MISSED THE WALL (13/08/08)

Woke this morning to a sky seventy five percent free of cloud. Loads of shooting stars, a really good show. For the realists among you it's just rubbish from the comet Swift Tutle. For those of a musical bent I can never see a shooting star without being reminded of the wonderful lyrics written by Billy Bragg and performed definitively by the much missed Kirsty Maccoll. From 'A New England'

I saw two shooting stars last night,

I wished on them but they were only satellites,

It's wrong to wish on space hardware.

Back to the post, concentration span of a gnat, set off for The Wall. I've moved fifteen miles down the road to the west and am camped just outside Haltwhistle. I'm reliably informed there is evidence of some serious wall construction not far away. Walked less than a mile and am enveloped in thick mist, it's black as a witches hat, head torch about as efficacious as a glow worm in a jam jar! Out came map and compass, don't know why, I was still lost an hour later. Logic came to my rescue, keep going up hill and the The wall will surely appear. It did. Henry The Navigator wouldn't have been more pleased.

GOOD VIEW..........Still no sign of the right wall. At least there is a wall or two.

TWO SHEEP, A TREE AND A WALL.....Still not THE wall.

HADRIAN'S WALL......Perseverance. This is it, I'm not daft. Maybe I am, it looks little different from........... well, a wall.

After this fandango did you think I'd let you off with one picture? No Chance! TRIG. POINT.... This was my destination for a magnificent sunrise, running a little late. Not that it mattered.

THE SUN............ the wall is on the right.

TWICE BREWED.........The building left centre is a pub called Twice Brewed, things are looking up. Shut as usual!

Aye, they certainly built them straight, miracle they didn't fall asleep at the reins of their chariots!

Got back to the van, had a second breakfast and a quick look at the result of my toil, bit grim, so off out again. This is great countryside and I feel I should be doing it justice.

Not there yet but at least it feels good to finish on a brighter image. If you can't decide between sky and terra firma break the rules and give them both a share.