3/29: wall bound
another wonderful English breakfast and we set off on foot for the wall path. We had a guide book and vaguely knew it would be up hill. Got out of hexham alright, and made good time to accomb. Got a bit turned around leaving town, but eventually found our way to the path that connected with the wall path- incidentally straight through a number of sheep pastures, which ultimately would be our trail for much of the journey. Rejoined at some old monastery that saint Oswald had maintained and fought out of. It was a sinuous path down to chollerford, but we were greeted with a great view of a 300+ year old bridge and a good lunch at the tea house.
Pit-stopped at Chester’s fort to check out the Roman ruins. This one had a fairly complete (although still ruins) baths down by the river which was cool to learn about and see the various rooms that were part of the process. Continued on up (and up) the trail and entered northumberland national park. These evidently don’t seem a ton different that other areas other than that they are officially recognized as important by the government. People still own land here and farm it the same as they do half a mile down the way. The views were generally spectacular, but tended to grow throughout the day. The same was true for the visabke stretches of wall remains that periodically popped up. They are visibly different in that they aren't as tall, but are much wider than normal property boundary walls that line the countryside.
Arrived at the old repeater station around 5 and met our host: an amiable older guy that loved to talk with a very dry sense of humor. Lots of ribbing but easy enough to talk to. Very well informed and seemed to enjoy talking about U.S. politics and generally our shortcomings (admittedly there are many). With that said, there are so many things that are easy to say as an Englishman that hasn’t had to deal with it, and/or doesn’t see how they’ve conveniently outsourced the issue. Immigration and race relations in the U.S. aren’t good by any measure, but I’m not sure that England or other European countries can take the high road on any of those with their colonization history. Trump, however, is indefensible, even if the supporters might have more of a backstory.
The guy was an excellent cook. Steak and mushroom pie with beers, vegetables, and mashed potatoes. Very hard to complain. A fine day on the way.
Pit-stopped at Chester’s fort to check out the Roman ruins. This one had a fairly complete (although still ruins) baths down by the river which was cool to learn about and see the various rooms that were part of the process. Continued on up (and up) the trail and entered northumberland national park. These evidently don’t seem a ton different that other areas other than that they are officially recognized as important by the government. People still own land here and farm it the same as they do half a mile down the way. The views were generally spectacular, but tended to grow throughout the day. The same was true for the visabke stretches of wall remains that periodically popped up. They are visibly different in that they aren't as tall, but are much wider than normal property boundary walls that line the countryside.
Arrived at the old repeater station around 5 and met our host: an amiable older guy that loved to talk with a very dry sense of humor. Lots of ribbing but easy enough to talk to. Very well informed and seemed to enjoy talking about U.S. politics and generally our shortcomings (admittedly there are many). With that said, there are so many things that are easy to say as an Englishman that hasn’t had to deal with it, and/or doesn’t see how they’ve conveniently outsourced the issue. Immigration and race relations in the U.S. aren’t good by any measure, but I’m not sure that England or other European countries can take the high road on any of those with their colonization history. Trump, however, is indefensible, even if the supporters might have more of a backstory.
The guy was an excellent cook. Steak and mushroom pie with beers, vegetables, and mashed potatoes. Very hard to complain. A fine day on the way.
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