROUNDWORK

MASTER SERVICE COMPANIES

RAM JACK SYSTEMS DISTRIBUTION

ADVANCED FOUNDATION REPAIR

BDRY

Maryland Building Industry Association

ARIZONA FOUNDATION SOLUTIONS

DFW FOUNDATION REPAIR SERVICES

ESOG.

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Foundation Repair Services Market to Witness Increase in Revenues by 2018-2027 - Monroe Scoop

ROUTE 29 / GAINESVILLE

No significant traffic impacts scheduled.

ROUTE 234 BUSINESS (SUDLEY ROAD) / MANASSAS

I-66 West near Bull Run

Monday, March 30, through Friday, April 3: 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon

Temporary 15-minute stoppages of traffic for blasting operations.

I-66 West between Route 29 Centreville and Cub Run

Monday, March 30, through Thursday, April 2: 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.

Friday, April 3: 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m.

Three right lanes will be closed for crews to install bridge beams over Cub Run.

ROUTE 28 (SULLY ROAD) / CENTREVILLE

I-66 East and West between Route 29 Centreville and Stringfellow Road

Route 28 North and South between Route 29 and Braddock Road

Monday, March 30, through Friday, April 3: 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon

Temporary 15-minute stoppages of traffic on I-66 East and West, and Route 28 North and South for blasting operations.

I-66 West between Route 29 Centreville and Cub Run

Monday, March 30, through Thursday, April 2: 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.

Friday, April 3: 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m.

Three right lanes will be closed for crews to install bridge beams over Cub Run.

Route 29 Centreville North and South at I-66

Turn lanes from Route 29 Centreville South to I-66 West

Monday, March 30, through Friday, April 3: 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Saturday, April 4: 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Single lane closures on northbound and southbound Route 29 at I-66 for bridge pier construction. The turn lanes from Route 29 South to I-66 West will also be narrowed to a single lane.

ROUTE 286 (FAIRFAX COUNTY PARKWAY) / FAIR LAKES

Stringfellow Road North and South from Westbrook Drive/Village Square Drive to Fair Lakes Boulevard

Monday, March 30, through Friday, April 3: 3:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The right lane will be closed for utility relocation.

Route 286 North and South from Lee Highway (Route 29) to Fair Lakes Parkway

Monday, March 30, through Thursday, April 2: 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.

Friday, April 3: 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.

Two lanes will be closed for overhead bridge demolition of I-66 bridges over Route 286. Drivers should expect occasional 20-minute stoppages along northbound Route 286.

ROUTE 50 / FAIRFAX

Route 50 East at I-66

Monday, March 30, through Friday, April 3: 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The left lane will be closed for bridge abutment construction.

I-66 West from Route 123 to Route 50

Monday, March 30, and Tuesday, March 31: 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.

Three lanes will be closed for crews to a implement a lane shift at Waples Mill Road. Drivers should expect periodic 20-minute stoppages between 12:00 midnight and 4:00 a.m.

I-66 West from Jermantown Road to Route 50

Beginning 8:00 p.m. Monday, March 30, through Monday, April 20

The HOV lane will be closed for bridge pier work in the median.

I-66 East from Route 50 to Jermantown Road

Monday, March 30, through Friday, April 3: 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

The HOV lane will be closed for bridge pier work in the median.

ROUTE 123 (CHAIN BRIDGE ROAD) / OAKTON CITY OF FAIRFAX

Ramp from Route 123 North and South to I-66 East

Sunday, March 29, through Friday, April 3: 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.

The ramp from northbound and southbound Route 123 to I-66 East will be closed. Traffic will be directed to I-66 West, to Route 50 East, and then stay to the left and follow signs to I-66 East.

I-66 West from Jermantown Road to Route 50

Beginning 8:00 p.m. Monday, March 30, through Monday, April 20

The HOV lane will be closed for bridge pier work in the median.

I-66 East from Route 50 to Jermantown Road

Monday, March 30, through Friday, April 3: 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

The HOV lane will be closed for bridge pier work in the median.

ROUTE 243 (NUTLEY STREET) / VIENNA

Cedar Lane from Hilltop Drive to Cottage Street

Monday, March 30, through Friday, April 3: 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Flagging operation alternating two-way traffic in a single lane for water line relocation.

I-66 East from Blake Lane to Nutley Street

Sunday, March 29, through Thursday, April 2: 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.

Friday, March 3: 9:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m.

Two right lanes will be closed for barrier wall demolition. The eastbound collector-distributor lanes at Nutley Street will also be narrowed.

I-66 West at Nutley Street

Monday, March 30, through Friday, April 3: 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

The right lane will be closed for paving work. The westbound collector-distributor lanes at Nutley Street will also be narrowed.

I-495 (CAPITAL BELTWAY) / DUNN LORING

I-495 North from Route 29 to I-66

Monday, March 30, through Friday, April 3: 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Single lane closure for bridge work.

I-495 North and South from Route 29 to Route 7

Wednesday, April 1, and Thursday, April 2: 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.

Three left lanes will be closed on northbound I-495 and two left lanes on southbound I-495 will be closed for bridge work. Drivers should expect periodic 20-minute stoppages between 12:00 midnight and 4:00 a.m.

See the original post here:
I-66 Lane Closures and Traffic Changes, Week of March 29 - Prince William Living

Labourers walking to their villages take a nap along the Lucknow-Faizabad highway on Thursday.

In four days and 200 km of walking, Pravin Kumar, 46, was stopped at every checkpoint. Police checked whether he and 11 others with him had their Aadhaar cards and then waved them on, with an instruction to maintain social distancing.

So, for their only proper meal in 65 hours, offered by a voluntary organisation, the 12 sat one metre apart in Dehradun on Thursday afternoon.

Kumar, employed like the others at the Char Dham Road Projects Hanuman Chatti site in Uttarkashi, says he knows the value of hygiene in the time of coronavirus. So, every time he found a source of water along the route, he ensured he washed his feet at least. That also gave some relief from the footsores he developed from the long walk, with 60 km more to go, to home in Kutubpur village of Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh.

Between the 12 of them, only one had a mask.

For the past four months, Kumar and the others have been building a retaining wall using boulders for the Char Dham Road Project, earning around Rs 500 a day each. Now, Rs 500 is the maximum any one of them has, as they head home.

Also Read |Holes in the net: Many who have been hit still left out, relief too little

Back in his village, Pravin Kumar, a father of three, said, he can make a maximum of Rs 150 a day, with a meal thrown in, working as a farm labourer.

In Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh, district authorities came to the aid of a group of 19 who had walked two days for over 450 km from Delhi, and arranged transport for them to Bahraich, a further 135 km away.

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The lockdown announcement caught them by surprise, Pravin Kumar said. On Janata Curfew day, March 22, the 12 had taken it easy, relaxing in the makeshift tents they stayed in, watching movies on their mobile phones. When the restrictions were tightened to a lockdown by the state the same evening, Kumar said, they rushed to their contractor. He said he cannot provide food to us without work for so many days. We were uncertain as to how long the work would remain stopped.

Kumar said they asked the contractor for a weeks worth of pay so that they could go home. However, he said he had no money. With no transport available, we decided to walk back.

Also Read |300 migrants found crammed in two trucks, thousands in a railway train

They left early morning on March 23, and made their way to Dehradun on Thursday via Chamba, Kaddukhal and Raipur.

Having carried food barely for one day, they could not eat anything after Monday night as everything along the way was shut. On Thursday afternoon, as they rested under trees at Banjarawala on the Haridwar bypass highway, a security guard at a nearby marble shop, Mohammad Akhtar, spotted them and rushed over with water. A few minutes later, four volunteers of a social organisation came with a packet of pooris, a bucket of sabji and disposable plates.

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Story continues

A Delhi constable provides hand sanitiser to a child at a slum area in Rangpuri on Thursday. (Express photo/Amit Mehra)

Pritam Kumar, a resident of Kaasampur village in Saharanpur, said that in the plains of Raipur near Dehradun Thursday morning, a family offered them tea and biscuits. However, as Deepak Saini, who is from Manjhipur village in Saharanpur, said, such instances were rare. We found several people outside their homes, but we could not understand their accent and they could not get what we were saying. The only breadwinner of his family, including his parents, wife and two children, Saini said he was getting constant calls from home checking where he had reached and if he was safe.

Explained:Unpacking the Garib Kalyan package

Zakir of Tanda village in Saharanpur, returning home with younger brother Usman, said that because they crossed forested areas during their walk, they slept hardly two hours at night and that too in shifts. We feared attacks by wild animals or criminals.

Usman said they came across many in a similar situation as them, headed home on foot. Before implementing the lockdown, the government should have made arrangements for workers like us to get home, Zakir said.

The brothers are also worried about returning without any earnings. The family has a farm where they grow foodgrains. Zakir pointed out that in the forests of Kaddukhal area, they had to leave behind their blankets and quilts as well, as the load got too heavy.

The labourers said they also faced problems finding their way, as they had earlier always used public transport to get home. We approached police for directions. But that was the only help they provided. Otherwise, they checked our ID proof (Aadhaar) at every check-post and barricade, said Pritam Kumar.

In Dehradun, as they ate, police arrived in a jeep and questioned them. Before leaving, the officials told them, Why are you seated so closely? Keep a distance of at least 1 metre, including when you walk.

Coping with coronavirus: Big challenge for Indias 37% internal migrants

A self-run site with almost 200 migrant construction workers from UP, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, accommodating men, women and children in several hutments in Delhi's Uttam Nagar. (Express photo by Tashi Tobgyal)

Additional District Magistrate, Lakhimpur Kheri, Arun Kumar Singh said they spotted 19 migrant labourers in Mohammadi area. They told us they were coming from Delhi, where they were employed with a construction firm, and were headed for Nanpara in Bahraich. With dhabas and hotels on highways closed, they hadnt eaten in three days. We provided them food and arranged a bus to take them, the ADM said.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath intervened to help around 80 people, including a pregnant woman, travelling in a bus from Mumbai to Sant Kabir Nagar and Basti districts who had been stopped by police between Teekamgarh and Chhatarpur.

In Dehradun, with home nearer, Deepak Saini clung to one silver living. My contractor gave me Rs 500 for travel. I saved that because I could not find transport.

with MANISH SAHU, Lucknow

The rest is here:
India lockdown: 12 walk 200 km, down hills and past forests, on biscuits, one meal - Yahoo India News

Devon is arguably one of the best places to live in the current climate of coronavirus lockdown.

Many of us will live in beautiful cities, towns and villages with stunning views on our doorsteps.

But there are so many stunning locations in Devon, that we thought now would be a good time to make a list of the places you should visit once all this madness is over.

We've carefully hand picked these 18 delightful Devon towns and villages which we think you need to see - but remember, for the moment stay home and #ComeBackLater.

The tranquil village of Berrynarboris just east ofIlfracombe, near Combe Martin, in the scenic Sterridge Valley.

It lies within the North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with the North Devon Coastal Path close by, offering wonderful walks and scenery. There's a 12th century church and 15th century manor hall.

This gorgeous village on the edge of Lustleigh Cleave on Dartmoor has been inhabited since before records began.

A large granite boulder in the village orchard topped by a granite throne is the centre of the annual May Day celebrations.

The Cleave Inn and Primrose tea rooms are legendary and popular with walkers heading to Lustleigh Cleave and down the river Bovey valley. Paths criss-cross the Cleave (which is mostly common land) and surrounding fields, meadows and woods.

This idyllic spot at the mouth of the River Teign is known for its great community spirit. It has been growing in popularity ever since a retaining wall was built in 1800 to stop the sea washing the beach away.

Before that time the river settlement was upstream in Ringmore, sheltered from the sea.

The River Teign is home to one of England's largest rowing clubs.

This gorgeous little village on the edge of the River Dart two miles upstream from Dartmouth. It is opposite Agatha Christie's beautiful Greenway Estate, now run by the National Trust.

The most picturesque way to approach it is on the Greenway Ferry and land on the pontoons where children love to go crabbing. There are picturesque cottages alongside the quayside and the delightful Ferry Boat Inn.

This picture-postcard fishing village on the North Devon coast is completely unique.

Higgledy piggledy cottages roll down the cobbled main street to reveal the stunning harbour and turquoise ocean looking out over Bideford Bay.

But it's not just good looks - Clovelly has a thriving community spirit.

Tiny olde-world Lee Bay, or just Lee, is on the rugged North Devon coastline near Woolacombe - at the foot of the fabulous Fuchsia Valley.

The village is just a few hundred metres from the gently sloping, sandy beach which is revealed as the tide goes.

The jewel in South Devon's crown and one synonymous with heft house prices.

Salcombe is a charming, vibrant little town that still manages to retain that unique Devon character.

Home to numerous shops, art galleries, bars and restaurants, Salcombe is a hotspot for tourists who don't mind a bit of extra spending.

Woolfardisworthy in North Devon was recently ranked as the fifth most difficult-to-pronounce place name in the UK by a team of linguists - which is why it's just known as Woolsery.

The pretty village has an estimated population of just 1,100. Life has changed since this time last year when wealthy San Franciscans Michael and Xochi Birch, who founded social media firm Bebo (and sold it for a whopping $850million), opened the Farmer's Arms pub in Woolsery.

Michael, whose family originate from the village, has also spent serious money restoring the village's fish and chip shop, village stores, several residential properties, a large manor house which the couple are converting into a hotel and spa - and 90 acres of farmland.

Where the Taw and Torridge rivers meet, sits the delightful quayside village of Appledore.

This quiet fishing village has been an important ship building centre for centuries.

It's also home to one of North Devon's finest exports - Hocking's ice cream!

With enchanting streets and a fantastic scenic river location, Dartmouth overlooks one of the finest natural harbours in the UK and has a strong maritime heritage.

Quirky shops and art galleries line the quaint streets.

Dartmouth is the perfect spot for a romantic getaway, sightseeing expedition or family break.

The stunning three-mile beach at Woolacombe was recently voted the best in the UK - and this picture shows why.

A quiet surf village in the winter, Woolacombe's population skyrockets in the summer when it becomes a haven for sun seekers, families and wave worshippers.

Sitting on its own estuary, Kingsbridge is a market town with a friendly atmosphere in the heart of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Located close to Salcombe and the stunning Thurlestone Bay, Kingsbridge feels like a proper town with a proper community - despite it's picture perfect looks.

There's no better place to laze with a coffee or a glass of wine looking out over the estuary.

Lynmouth - also known as Devon's Little Switzerland - is a the definition of natural beauty.

Along with its twin town of Lynton, Lynmouth is home to the Grade I listed, water-powered cliff railway which offers stunning views of the bay below, the rugged cliffs and the rolling beauty of Exmoor.

In the right conditions, it is also one of the finest surf spots in the UK - but be warned, this wave isn't for beginners.

If you have a hankering to live like a Hobbit for the day, Cockington is the place to be.

Take a walk back in time along the narrow lanes, lined with thatched houses and youll experience a quiet charm that is quintessentially English.

Theres a water mill and forge, and the cricket pitch was once a medieval deer park.

Sat directly opposite Appledore (which you can reach via a small ferry), Instow boasts stunning views over the Torridge estuary - best viewed at sunset.

It also features some cracking restaurants, quaint shops and an award-winning delicatessen in John's of Instow.

The beach and rolling dunes are a hit with families and dog walkers.

In a gorgeous setting with tea rooms, hotels, shops and pubs, this village often has wild ponies, sheep and cattle meandering on the village green.

The scenery surrounding the village is also stunning, with far-reaching vistas spanning out over Dartmoor.

If dramatic scenery is what you're after, Hartland is the place.

This quaint village is home to some of the most unique, rugged coastline on Devon's shores - as well as a couple of lovely old pubs to watch it from.

It's also very popular with Hollywood movie producers and TV production crews, having been used as a set for films such as Treasure Island and TV shows including The Night Manager, Top Gear and Sense & Sensibility.

Located in the stunning South Hams and within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Bigbury on Sea is a favourite with families, couples and watersports enthusiasts.

Bigburys most famous landmark is Burgh Island, which overlooks the beach itself. The island is accessible at low tide, when the waters reveal a causeway that links it to the beach.

However, when the tide is in you can still reach the island by hitching a ride on the popular and unique sea tractor.

Read the rest here:
19 incredibly pretty Devon towns and village to visit when the coronavirus crisis is over - Devon Live

Beautifully appointed 2 story on a lovely lot. Wood floors on the main and upper levels. The 2 story entry foyer leads to the dining room and study/living room, both with custom shutters, crown and dental molding. The spectacular great room features a wood-burning fireplace, built-in bookcases, bay window, walk-behind wet bar and French doors to patio., The kitchen is the heart of the home with 42-inch cabinets, center island, stainless appliances and adjoining breakfast room with a bay window. The master suite boasts a walk-in closet and luxury bath with double vanities, shower, and soaking tub. Also on the UL are 3 additional bedrooms and a full bath. The lower level is perfect for gatherings with a rec room, game room, walk-behind wet bar, fireplace, full bath, exercise room, and sauna. Additional features include a patio, 3 car rear-entry garage, level lot, sprinkler and security system, and more. Impeccable throughout!

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38 of the Most Expensive Homes for Sale in the St. Louis Area - STLtoday.com

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Do you tend to put off cleaning the gutters until as late as possible?

Maybe you even skipped doing it last year because its such a dreaded household chore.

Well, theres no need to put it off anymore thanks to some helpful products that make cleaning gutters easier than ever!

Following arethe best tools that help you clean the nastiness out of your gutters.

Generally speaking, there are 4 ways to clean gutters:

1. Climb a ladder and use a variety of tools to grab and remove the leaves and debris at eye-level.

2. Attach tools to a wet/dry shop vac to suck up the leaves or to blast them out of the gutters.

3. Attach tools to your water hose to spray leaves out of the gutters.

4. Use a long-reaching pole to remove leaves from the gutters while standing at ground level.

Of course, there are some gutter cleaning tools that combine one or more of the methods mentioned above. And each has its pros and cons. In the end, it all comes down to your own personal preference and which seems like the safest and easiest option to you.

These are the best gutter cleaning tools available right now

If youre tired of climbing on ladders and pouring water from a hose to flush the leaves and debris out of your gutters, this nifty little tool may be just what youre looking for!

One of the best things is the fact that you can clean your gutters from the ground. No ladder is required. And theres no need for water from your garden hose either.

Plus, its so lightweight that you can even reach a 2-story gutter with no problem.

The tool itself has 2 prongs and fits on an ordinary extension pole. (Check your current brooms, mops, and ceiling fan cleaners to see if theyre attached to extension poles.) Think of the pronged arms as a pair of tongs. While youre standing on the ground below, the angled arms of the Gutter Senseare able tograsp everything from leaves to pine needles.

Not bad for $20.

TIP: The Gardena Gutter Cleaner Head is another similar option.

Reviews from Gutter Sense owners:

If you love gadgets, and the idea of having your own personal robot cleaning your gutters tickles your fancy, this could be a fun new toy.

Its a remote controlled auger that will blast right through everything from dried debris to wet sludge. In effect, it brushes your gutters clean.

One nice perk is that comes with a holster and belt which makes it both hands free and have its own easy storage.

TIP: Use this template to make sure the iRobot Looj will fit your gutters first.

At nearly $100, this one may seem cost-prohibitive at first especially since you will only use it a few times each year. However, iRobot products tend to be durable, reliable, and highly recommended. Therefore, not only will it save you time and energy when you do use it, but it will also last for years!

Reviews from iRobot Looj owners:

If youre looking for the most affordable option, this one rates right up there at around $15.

Of all the tools reviewed here, this one requires the most manual labor on your part. The effect is similar to using a broom and dustpan to clean your gutters.

Although you still have to stand on a ladder to use the Gutter Getter, it greatly extends your reach and reduces the number of times you have to climb up and down the ladder. You canclean up to 14 feet of your gutters at a time before having to move the ladder.

Its much more than simply a 42-inchextension pole though. The tools that come in the kit (a scoop, a broom, a dustpan, and a grabber)make it easy to get the leaves and debris out of the gutters. It also works great around and under gutter hangers.

Reviews from Gutter Getter owners:

If you like the idea of using air to either suck up the leaves from your gutters or blast out the leaves with pressure, here are the best ones:

(These are used while youre standing on the ground.)

Shop Vac Gutter Cleaning Kit Its simple in design, but effective nonetheless. Plus, its one the least expensive options at under $10.It comes with a 120-degree elbow and a concentrator nozzle, as well as 2 extension wands which attach to your shop vacs blower port. Simply plug in your shop vac and, while standing on the ground, youre able to blow everything out of your gutters. Want a similar but slightly more sophisticated contraption? Try the Gutter Clutter Buster.

Gutter Cleaning Blower Attachment If you have a Weed Eater gas or electric leaf blower, then thismay suit your needs better than using a standard vacuum cleaner. Youll get more powerful bursts of air.

AiraLeave If you have a clogged gutter due to a blockage of leaves in the downspout, attach this to any standard leaf blower and then to your downspout at ground level. Once you turn it on, the powerful burst of air will immediately travel upwards and break up the clog on contact. Its an effective but messy procedure, because it sends all of the debris into the air (and then back down on you) once the clog is removed. The reviews speak for themselves.

When youre using water to remove leaves and debris from your gutters, youre effectively cleaning your gutters at the same time!

While it may be a bit messier to use water, its important to note that air alone wont remove the bits & pieces of roof shingles that have a way of gathering in your gutters orthat nasty collection of decomposing leaves sitting in your gutters (if its been some time since you last cleaned them). Thats when pressured water can be a lifesaver.

Here are the best gutter cleaning tools that use water to get the job done:

(Each of these can be used while youre standing on the ground.)

Gutter Cleaning Extension Wand has a slight hook at the end of the telescoping pole to help loosen clumps of leaves or debris from your gutters. But the magic is in the nozzle which uses water to push leaves out of the gutters.

Angled Pressure Washer Gutter Sprayer if you have a pressure washer, this one is a little more heavy duty and powerful than most water-blasting gutter cleaning systems.

And finally, a few tips for the true do-it-yourselfer who doesnt want to buy any gutter cleaning tools at all:

I like to help people find unique ways to do things that will save time & money so I write about "outside the box" Household Tips and Life Hacks that most wouldn't think of. I'm super-organized. And I LOVE to clean! I even enjoy doing laundry (but not ironing). Im also a lifelong dog owner so I often share my favorite tips for living with dogs inside your home (like smart home design choices and dog-friendly cleaning & decorating ideas). Career-wise, I've been sharing my best ideas with others by blogging full-time since 1998 (the same year that Google started and before the days of Facebook and YouTube). Prior to that, I worked in Higher Ed over 10 years before switching gears to pursue activities that I'm truly passionate about instead. For example, I've worked at a vet, in a photo lab, and at a zoo to name a few. I enjoy the outdoors via bicycle, motorcycle, Jeep, or RV. When Im not cleaning, organizing, decorating, or fixing something you'll find me at the corner of Good News & Fun Times as publisher of The Fun Times Guide (32 fun & helpful websites).

Originally posted here:
Best Gutter Cleaning Tools For Removing Leaves & Debris ...

Below, youll find six of the best gutter cleaning tools available today to not only keep your gutters clean, but keep your feet on the ground. There are tools in every budget range and for almost any gutter setup included.

Spring and fall are the times when gutter cleaning is imperative. Clogged gutters can quickly cause major damage to your roof and fascia as water overflows and finds its way into the dark corners of your soffit. No one likes to climb on the ladder to dig leaves out with your hands, and some people hate it so much that they invented these creative solutions to gutter cleaning.

I hope youll find some good options below for your house and unique situation as you work your way through your home maintenance checklists.

What this tools lacks in creative naming (how many numbers and letters does it really need?) it makes up for in clever and simple design. Add this attachment to the business end of any pressure washer and place it into the gutter and blast leaves and debris in two directions.

Youll need an extension pole and if you dont have a downspout on both ends of the gutter, then this does work a little less efficiently since it blasts debris in both directions, but the ease of use cannot be denied.

This is as simple and inexpensive as it gets for gutter cleaning. Sure, youll have to climb up on a ladder and remove the debris by scooping it out, but at least you wont have to use your hands and at less than $5 what more did you expect?

I like to keep it simple and this scooper certainly accomplishes that in spades.

Funny name, serious product! Add this curved attachment to the end of your pressure washer and youre off. Angel the spray head whichever way you need and start at the high end of the gutter and blast all that gunk toward the downspout. It also works great for clearing jams in the downspout.

Theres nothing gimmicky here, just a simple design that is hard to mess up or claim you cant understand.

If you want to keep your feet on the ground while cleaning your gutters, then youll need a few of these extension wand to get your tool of choice in the right location. Depending on the height of your gutters, pick up a few of these extension wands so youre ready to roll.

The Simpson Extension Wand comes with a 1/4 quick connect already installed so that adding your attachment of choice is simple.

This one is for all the techies out there. Sure, you could do the manual labor yourself or choose some of these low tech options, but you could also go the high tech route and get this gutter cleaning robot! iRobot, the creators of popular Roomba also created this workhorse to get your gutters clean.

I have not used this little before and Im not quite sure how it works personally, but their website reviews give it 3.8 out of 5 stars and Amazon has hundreds of reviews scoring it about the same. So, from that I would guess, it gets a B+ for functionality, but A++ for coolness.

This little guy attaches to a standard hose and can blast dirt and leaves out of not only your gutters but also larger pipes. Simply push the hose along and the water rocket blast debris out the backside of the gutter and down the downspout.

Considering you dont need a pressure washer or any other tools, this one was pretty appealing to me. You can get started right away without asking your neighbor to borrow yet another tool.

Below I included a quick video of the iRobot Looj in action since as the most expensive options you should definitely do a little more research before plunking down a couple hundred dollars. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

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The 6 Best Gutter Cleaning Tools | The Craftsman Blog