Hadrian’s Wall: east wallhouses to Newcastle. Country to city and I am there!

Day 9

There were no stars last night, but the light of Newcastle could be seen in the east.

This morning as it was raining a slowly packed inside the tent and made my chocolate oats with water inside, can’t see any point bothering to make hot water. I got the tent down in the rain and then went into the pub to have a second breakfast of a bacon sandwich, being delayed by a great chat with a guy from Kenya who’s been walking crazy distances - he did once Brewed to here yesterday, and Bowness to Crosby on the first day! So it was after 9:30 when I set off.

Sticking with the military road The trail passed wheat fields and some reservoirs, continuing the same style as yesterday, only damper (plus with loads of big fat slugs on the path).

I shortcutted a wiggle of the path by the road and rejoined, still confused how the sea could be near when the hills seemed to stretch off into the distance. The path took me past VBindovalva Roman fort, evidence of the urban sprawl now obvious on the opposite hillside.

The path joined the road and crossed the A road on a flyover. I then continued on the pavement into Heddon, stopping at ‘the deli’ -with a statue of ‘Victrix’ carved from a Iive tree- for a cup of tea though very sad they had no gluten free cakes.

Passing down through Heddon, with estate road names like Trajan walk and Aquila drive (and the shiny range rovers proving this a commuter district), the view opened across the Tyne valley

. I took a bridleway shortcut down the hill, fortunately proving more successful than my Cumbrian bridleways... until o made the mistake of turning left at the bottom and went the wrong way. Heading back I came out onto the trail in the golf course and through rugby pitches to join the Wylam Waggonway ‘the cradles of the railway’, it carried coal waggins and then early locomotives such as the Puffing Billy, it was also the birthplace of George Stephenson.

Taking the parrallel riverside way instead I marched on intent on covering distance, accompanied first by a corn field then by pleasant trees, to the regular sounding of the trains horn on the opposite bank. I can’t think why the Trail doesn’t take this pleasant route. I stopped, after the path widened, in the playground with Newburn bridge in sight for lunch- which turned out to be the site of the battle of Newburn ford

Continuing the path followed the wide but empty cycleway. I smelt the Warburtons bakery before I saw it. The smell soon turned less pleasant and chemically

I left the cycle way at Lemington where I had planned to rest and take a bus from. As the community cafe looked unpromising, I headed to coffee on the Courner which had been recommended to me this morning by the American lady at breakfast. They had no gf food but I had a cup of tea, then bought some chocolate from a corner shop, and returned to the cycle way, deciding as my feet felt fine there was no point giving up now.

After walking round and over the A road I decided as it was now after 4 and the path left the road and residential area, that it would be best not to walk any further despite my legs surprisingly feeling perfectly able to manage it. I therefore walked down the curling road from the Scotswood memorial statue and headed to the bus stop.

This proved an expedition in itself, crossing about 8 pedestrian crossings to go round 3/4 of the roundabout. After I arrived a 22 bus drive straight past me so I waited in the sun intent on catching the second.

The bus stops on Grainger street and I go to the reception of the Albetross hostel. And then I’m there, in my room, at the end of The walk

I laid my tent out in the floor of the room and slowly set about washing myself and my clothes. Two nice German backpackers arrived. It was 7 by the time I was done.

I went down to the kitchen area and used the kettle to make my leftover soup in my mug with pita, then had a cup of tea, finished off the raisins, and had my fudge bar. I spent a lot of time doing the photos but gave up, I am tired