Hadrian's Wall - Day 1

Bowness on Solway to Carlisle - 14.1 miles

I love food, I can easily eat 6 times a day and still be hungry. With this in mind I devoured my full English knowing my days will be filled with fatty snacks, MREs (Meal Ready Eat) and gallons of water. To say I was excited was a massive understatement. My smile almost hurt; my steps were feather-light, and my mind was spinning with the mantra: "another adventure on the horizon".

When I arrived at Bowness on Solway the rain was falling but by the morning the sky was blue and the sun was almost blinding. At the official starting point I met a lovely couple which of course meant nice pictures (thanks Amy :). I never would have guessed where our paths would cross again.

It started off with a short roadside walk which changed to back roads and finally to lovely fields. Choosing the Easter weekend was a lucky break for me, it meant long quiet walks and no crowds. I must have taken 200 pictures of walls/ruins/ rocks and pebbles before I had to remind myself of my next destination and why I had to keep going. This section was very easy and I had no intention of rushing it. My accommodation was an AirBnB that was beyond basic, aka a shed with a sofa bed and a lot of heaters :) it was an experience.

It still amazes me how time slows and how easily I forget about work, and stress when I walk. Life becomes this simple thing where the touch of the breeze / the smell of grass and the rays of the sun put a smile on your face and it reminds me why I love the simple things in life.