k. Tynemouth was rather nice, I guess that's why Mickledore puts us there. There was a lovely old monastery but it seemed to be closed and a huge monument to Admiral Collingwood, who fought with Nelson at Waterloo. It was bittery cold, so I didn't stay outdoors for too long.
The first day of walk,ing was from Wallsend to Newburn. We had to catch the Metro, which is a lot simpler than London's system, to the start of our walk at Wallsend. Newcastle suburbs are very bleak and the walk took us past the Tyne River, which is highly polluted in parts from a tar factory. The water looked like tar! It was a hard, boring walk for 25 kms or so. Not inspiring at all.
Our accommodation at Newburn was nice, a guesthouse in the same grounds as the pub and restaurant. It was good to finally arrive. I think I have done further damage to my knee, it feels like a tear in my shin where the titanium pin is holding my ligament to the bone. I had the worst pain ever in my leg that night, 4 panadol didn't even touch the edge of it!!
Our walk today was to Corbridge - 26 km of paddocks, fields and Roman ditches. Yes, we walked in Roman ditches! The only part of Hadrian's Wall we saw today was at Heddon-on-the-Wall. We just beat a bus load of tourists, which was good timing. Other sights we saw were either not excavated but signposted, or difficult to spot. Lots of fences to climb using a variety of contraptions, we are becoming expert now!
Mickledore advised us to catch a taxi in to Corbridge which we gladly did - we are staying at a guesthouse run by Mrs Brown, who is quite lovely. We had a quick drink at the pub but our tea is a 10 minute walk away in the next part of the village.
