HADRIAN’S WALL. DAY 2

The rain was lashing down without pause, all night. We woke at 6.15.

Day 2. Heddon on the Wall to Chollerford.

Flat Eric had excellent bed hair after being ensconced in Snakes’ down hood all night (and was being refered to as Babushka).

The night had been warm and we’d all kicked off our layers. We woke to a beautiful sunny morning with a view of the Tyne.

While Flat Eric had broken the rules on her first night and slept in the inner vestibule of the tent, it didn’t render that extra porch room useless. In the rain it was a godsend for initially drying her off,  and for all of us to sit and make an elaborate dinner of boiled water mixed with dehydrated brown matter.

We drank tea and packed up at a leisurely pace.

The day started with a hill, which felt excellent after the flat tarmac of yesterday. Winnie was raring to go, full of beans and full or morning farts too. Eventually after less than 2 miles we landed in Heddon on the Wall where we bought a few supplies from the Spar; stamps, coleslaw, and coffee all the essentials.

Onwards, into the morning sun and we paralleled the b-road and the wall for some time. The fields were varied and lush, and the dexterity with which Flat Eric made it over the multitude of differing and challenging styles improved every time. She repeatedly landed over the fence looking very proud of herself.

We made it to the Robin Hood Inn and for the £3.50 it cost for one lime and one orange soda, we lay out all our gear to dry, consumed our picnic brunch, used the facilities to freshen up, stocked up on valuable loo roll, rehydrated Flat Eric (now back to her normal floofy-headed self) and made a few repairs to our leaky dry bags.

Fully reserviced we plodded on, the houses becoming fewer and the hills rolling around us further.

Snakes, takes a few days to get her head out of work mode, but when it’s fully out, she allows her mind to wander at will. She began to remark on how difficult it must be to serve as commentator at the races. And then spent the next 5 minutes trying to ascertain how hard it really is by giving it a go. Horse names like ‘50 Pences’ Father‘ and ‘Your Aunties Biscuit Tin‘ came impressively freely and at speed.

The sun was out and the trail was beginning to get interesting…

Eventually we stumbled upon the Errington Coffee house where we partook in both tea, and cake, and sandwiches. And Eric had a dog ice cream, after the waitress recommended it with such vigor as if she herself had them all the time.

With tummies more full than calories depleted we toddled on, into the woods. Snakes found a mushroom that looked like a bum.

Upon being whistled at by two men in a fast passing car, my first remarks were to the top quality of the whistle, Snakes laughed at me for it. She said she was just flattered to be whistled at. Hopes were dashed when I told her that wasn’t a wolf whistle, but rather the classic ranchero whistle used to get someones attention. Or to call a dog. So they were whistling at Eric. Sorry Snakes.

The walk was getting better and better, views were increasing, hills were rolling and the sun was still shining. The promised rain never came. Winnie was skipping along like she’d just started out. She was resourcefully drinking from the many rivers ditches, streams and troughs that we passed by to keep her hydrated.

Flat Eric had taken on Snakes fear of cattle so we only really needed to have her on a lead when sheep were around, though she generally remained uninterested in them too as we’d worked on a bit of deprogramming with her recently. There was the odd sheep that caught her fancy though. Mainly the ones she thought looked like her.

We sumitted a small rise then trundled down the fields to find the first bit of actual wall. We’d seen plenty of Vallum evidence (big defensive ditch) but no wall yet. Other than the farm walls of course, which were largely pilfered from Hadrian.

Down further into Chollerford and our home for the night. Soon we found ourselves sipping on cold beverages and enjoying some good pub food.