Returning to the UK
If you’ve read my blog about Wales, it should come as no surprise to you that I’m going back to the UK for my next adventure abroad. This time I’m going about things a bit differently, though. For one thing, I’m bringing more warm weather clothing. (London at 90°F/32°C last June was not a fun experience!) For another, this trip is going to be substantially more demanding physically. You see, this time I’m going there to walk the entire length of Hadrian’s Wall.
In case you have never heard of Hadrian’s Wall, it is an ancient Roman ruin that runs the entire width of the Isle of Britain, just south of the border between Scotland and England. It was built on the orders of Emperor Hadrian following his inspection tour of the Roman colonies/outposts in Brittania around 122 CE. Stories about why Hadrian had the wall built vary. Many folks favor the romantic notion that he was defending his empire against Saxon invaders, but I tend to believe the more realistic (and cynical) suggestion that he needed to do something dramatic in order to make a political statement and strengthen his hold on the empire, not to mention his throne.
Regardless of why it was built, Hadrian’s Wall is an impressive and significant structure stretching some eighty-odd miles from end to end. While walking the Wall I will need to cover an average of ten miles a day on foot, every day, for just over a week, and I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m a bit nervous about the whole thing. I have never done anything like this before, and now that I have made all my reservations I’m beginning to wonder if this is such a good idea after all.
B.
For those who are interested in learning more about Hadrian, his Empire, and a bit of history relating to Western Civilization, this book came highly recommended to me and is proving to be a very good read.