We had planed to visit Vindolanda today and I was really lookng forward to it. It's a fantastic Roman site and I certainly didn't expect it to be so large. It lived up to all expectations; a "must visit" for anyone coming this way. The highlight of the day for us both.
One of the heated bathrooms in the military camp at Vindolanda
We then escaped the lunchtime rain in a pub before we drove to Housesteads, caught the AD122 bus back to where The Walker finished yesterday so that I could walk Steel Rigg with him. I wondered if anything could beat yesterday's views, they were so good - today's walk, though, just has the edge! A fantastic walk with great views.
From Bernie:
Today's walk 3.0 miles : Cumulative 789.0 miles
Now, this might look like a pathetic effort but, if you check the original itinerary, today was scheduled as a day off! Ended up walking far more than 3 miles as I easily slipped back into 'tourist' mode & became a Roman for the day! Technical Team need to note that I've added another 2 miles to the overall route... sorry!!
Good job I had my new waterproof....
Roman outpost village & archaeological excavation, pub, another high-level stretch of Hadrian's Wall & a finish at the most famous Roman fort of all - a good rest day!
Milecastle between Steel Rigg & Crag Lough
Bumped into our next-door neighbours from the camp-site above Crag Lough & their 2 spaniels; they were walking with their friend, Mike, from Kirkby Stephen & his collie. Amazingly, Lynnette & Gary live in Sudbury which is where Mike, also, originally comes from.... just a few miles up the road from us in Braintree! Mike's a teacher & would normally have been working today but for strike action by teaching unions against Government pension proposals. I was delighted to hear a group of men in a Carlisle pub the other day, clearly in the building trade, expressing their support for teachers in particular. Their argument was, 'Somebody's got to fight this & we should all be supporting them' . If you want professionals......
'Sycamore Gap' - apparently, this has appeared in lots of films!
Highlight of the Day: Vindolanda will be a highlight of the whole walk. I'd read of & seen TV programmes about the site but nothing can match visiting the remains of this huge Roman settlement. Tucked away in a valley below Hadrian's Wall &, now, barely visible from even its highest points, the excavated ruins alone are impressive; the collected artefacts in the excellent museum are quite amazing. My only complaint would be that some of the finest exhibits have been 'pinched' by the British Museum & all I got to see were replicas.... & I'd walked all this way to see them!
Impossible for a ground level photo to show the site properly - this is the best I can do!
Beer of the Day: 'Prince Bishop' from Newcastle's Big Lamp Brewery - sounds grander than it really is! Served surprisingly chilled, I found it a bit bland though it did improve as I worked my way down the pint... perhaps it warmed up a bit.
Very good day off but must put an end to all this trivia! Heading northwards tomorrow....
Technical Team: thanks for the snow photos - proves I'm not making all of this up!
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Hello to you two intrepid adventurers. Just to let you know we are still following your exploits with great interest and admiration. Outstanding photos. Can't believe how speedily those famous legs of yours Bernie are conquering Lejog. Well done to The Walker and The Manager! Keep on trekking. Glen and David
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