After a wonderful nights rest at Houghton North Farm, We thanked Paula for a wonderful stay and with the generous donations from the ladies and gents there, the raw roman recruits set foot on the path to Bowness again. Rather an uneventful start, which was only broken up, when we entered a field with a bull in, having red tunics, wasn’t the best thing to have! A quick double step and we soon escaped any potential danger! We met soon a couple of guys, who were walking the same route, but in opposite directions. A quick photo and we were off. Only to be soon to be stopped for another photo stop, but this time the chaps, were going to Warrington!
6 Miles in and we arrived at our first checkpoint, the Robin Hood Inn, which handily was straight on our route. Bite of lunch and some emergency repairs to Robs armour and we were off, another 10 miles to go. The weather girl in the morning had promised us rain, but to this point none had materialised, not a patch on Keeley! So in the baking sun, we continue down our path. The path was very open and no shade was to be had. We were soon pouring with sweat, and badly needed some shade. Few minutes later and Nikki and Pip stopped us, for a quick photo and very kindly donated £20!! They assured us, that there was some woods up ahead which would provide lots of shelter from the unabaiting sunshine.So with the encouragement that we may stop getting burnt soon, we continued! Across the road, back across the road, round a field. Now, I’m not a real roman, but I’m pretty certain that the Romans would have gone in a straight line! No wonder were all getting utterly knackered! The woods were soon in site, well after an hour! Another photo stop at the roadside cafe and some tissues to help control the Niagara falls from our foreheads and we trudge on.
Day 2 and we are really beginning to feel the pain, funnily, not from the rather heavy armour, but our feet! Onwards and upwards, we finally come into the woods, after taking on some emergency water from a very kindly couple from Maine, who donated £10, which is very good considering the exchange rate. Soon into the welcome woods, we managed to cool off significantly, we rejuvenated us to the extent that Alan was in the lead! The woods, though could not last forever, we were soon back to crossing the road, backwards and forwards on this never ending path. Now, we’ve been walking for a day and a half and we are still to see anything of this world famous wall... Wondering if it really exists or is just some tourist trap made up by the crafty Northumbrians, we to our amazement, cross the road again and find.. The Wall! Bring on the wall! Certain photo opportunity, the Couple from the states, caught us up, and took our picture! Our feet by this point were in agony, well Alan’s were.
How much longer! But knowing that there is only about 4 miles left and the thought of getting out of the sun spurred us on. All downhill from here (probably in all senses!) Another photo stop from a nice couple who’d slammed on their breaks, upon seeing some Romans, rubbing their disbelieving eyes. Not much further to go and we were soon in Chollerford and stopping at the next checkpoint which was Chester’s fort. Gladly picked up by Andrew, we were very shortly at our overnight destination and a very very very welcome shower! By the way, beep beep count today was 19.
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