No kidding. There I was, walking along a narrow footpath, when I saw it. A hole in the ground, so big (imagine hands up estimating size), and sorta round, it was. Something had been putting a hole where a hole don’t belong. That’s it, in the picture. It has a depression around it in a roughly circular shape, about ten inches across. Tentative experiments in weight-bearing (ie, me treading very carefully) suggest there’s nothing underneath that ten-inch depression but air.
And I started to wonder how it got there, being as the tarmac was laid over solid earth and there are no old mine-workings or secret nuclear bunkers around here to cause subsidence – we’re on the edge of the fens, remember, the water table is far too high for things like that.
So … what could have made it?
A beetle? It would have to be a bloody big beetle! And the biggest native beetle we have is the Stag Beetle. Now, at three and a half inches long I guess it is just about big enough, but I’ve never heard of them chomping through tarmac!
A subterranean serpent?  Nah. We have three true snakes in Britain: the Adder, the Grass Snake, and The Smooth Snake, plus the Slow Worm, which is actually a legless lizard. None of them eat tarmac. And none of our frogs, newts, toads or lizards do, either.
Ants have been seen emerging from it, but I’d say that was circumstantial evidence and wouldn’t hold up in a court of law.
Aliens! It might have been aliens .. doing … um … alien things! Maybe they wanted to know if the ground was good for landing spacecraft or something?
Mmm…Â perhaps not.
So. What do you all think? Who, or what, could have made this hole in a seemingly solid tarmac footpath?
Feel free to add your suggestions in the comments. Â I await them with interest.
And major kudos to anyone who gets the song reference at the top there!
Im going with Aliens.
meleah rebeccahs last blog post..Cause For Celebration
It’s a black hole caused by the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. Recognised it immediately.
Somnambulists last blog post..The Monday Grind
So was it ‘letting in water’ then ?
Silverbacks last blog post..I Expect To Be Arrested Any Time Now.
My vote is for aliens. You’ve seen War of the Worlds? That’s where the machine is about to come out. I wouldn’t walk too close to it again if I were you.
Meleah – You could be right. I’ll keep a sharp eye.
Somnambulist – Of course!! Why didn’t I think of that! I imagine they’re springing up all over the place. But at least we have a respite, now they’ve broken it.
Silverback – LOL! Probably, but that’s not the song I had in mind – think further back!
Angi – Aargh!! Now you’ve done it! It’s the only way in to the field the dogs love so much!
Surely not old Bernard then ? How far back are we going ???
Silverbacks last blog post..I Expect To Be Arrested Any Time Now.
My guess is, as you mentioned that the dogs have to ‘pass’ right over it, that it’s a form of carbon ring oxidation/reduction reaction under the influence of the lower ureic Ph, resulting in the chemical transformation of the asphalt derivatives into CO2 and H2O with a small amount of free hydrogen released at the time the conversion of the reagents. This is due to covalence of the weak polar bonds and would generate 4-arylamine groups at the CNT surface. This means the asphalt would be insufficient to bind the stone particles which would then, in turn, be unable to sustain their previous cohesive tendencies and subsequent inclement weather, ie rain, would enter the weakness, washing and eroding out soil particles beneath the impaired surface, causing a depression and further stretching the roading every time weight-bearing loads contacted it.
(PS totally a load of bollocks, don’t believe a word, I made it all up)
(But it sounded so good, I nearly convinced myself)
Katherines last blog post..Spring 7, or Summer.
Silverback – Yes!! Well done, it was indeed ‘old Bernard’. Mr Cribbins himself – yes, that’s how far back I was going!
‘It’s not there now, the ground’s all flat .. and beneath it is the bloke in the bowler hat. And that’s that!’
LOL!
Katharine – Wow, I’m impressed. Except the dogs never pee on that spot and I was under the impression that bitumen destabilisation was best carried out at temperatures between 25-160 degrees Celcius and it simply hasn’t been that hot this summer. Oh well, the theory was good, huh? And you almost had me convinced! ROFL!
Hmm. Particles washing away from underneath. You may be onto something there… either that or some kid dropped his science experiment on the way home.
LOL @ Katharine…that was impressive. Kudos.
Angis last blog post..Bad Genes…Er, Jeans.
Well it’s not me digging a shortcut through the centre of the earth that’s for sure! Aparentlly leaking fuel can dissolve tarmac . . .eventually!
Bainos last blog post..That Went Down Better than I Expected
Oh I was beaten to it! (The song I mean).
What a very strange hole! I wouldn’t stand too close to it in case some horrible creature popped out – Like Gollum! That’s it! It’s a Gollum doorway that leads to a deep dark city full of hobbits and gremlins.
That must be the largest Beetle in the known universe…or is it a Beatle? Ringo perhaps? Surely Paul isn’t the type to get up to such shenanigans. Now I can see Ringo doing this, tho so I’m going with the Beatle…don’t know if he’s going stag or not tho…is he still married to Barbara? Hmmmm…it’s a puzzle!
hugs
Sandi
Sandi McBrides last blog post..I don’t do windows…here’s why
I just want to let everyone know that I don’t remember Bernard Cribbins, the man in the bowler hat, how big or how round the hole was, whether it was flat at the bottom and the sides were steep, whether he was digging it round when it ought to be square or anything about it at all because I’m really, really YOUNG, okay? Good, glad we’ve cleared that up.
Daphnes last blog post..Optimist
Somnambulist stole my answer. LOL
I’m just glad you didn’t break an ankle walking over that without glancing down. Be careful when you’re walking the dogs. I’d hate it if either of them got hurt. (Guess I’m in a worry mood more than a funny mood tonight.)
Ruth Hull Chatliens last blog post..Contemporary Jonahs
Well at least you know when you get to the
“Its not there now the grounds all flat” bit
That…
“Beneath it is a bloke wiv a bowler hat”
And that’s that!!!!!
Kates last blog post..A whole new room!!
Angi – It was, wasn’t it? I’m still grinning about that one! LOL!
Baino – No leaking fuel – no cars! Pity it isn’t you … if you feel like trying it, when you get through, face the road and turn left, and our house will be the first on the right. Pop in for a cuppa.
Babs – Well, one thing’s for sure, I ain’t going to go sticking my finger down there! Just in case. LOL!
Sandi – Now, there’s a thought! Not sure it was Ringo though (I always had a soft spot for Ringo). No, I bet it was John, staging one of his famous attention-seeking publicity stunts. He’s sneaked in through that wrinkle in time that allowed Walter Payton to attend my dinner party and he’s under there somewhere, singing ‘Give Peace a Chance’! I’ll have a listen next time I pass.
Daphne – Ha! I suppose you don’t know anything about Fred and his gang trying to move a piano, either. I’m sure you have absolutely no clue about the things they tried – removing the feet, the wall, the things wot held the candles – or, indeed, how many cups of tea they drank. As to poor Fred’s ultimate fate, I doubt you know what it is that happens to people who are too hasty. LOL!
Ruth – Don’t worry, I always look where they’re putting their feet – there’s a huge hole in the verge in another part of the village where someone ripped out a sign post. The Pirate put his foot in it a couple of months back and had to see the vet. Since them I’m always watching. Mostly they watch out for themselves, but The Pirate is an old guy, bless him.
Kate – Ah, so you admit to remembering that Cribbins guy, then? Or at least, the song! Of course, you may have picked up a copy in a charity shop only last week…. Tee hee!
Oh no no My dear – since reading that I have been singing it all morning.. I remember every word!
Kates last blog post..A whole new room!!
How about a very determined mole?
Yellow Swordfishs last blog post..How To Piss Off A Famous Author
My guess is… A foot! And erosion.
Or a mad flagpole installation man. Who then disapproved of the location after hole-drilling.
Or some very, very feisty badgers.
Jenns last blog post..Emailing Tips for Our Parents
http://www.songsforteaching.com/folk/greengrassgrowsallaround.htm Perhaps the length of these lyrics will help forget that hole to be mindful of.
) I dunno, am feeling rather silly today.
And yes, Felicity Kendal is wonderful. There are so many greats to choose from. I’m just now getting a small taste at how important a casting director is.
petra michelles last blog post..GODIVAS
Johnny and I stopped there while walking, and he kissed me, and the earth moved.
Boy can sure kiss.
I don’t know the song either!
Jennys last blog post..Post Time
Maybe a little tiny asteroid from Outer Space? If so, I’m glad it happened before you reached that spot.
petramichelle #20 I am now instantly transported to watching/enduring endless hours of Barney videos when my children were small. That was one of Barney’s repertoire.
Kate – Me too! Every single word. I was enchanted with Bernard Cribbins’ comic songs when I was a kid!
Yellow Swordfish – You know, I think you’re onto something. Especially considering there are molehills in that there verge…
Jenn – Very feisty and very tiny badgers? LOL! Actually I have seen a badger in the field bordering this footpath …
Petra – Oh, my goodness – they are long, aren’t they? I won’t be memorising that one in a hurry!
Jenny – ROFL!! And you’re still coherent! Wow, I’m impressed!
The song was a very long time ago, and very British. I’m not surprised you don’t know it.
AnneDroid – Ah – an asteroid! I didn’t think of that! One of our friends found quite a large meteorite in Glatton which isn’t that far from here, so I guess you might be right!
A jumble of “j’s” fits very well the letter of the day. An interesting viewing.
Hi Ann – I think this has got into the wrong post. I’ll try to move it, or I might just copy and paste.
Thanks for popping over and commenting!