Hadrian's Wall Path 2011: September 2011

Sunday, 4 September 2011

After yesterday's long slog in the rain, we celebrated with a meal and a few pints at the Kings Arms in Bowness on Solway, signed the walkers log book, collected our "certificates of achievement", bought our "I Walked Hadrian's Wall" tee shirts and after some arguments about the bus timetable, got back to Carlisle and changed into dry clothes.
This morning we said goodbye to Colin as he went to get his bus to Sheffield, and we're now at the station for our train home.
Thanks for all the messages of encouragement and sponsorship - we're delighted to see that we've exceeded our £500 target, and we want our sponsors to know that we suffered to earn the money! (especially yesterday!)

Saturday, 3 September 2011

Bowness on Solway: we've finished!

Solway Estuary

It's flat and wet. But there's a shelter for lunch, and only 6 miles to go now!

Last Day: Carlisle to Bowness on Solway

In contrast to yesterday's barn, today we've all got individual study bedrooms at The Old Brewery Residencies in Carlisle. Reminiscing about our student days. Had a good meal at an Italian restaurant. Now it's raining and the forecast is for rain and more rain!

Friday, 2 September 2011

Tea and cakes in the Sands Leisure Centre to celebrate our arrival in Carlisle - the first town of any size since we left Newcastle last Saturday.

Arriving in Carlisle

A rather damp morning, course of the wall hardly visible today, good pub lunch in Crosby on Eden, crossed the M6 then the River Eden in to Carlisle

Day 8: Walton to Carlisle

An interesting night with 9 of us crammed in the cosy bunk barn (actually a converted dog kennel). John is on the sofa in the tiny sitting room, which is equipped with a collection of wartime helmets and a handy 1942 instruction manual for American servicemen in Britain ("the British can't make a cup of coffee, but you don't know how to make a proper cup of tea", "Never point out to a Frenchman that they surrendered").
We were disappointed to find that the Centurion Inn at Walton has closed, but we were able to eat good home-cooked food in the grand dining room in the Farmhouse. And there's a swallow's nest in the washroom - the chicks are watching us!