There was enough scoria

The builders had erected wooden scaffolding to assist in enlargement of the downstairs bedroom. It also entailed pushing outthe roof of the A-Frame at this point to increase ceiling height. That has finished, the scaffolding has gone, and the path is passable. 

BUT, we have had a lot of rain in recent weeks, and all the backwards and forwards tramping by builders and tradies created a muddy clay path. Looking at it, I decided that the foot traffic along this path during the months since the retaining wall went in had resulted in scoria moving to the sides.

I got the strong garden rake and spent a couple of hours dragging scoria from the sides and smoothing over the sticky clay mud. There was enough scoria to give a firm and clean path all the way from the front to the back deck. There I heeded S' advice and used half a dozen offcuts of wood to provide a firm and stable footing for accessing the rear deck. 

Very satisfying. Especially as so much progress has been happening inside in the last week.