WALKING THE HADRIAN'S WALL PATH: Day 3 — Wall to Once Brewed

Robert and Dominic (orange shell) Walking on Top of a Turf-covered Portion of the Wall

From Wall I'd been shadowing a figure in a blue rain shell and red cap for about half an hour.  I was pretty sure it was him.  We crossed the river Tyne at Chollerford separated by only a few minutes . . . 

                                                         The Solitary Walker

                                                         "Bloggers are Real People Too"

                                                          Post of August 29, 2011

On the morning of my third day, while checking out of the Hadrian Hotel in Wall, I briefly glanced at another guest whose face vaguely reminded me of the tiny photo of Robert that appears in the profile section of The Solitary Walker.  Quickly, however, I dismissed any thought that this might actually be The Solitary Walker, because Robert and I had specifically agreed to meet the following afternoon in the village of Gilsland.

Leaving the hotel, I walked through a light rain toward Chollerford, detouring along the way to explore another fine section of the wall and the foundation of one of the old turrets. . . 

In Chollerford, I crossed a lovely old bridge over the River Tyne . . . 

and then proceeded to Chesters Fort, which is considered to be the best visible remains of a Roman cavalry fort in Britain.  Arriving a few minutes before the gates opened, I walked up several steps to the museum entrance and began chatting with a couple of German walkers.  Sensing the presence of someone behind me, I stepped back ever so slightly, and in doing so, I slipped off the edge of the elevated platform and began tumbling down the steps.  In an effort to avoid a small disaster — and obviously inspired by some of the free-style skiing maneuvers I have seen in the winter Olympics — I executed what I would call a "half twist with poles," which, fortunately, allowed me to remain upright and uninjured, though I almost collided with a stranger in a blue rain shell similar to my own.

As soon as I regained my composure, the stranger made a comment about how amazing it was that two walkers in similar rain gear had so much in common.  As I hesitated, trying to come up with an appropriate response, the stranger asked if I was doing the entire Hadrian's Wall walk alone, whereupon I replied that I would be joined by a good friend the next day.  And then came the stranger's zinger: "Would that friend happen to be the solitary walker?"  Well, as they say, folks, the rest is history.  Robert and I began talking as if we had known each other for our entire lives, and we continued to talk for the next four days as we hiked through some of the most beautiful and historically interesting countryside that England has to offer.

Robert — The Solitary Walker

Some of the other sights seen on this day's walk are set forth below. With nothing more than captions, I will let the photos speak for themselves.

Ruins of Chesters Fort

A Portion of the Hadrian's Wall to Left of the Path

A Farmstead Near the Wall

Ruins of a Mithras Temple
(Mithras was the Latin name of the Persian god, Mithra, and Mithraism,
a religion which emphasized truth, honor, bravery, and discipline,
was the unofficial faith of the Roman soldiers)

Close-up of Inside the Mithras Temple

  

The Solitary Walker and Other Walkers Discuss a Navigational Issue

  A Portion of the Path on Top of the Turf-Covered Wall

Foundation of Old Turret

Path Along the Wall

Beautiful Views of the Countryside From Higher Elevations

Distant View of Wall Snaking Through the Hills

Other Walkers on the Path

Ruins of the Roman Fort at Housesteads

Housesteads

Housesteads

Housesteads — Ruins of the Granary

Housesteads

Robert Walking Up the Whin Sill Ridge

A Stone Structure Near Sycamore Gap

Robert Ascending From Sycamore Gap

Sycamore Gap (behind Robert) is named after the large, solitary sycamore that grows in the dip.  According to Henry Steadman, author of Hadrian's Wall Path, "the sycamore is something of a local celebrity, having appeared in the film Robin Hood alongside Kevin Costner (where, despite the distinct disadvantage of being a tree, it still managed to appear less wooden than its co-star.)"

Another Milecastle

The Path Took Us Toward the Village of Once Brewed . . . 

. . . Before a Final Descent and a Short Walk to the Village

Next Post:  Days 4 and 5 — Once Brewed to Newtown