Hadrian's Wall - Day One

We stayed in a lovely hotel on the Tyne River.  The hotel was open to hikers, dogs, and kids but was also pretty fancy and attracted lots of older fancy people as well.  We met one older couple in the hall and they were amused by Hank's crazy hair.  The lady said, "My goodness, he looks as though he has had quite a fright!"  said in a posh British accent. 

The beginning of the hike was along the road and there was no visible wall.  There was a stone wall along one of the farms that Soph and Hank enjoyed walking on.

This was our hotel.  Very posh.

Paul had to help Cash learn about how stiles work.  It took maybe two times and then Cash was flying over the stiles all by himself.  Sometimes he was so exhuberant about getting to the next field that he knocked the

 kids off the stiles as he barrelled through.

 The kids and Dad coming down the hill.  The wall to the left is that of Hadrian which is nearly two thousand years old.  That is pretty hard to get one's head around.  Many of the stones have been used in the past to build houses and other fences.  I don't know why this part of the wall still survives, maybe because it is up on the freezing cold windy crags that are steep and crazy and would take loads of work to get the stones down.

The cow ambush.  Note the very forced smile on my face.  Sophia informed me that I was brave because I went through the cow field even though I was scared.  Cheers for that, mate!

Posing on the wall.

Hank loved the stiles and would leap from my shoulders so he could climb them all by himself.  He would also climb back the other way and insisted on staying on the stile and climbing for a ridiculously long time before heading to the next field. 

He also discovered molehills and ran to them to kick the dirt around.  He even picked the dirt up and threw it all over himself.  He is such a boy.

The few from one of the crags.  Only a few more miles to the end of our hike that day.

Lunch Break!

Not sure when or where she learned this posing thing.

Daddy and Soph took a little rest after lunch.  Daisy, always a fan of rest and naps, joined them.

Yet another rest break.  Seriously, how many rest breaks does a four year old need during a 10 mile hike?!  :)  Apparently lots and lots.  Hank was just happy to find some rocks to play with.  We have learned a few things about Mr. Hank lately.  1) if there is something taller than he is, he will climb it, or at least try.  2)  If there are rocks, he will pick up as many as possible and put them in his or my pockets.  3)  if there is water, he will have to throw something into it.   4) if there is dirt, he must kick it, throw it, or put it in his pocket.  5) he has no fear of animals AT ALL.  He walks up to strange horses in field, he approaches cows, and he enjoys herding sheep.  I still think he is going to be a livestock vet.

poser

Sophie photography