Let's see the countryside

Saturday 22^nd March to Sunday 23^rd March 2014

This area of the countryside is just so lovely and with the major attraction of the area being Hadrian’s Wall and associated remains of the Romans and their other handiwork, we decided to have a bit of a look around.

This is where we were staying

A view across the valley - and a light smattering of snow

Frost as well

and a woodpecker makes a visit

On good advice, we started at Housesteads and moved westerly after that.

The Monty Python line “What have the Romans ever done for us?” always comes to mind, but when you view any of the remains of their presence in England, it shows exactly how much they have left behind.

We were able to officially walk on Hadrian’s Wall at Housesteads and the whole site, including the museum and short film showed us how it all looked, how it all worked, how well it was all built.

The overall view of Housesteads

skylarking on the wall

The "Wall" in the background

My goddess next to the Roman one - absolutely no comparison
in my mind - I have the better deal

the view from Housesteads with the old Roman quarry in the foreground

Between Housesteads and our next stop at Vindolanda (or as Diane says – Vindaloo) we managed to get a shot of the Sycamore Tree as previously explained.

Kevin Costner and Morgen Freeman under this tree and under
plenty of cloud - pleased to say that the weather was a bit better
for us

Vindolanda is still an active archeological site with the digging season starting in April/May – the overhead photograph of the site in the café (taken in 2011) shows that a vast amount of digging and exposure has been made in just 2 seasons of digging.

Vindolanda - just part of the site already excavated

... and the new excavations since 2011

Lunch was taken at the aforesaid café, which was reasonably priced for a tourist spot and very tasty indeed.

Note the salad on the lunch plate...

...where did it all go?
Yes, she really did eat it all.

Our final stop was at the Roman Army Museum at Greenhead – just near to where we were staying but it allowed for more of the situation to fit into place.

Have they got the sizes out of whack?

Have to say that given the weather of the area, which is cold and very windy, how did these Romans put up with the conditions – keeping a look out for the marauding Celts and Picts from the north in freezing cold conditions – not my idea of having a good time/wish you were here type fun.

It came as a surprise to us that Dot and Gordon had not been to the Lake District and so we came to a quick decision that we would spend the better of the rest of the weekend days touristing in this fabulous area.

Sisters are doing it .... again

Who says money doesn't grow on
trees - hundreds of coins embedded on
a fallen section of tree

and the pot of gold is just below the surface

The scenery is truly spectacular.

And we managed to catch up with Paul and Elaine before they headed back to the boat.

Bombo in resplendent beauty

To wit to woo !!

and the coffee was good as well