Hadrian's Wall and Hexham

"Remember, remember the 5th of November" Guy Fawkes Day

This morning, I had just started an unplanned video chat with Princess, when my Dad joined and reported that The Man had just had a car accident that wrote off the car, however he is only bruised and shaken. God be praised for that little, red Yaris. It always felt like a little tank, and it turns out to be a wonderfully safe vehicle to hit a pot hole, have a tyre blow out (they were new) and then a complete 360 side over side to sit back on it's wheels. We are grateful to God that The Man is all okay.

So later than expected, and whilst they went to bed, we headed out to Hadrian's Wall. We listened to "A Short History of...Hadrian's Wall" podcast on the way. Driving in the English countryside is...such a dream. I'm going home to plant hedges on our fence lines.

We stoped at Corbridge for possibly too long on the way. It has a lovely church, and it's such a cute little town, with loads of history.

The altar table at St Andrew's Corbridge.

An English Jesus.

Another organ for you Tiger.

This door was installed by the family of Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean) for his mother - 
this was her church.

On to Vindolanda, a roman fort turned into a museum. But the car directed us past that and by the time we could turn around we find we are at a car park with a beautiful outlook. We stopped here for a soup lunch and then a "quick" ramble, that took us down to Hadrian's Wall to the famous sycamore tree (that was chopped down by some vandals a year or so back). Such wonderful views. 

Making our lunch in the back of the car

A lovely place for a soup luncheon.

An incredible, large cliff that rises in the hills forms part of the natural wall barrier.

Some Roman fort ruins on the wall

Thickness of Hadrian's Wall

One of the way's to get over the stone fence.

The cattle were friendly...we were thinking of you Skipper.

These felt like the Stairs to Cirith Ungol, to Shelob's Lair.

Poor bus driver, driving elderly care clients on a day activity, got bogged
pulling off the road for this truck. And yes, he pulled off on the wrong side.

Skipper...this one is for you. I just loved the chooks on the stone wall.

Our time here means we need to move quickly to Hexham to see their cathedral. The artwork here is beautiful...English, Celtic, and Roman.

A rare example of Monk's Stair's at Hexham Cathedral. Christian is pointing
to some melted led stuck in the stairs.

A Roman grave marker

English art...Elizabeth greets Mary

The altar at Hexham Cathedral

Our way home, after a late afternoon tea, was punctuated by fireworks. When we got to the house someone at the pub next door set off some fireworks so that it banged JUST above my head when I was upstairs. Nearly had me fall down the stairs in fright! A memorable end to a memorable day.

Afternoon tea.

I remember fireworks night as a kid - you would have loved it Tank!