HADRIAN'S WALL: day 7--last! 17 miles

Our final day and 17 miles lay ahead. Our guest house was closer to Wallend so it made sense for Cheryl to take us to our end point and to hike back west toward our last pick up point near Heddon-on-the-Wall. 

The last bit of real wall at Wallend.

Follow the acorns, though there are times when these are not as clear as they need to be. We managed with one stop at a farm house to verify that we were on route

The final miles are pretty rough through Newcastle, drug paraphernalia and rubbish littering the urban path, including shanty town squatters and gypsy settlements. But then as you pass trough the recovering downtown area there are tall ships and beautiful bridges and buildings.

Giles at Wesley Square where John preached in the open air to this needy city in the 18th century (needy again)

St Nicholas where John Knox preached against idolatry in 1551, two blocks from Hadrian's Wall route

We discovered this unofficial signage and were encouraged (though he meant you're not your)

Many pleasant encounters with encouraging animals along the route

Gillian joined us for our last mile and a half of 84 miles--a wonderful experience to have together. We could not have done it without ma tres belle Cher who drove back and forth on the narrow winding B6318 to drop us off and pick us up and resupply us with water and chocolate--and encouragement

Hadrian's Wall: Day 5, glorious vistas (more downhill)

A slow start remounting the high moorland and the wall, accompanied by a Northumberland farmer on his four-wheeler with his sheepdogs. The most challenging terrain behind us. 

Stopped at a Roman temple for lunch (and more reading Hostage Lands). A break for tea at the George Hotel, final miles of the day. 

The KNOX 500 tour begins Tuesday. We will return to finish the final two days of the wall as planned after the tour (July 4-5). Posts till then will feature The Thundering Scot! Join us north of the Twead!

HADRIAN and my feet! Day 3--lots of time on the wall, turrets, mile castles

Sipping tea at Birdoswald on Hadrian's Wall, nearing the midway point of the 84 mile trek. I've heard that day 3 can be challenging mentally. Beautiful and varied as it has been, it's true. Seeing big sections of real wall, Roman turrets and mile castles--and sheep. Giles kept up his spirits through a long day of marching (as you can see in the later images on this post) but was happy to see his mother, sister Gillian, and our friend Winsome pull up in the car.

Pizza for dinner and ice cream for dessert! Reading John Buchan's Thirty-nine Steps out loud together this evening. Devotions in John 14... Giles recited Jesus' words, "I am the Way the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father but by me..."

First sighting of real wall--and heaps more around every corner.

We stopped for tea at Birdoswald Roman Fort then walked atop the wall for a good long way--amazing views and history in every stone. Read HOSTAGE LANDS twice during breaks today.

We read in HOSTAGE LANDS how Neil flipped his four-wheeler on the moorland and discovered something strange and wonderful...

Gorgeous and grueling first day HADRIAN'S WALL hike

Driving up from London and a stopover in Oxford, we didn't begin until 6:23 pm, not an ideal start time, but brilliant sunshine, sheep, dairy cows, farm dogs and cays (one coming out of the barn with a giant rat in its mouth).

Here's pictures and some audio note commentary

 

Giles and I just left the Kings Arms in Bowness-on-Solway at the start (or really the finish--AD 128) of Hadrian's Wall; we're walking along the Solway Firth, the tide gently lapping on the sandy beach; we're now walking on a country road, evening sunlight slanting our shadows in front of us