Maundy Thursday Walk…

Veronica provides another update; We planned today’s 10 1/4 miles walk by Hadrian’s wall near where we live. It began at the Vindolanda Roman Fort and Museum where excavation has just started for this season. For the past 30 odd years students from Universities help in this work where they are continually finding relics from our Roman past. Three years ago, we were present when they unearthed a 2nd centenary sandal. The archaeologist offered it to me and sensing my hesitation, he explained, “It’s OK to handle as it is soaking wet from the peat bog, it is only when it is dry that it is very fragile”. Any finds nowadays are sent to the British Museum as the insurance would be too costly for the Birtely family who run the charitable trust. (The Vindolands Writing Tablets are among Britain’s Top Treasure.)

A mist enveloped us as we started up the escarpment and on towards the Roman Wall. Early on we lost our way and foolishly had not brought binoculars or mobile phone. However we retraced our steps and eventually regained the route. The sun appeared to be screaming to break through the clouds and at times succeeded. Towards the end of the walk, like the light overcoming the darkness, it eventually broke through and clear blue skies emerged along with the sun’s warmth.

The ground was drier than it had been for weeks as a result of the wind which whistled around us on the higher ground. At one of the mile castles, used in Roman times to monitor and collect tolls from local tradesmen passing through to tend their animals, we remarked on the modern day problems of the Palestinians within their settlements divided by the Israeli wall and needing to go to work. Near the area called ‘Kings Gate’ we encountered a series of dykes which impeded our steady progress.

The new born lambs appeared unconcerned by our presence, their mothers were apprehensive though. “All in the April evening… I saw the sheep with their lambs and thought on the Lamb of God.”
Skylarks were out in force today especially over the moor where they hovered for long periods and remained ever constant companions for most the way

Towards Twice Brewed (No we did’nt stop for a cuppa) we noticed a lone young woman with her shoulder bag exposed wandering round the ruins of what was a Roman Bath house. She obviously felt safe in the area, and so she was.

The final few miles took us towards Steel Rigg car park and we could see the famous Sycamore Tree featured in Kevin Coster’s film Braveheart. How many art galleries and pubs features this tree where visitors flock to take pictures?

The start of the Easter holiday and tourist season brought sightseers and walkers out in droves. By the time we finished the walk we could feel we had unexpectedly caught the sun.

This entry was posted on 06/04/2007 at 08:57 am and is filed under Progress report. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.