The Hadrian Challenge 2008The Hadrian Challenge is a sponsored walk following the Hadrian´s Wall Path National Trail over a period of four days. All money raised by the walkers will go to Disability North. The aim is to use this page as a source of useful links and resources for all team members to draw upon and eventually a record of the whole trip .
Click Here for Photos from TripThe Route ScheduleThursday 8 May
DiaryDay One - Bowness to Walton
Well after last year no one can believe the weather, sunny is what you get abroad . We set off from Bowness at about 9.15am, everyone was in good spirits and the pace reflected this. We got to Drumburgh and thought because it was possible we would make this our first lolly stop (hot weather). Obviously this thought last year, given the weather was totally unthinkable. We then had the long stretch along the estuary which was only broken by, you guessed it coo's. We then got through to Beamount where we started walking along the river to Carlisle. The seasons had worked well this year and the gorse and bluebells were in full swing looking very bright and colourful. Its at this point I should maybe mention naked running, there must be a name for it but we don't know what it is; more of that later. Once we reached Carlisle got our passports stamped we found a lovely hostelry called 'The Turf' - drinks and food OK but, we saw a guy walk into the bar with a live snake around his neck! Unfortunately no one knows what he asked for; as in a man went into a bar....
After lunch we cracked on along the river and headed up to the M6, still can't get over how noisy it is crossing this motorway. At Crosby there was a nice courtesy stop at a farm where we got some drinks and marvelled at either small Shetland Ponies or Falabellas, (Christine our resident horsesy expert wasn't sure which). Now we come to the excitement of the day - two fields with bulls! However, I take a dim view of the type of person who uses this as an excuse to swig my hip flask after I've walked them safely through the field. It wasn't long after this a small party got lost, we eventually located them and talked them in onto the correct route, (we didn't want them missing the bulls!) We eventually got everyone to the Centurion Inn for dinner, minus Jess and Helen. Good food and drink. However, a statement from Linda summed up her feelings 'I might cry before the end of this'. Tired, must got to bed now - Steve (Fri 00:47) Day Two - Walton to Once Brewed
Sunny morning again, what's going on. We set off about 9.15am and set off down the bank from Walton, still all feeling chipper. We need to point out at this moment in time we have learn't some new words, word number one 'sorer' e.g. Ruth's shoulders are sorer this morning, Linda's knee is sorer, etc. We worked as a team and tried to cater for all paces as we headed to Birdoswald it was lovely morning and we strung out along the route and plodded on. We stopped for the customary cakes and coffee, you should have seen them drooling when they saw the cake I came back with. Not many cows this morning and definitely no bulls! I have now been told to add this after yesterday; "It was the biggest bull in the world". We next strode onto Greenhead where we met Neil, Alan and Richard. They had gone the wrong way. So, we then took them up to Walltown where we all stopped for teas and coffees. After a brief respite we headed for the crags; new word number two, the 'mountainy' bits. Despite the nice weather it got quite cool when we got up on the top of the wall. As everyone has heard here before the views on this section are breathtaking and we all enjoyed it.
We managed to keep in radio contact with Linda and Claire to make sure they didn't get lost. We gave everyone the task of finding the Mona Lisa en-route. No one found it. At least we,ve got a photo to prove it. We managed to get to Cawfields through the field of our friendly horses without any issues until I nearly kicked the farm cat across the field! It was now time to finish the last leg to Steel Rigg and to the highest point, where we could see the farm where we were staying. We were kindly ferried by car down to the farm and allocated our bunk beds. A quick shower and a catch up with everyone of how they got on today as we waited for Linda and Claire. We were promised a hearty meal tonight and thats exactly what we got, proper good wholesome walkers food. The fun only began when we all tried to get to sleep in the slightly cramped bunk rooms. The bumps and cursing you heard through the night as people tried to get to and from the toilet in the pitch dark were quite funny. Day Three - Once Brewed to Heddon
Number two tunnel was ready and some of our chaps managed to get over the fence. Unfortunately I think the last of the toilet roll ran out at last night because the escape commitee were using this to make maps and passports. After helping Stuart get the trailer sorted we set off along the crags. Beautiful views all morning as we went along the tops trying to catch everyone in front off us. We stopped at Sewingshields and had a picnic for lunch (oh, its only 10.00am). Its down hill from here, well that's what I told them. We caught up with the girls (Linda and Claire ) and then came across another walker coming towards us in a bikini! At this point Ruth remembered another thing she forgot to pack. We carried on past the Mithraic temple and even climbed the huge stile which we hadn't notice until we got to the top of, wasn't actually crossing a fence, it had disappeared! As we neared Chollerford and were crossing the fields near to the stud farm we caught up with Alan who like ourselves was in need of a sit down at the cafe. Luckily it wasn't long before we were in there ordering toasties and tea, we briefly met the rest of the group as they set off from the cafe on the next leg. After our refuelling stop we left the cafe and headed up the road to St. Oswalds Hill head with a slight detour to Brunton Turret on the way. I used to do a charity cycle ride that came this way and I know how long it takes to get to the top, walking up this hill isn't any easier than cycling; just grit your teeth and see it out.
As we walked through Stanley Plantation on the way to the Portgate we came across a solitary walker heading for Bowness. As usual we made the mistake of asking how long it was going to take him to get there, "..hmm, I'm not sure maybe six, seven or even eight days, not really sure..". Don't they make you sick! We carried on down past the Portgate picking up Dave and Christine there who followed us down to the now traditional stop at the 'Robin Hood Inn', to stamp our passports of course; oh look they sell beer here...... After fully rehydrating ourselves we dug deep for that last five mile stretch to Heddon. We now had Alan back with us which meant there was only Linda and Claire behind us, I got my head down and started off at a pace with Dave and Alan. It was a hard five mile but I dragged us back into Houghton North Farm to be met by some of the group enjoying the brilliant accomodation and some already at the local hostelry arguing the classifications of vegetarianism. Grabbed a quick shower, ordered food and started to find out how everyone else had got on today. Jess didn't seem to agree with my observation that this had been the best day for road kill, however Jess (vegetarian) didn't quite have the same slant on this as us carnivores. By the way Jess remember what they do to May kittens! Everyone was in good spirits and relieved that they had cracked the longest stretch of the trip . However, we were still missing two team members so Leslie and myself formed a search party and went back along the military road to look for the G and T girls. As we crossed the A69 and headed down the bank, in the distance we could see a faint light bobbing up and down in the dark, it had to be them. Sure enough, it was Linda and Claire with a life saving torch both still upbeat and in good spirits. We got them back to the farm without any risk of the taking a lengthy detour and them a much needed drink and some food. This was now 10.00pm and these two had started at 7.00am this morning! Everyone could relax now and enjoy the rest of the evening with DJ Mallon presiding over our musical needs. We all went off to bed in dribs and drabs thinking we only have one more night and then its a walk along the banks of the Tyne to the finish. Day Four - Heddon to Wallsend
After a busy staggered breakfast (I mean 'staggered') we all set off to catch Team G & T, who once again opted for an early start since there was a lttle competition to who would reach the 'Pitcher and Piano' first. As we loaded the trailer for the last time Paula told us of a shortcut back to the trail from the farm, this had us worried for a short while but I soon recognised areas, so we were going in the right direction. We headed down through Close House Golf course where Terry and Ruth had a near miss with some wayward golfers (that was me being nice to golfers, I normally call them something else). It was a lovely walk along the river to Newburn, the good weather bringing lots of people out. We checked out the rowing teams as we passed the rowing club; I think its really thoughtful how the city of Newcastle puts this boat race on every year for us walking through Newcastle. Once through Newburn we headed over the thundering A1 and down into Scotswood. It was along this stretch that Ivan found paradise for us, its a pathetic strip of grass wedged between a dual carriageway and the banks of the Tyne thats supposed to attract butterflies! At this point we stepped down onto the River Tyne path, its heartening when you can see the water. It can be a bit of a trudge along here but once you see those wonderful bridges its all made fine, the bustle of the people the smell of the bacon butties. Oh, yes we stopped for a bacon buttie under the Tyne bridge; you have to!.
We all regrouped at the 'Pitcher and Piano' minus Terry and Ruth who had managed to get lost on home soil and blamed the signs. Here we found Team G & T suitably reclined outside with their drink of choice watching the world go by basking in their victory being the first to the quayside. We finished our drinks and all set off as one group on the last stretch along the river to Wallsend. Luckily, Frances (Terry's young daughter) had joined us at the quayside, she knows the way better than her Dad so we set off for Wallsend. As I've said before this last section isn't the prettiest part of the walk but still part of more recent history as well as ancient history. You follow the River Tyne for a couple of miles and then turn into the industrial areas and head for the Swan Hunter shipyard cranes. As you near Segedunum (Wallsend) along the foot path the first thing you see is the reconstructed Roman bath, the next thing we were confronted with was the well wishers with party poppers. I thought I was going to have to dip for the line to get past Team G & T. As we came round into the museum Ivan captured the Kodak moments as we came through the gate.
We all congratulated each other for our great efforts and achievement, which was even greater this year. More people particpating and everyone finishing. A quick muster in the Segedunum museum to collect certificates and it was back on Gus the Bus for the final leg back to Disability North.
When we arrived at Disability North we had family and friends waiting outside in the sunshine (did I mention it was still sunny!) to give us a great welcome home. It was good to see a veteran from last year waiting for us (see you next year Greg). Carolyn got plenty of Kodak moments as we got from the bus to upstairs to where the fantastic spread was prepared for us; little tip Carolyn, after walking 84 miles - standing on one leg! After a few champers we did hear a few '...Oh yes I'll be doing it next year...' So, see you all in 2009! Thanks to all the walkers, helpers, families and friends for their support. Steve
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