Onthewall23

Managed a bit of sleep with all the party animals downstairs. But it’s really nice and cool in Harry’s apartment with the big windows open so we put up with it.   Yesterday was really just a travel day so nothing exciting to post. After arriving in shoreditch, we did a bit of shopping for a couple of home cooked meals and then a very lazy afternoon. Today, we are tourists. First stop Petticoat Lane Market, as requested by Father Green. He used to visit often on a Sunday with his mum and dad. I imagine it has changed a lot, even the name Petticoat Lane had to go as it seemed to racey. Many signs still say Petticoat Lane ( established in 1650) Today selling mainly clothing and textiles. It was a real United Nations of people. Next stop on our day of adventure is Green Park and Buckingham Palace just in time for the changing of the guard. Quite a ceremony these days with the Mall all blocked off to traffic and police everywhere. My recollection of our time here when the boys were lit...

We had a fabulous day. Bit rainy and cool to start but warmed up as we were walking around town. Firstly had breakfast in a funny deli/ butcher/ pastry shop. Full English served in a box. In our wanderings we discovered that Newcastle has a city wall. Who knew?? We followed for a while and came to the Newcastle castle. We seem to continue to find all this old stuff.  It’s quite a small castle with a bit of a chequered past but beautifully cleaned up not necessarily restored.  We have booked a underground tunnel tour for this afternoon, so after a quick scone with jam and clotted cream we presented ourselves at the office.  The Victoria tunnel was built about 1840 to carry coal to the Tyne river for export, apparent the wealthy didn’t like the carts dropping coal dust outside their doors.  At nearly 4km long, it has a gentle down slope so the only power needed was to pull the empty carts back up. 16 tons each trip. Unfortunately the colliery only lasted 18 years, so s...

Well, today is the day…. After a fitful sleep and a really delicious breakfast it was time to don the boots for the last time. We will finish in Newcastle, however Glenn and Carol have decided to continue to Wallsend and segadunam (official end of walk) tomorrow for completeness.  Pretty flat day of walking, a lot was along the river Tyne which made it a bit cooler. Definitely low tide in the Tyne, as it was just mud. In its heyday there was massive manufacturing of ships and guns here, now there are just information boards to remind one. With the coal and iron, it employed thousands.  Getting pretty excited that the end is nigh so made it to the hostel about 1pm, which was pretty good going considering it was about a 16k walk. An afternoon spent doing domestic duties and washing clothes in a washing machine for a change. Dinner will be in a nice pub called Broadchare  I’m sorry this blog is so late, finding wifi a bit of an issue. Now that Hadrian’s Wall is done and dus...

Another day, another Roman fort. Now please don’t think for a moment that we are bored by this. Not at all… Each are fascinating, I mean seriously the history in these joints and to be honest that is why we are here. Each Fort has something different and special about it. We stayed last night in Hexam and caught the bus today to Corbridge old Roman town. I loved the fact that the Main Street is still there and I could walk down it. It is a very well preserved and huge The signs around the Fort indicated that what we could see was just the beginning. The main road for example probably goes all the way to Scotland. Just as it was time to leave and head back to the wall proper it rained again. Jackets etc out again….. Once back on the wall, 5 minutes of walking and the jackets were off. Sun out and a beautiful day began. Sadly all the interesting things are mostly behind us now and really we are walking to complete the challenge. Into Heddon on the Wall about 4, staying at a lovely b...

Well, it really did have to happen…  Today the heavens opened as we were trying to set off.  We had spent an hour or so at Chester’s fort just outside of Chollerton. Did walk past yesterday but our weary bodies wouldn’t allow us to stop and go in. Again incredible remains but also a very impressive bath house, best preserved of all the forts. As we headed back to the pub to collect our packs, the rain just started teasing us. By the time we were loaded and ready to go, down it came. I’m just going to include a couple of photos of the beautiful bridge in the backyard of the pub I really questioned the sanity and commitment of the four of us but as we were essentially in the middle of farmland it was irrelevant thinking. We arrived at Portgate after a bit of playing chicken on the highway and there it was.. A cafe.  A welcome respite from the weather for a bit. By the time we were leaving, it was absolutely lashing down. Time to think public transport, which we managed and...