Hadrian's Wall was by far the most challenging item on Doc Campbell's list. There was a blizzard in Scotland and the north so many of the roads were closed-not by snow but by cars and trucks left on the road, so busses were not running. The Wall runs from Carlisle to Newcastle but the most interesting parts are on the Carlisle end. The owner of the B&B thought I was snoooookered but I perservered and managed to get a bus to the Roman Army Museum where I got to walk a section of the wall. The third photo shows me on top of Walltown Hill in the Pennines with Hadrian's Wall behind me. The snow was up to my knees in spots but it was a glorious day with bright sun and little wind. It was -17 the night before, the coldest in 50 years!At the bottom of the hill there was a village called Greenhead which had a church and a pub. At the pub the barman was amazed that anyone was out let alone walking the trail.
"Ya right?" he said (that passes for hello up here) "Wud ja dune oop e-ah this time ye-ah? Rung time cum oop
e-ah this time ye-ah."
"I'm Canadian. We swim in this weather."
"Gud on ye, lad. Pleezed you ain't a yank. Wud yaven?"
I got back to town just after dark. The landlord was sore amazed.
Up early Friday morning to catch the MegaBus to London - fare 4.50- train would have cost 300!!! There was
one drawback, however. It was so cold the bus toilet had frozen and the driver didn't know what to do. When
we got back to Manchester a gentleman got on the bus and exclaimed:
"Oy! This bus don't aff stink." He refused to get on until something was done so we were diverted to another
depot where the problem was fixed. Arrived in London this afternoon to +5. It absolutely balmy. Will take in a
show tonight.
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