Walking the Wall...

[falcon_horus]

...or how DW just swallowed my entire post... * grumble*

So, the lost post started somewhat like this...

...or how one silly suggestion can turn into an actual project.

My sister, my best friend and I will go on a trip of a lifetime in July, namely we have plans to walk Hadrian's Wall from east to west (or west to east depending on the organisation we're going to use). Currently we're training our behinds into submission to be able to walk approx. 20km per day (less when we're at the harder parts of the trek). You can keep up with our antics, if you so wish, at the community we've created at Dreamwidth -> walking_the_wall .
You don't need to be a member of DW to be able to read the posts (if you want to comment, that will require a membership but I still have invite codes if you wish to become one). So far, you'll find reports there of our weekly walks across our little country, but more will come as the weeks go by. There will also be pictures of us in training so that you can get to know these three insane people a little better.

Comments

[tanaqui]

Oooh! *runs off to subscribe*

That looks like a fabulous project - I'm a little envious and I'm definitely looking forward to following along. :-)

[falcon_horus]

At first it sounded like I had finally lost that last marble that was still clinging to me for dear life, but then when we started researching the idea... it sounded more doable than we thought it would be.

But I foresee lots of hilarious times still ahead of us, so there's going to be lots to enjoy. :p

[smb-books.livejournal.com]

WOW - this journey sounds like it will be an amazing adventure. All I'm officially planning to do with my summer is to organize and host a big-ass garage sale because I have too much crap in my basement. I need to go out and live life! :-)

[falcon-horus.livejournal.com]

I'm hoping it'll be like a trip of a lifetime. We've never done anything like this before, so yeah, it'll definitely be an adventure.

And that garage sale doesn't sound bad either... one man's junk is another man's treasure... or something. :p

[nielsvaneekelen.livejournal.com]

I read those reports and find myself thinking, 10 km walks, that sounds doable... Then I wonder how badly I would eat my words if I were walking with you. :-p

Will you be doing the real walk with heavy backpacks, too?

[falcon-horus.livejournal.com]

No heavy backpacks unfortunately (or fortunately, depending how you look at it), since my sister's back won't allow for that to happen. She wouldn't make it past 5 clicks in that case.

[salivia-baker.livejournal.com]

that sounds great. Would love to do something like that.. not that I am near fit enough for that XD
Are you on a time schedule? How will it take you?

[falcon-horus.livejournal.com]

We would like to walk the distance between Newcastle and Carlisle in 10 days time. To us, that looks like a decent time schedule, in which the trip will be doable. Of course, along the way we will have time to visit some of the roman encampments such as there is Housesteads (where Belgian Romans were housed for a time) and Vindolanda (where there are still active diggings in the Summer).

We already spend a couple of days there last year in November so we've seen the area and really want to go back there. The whole trip really started out as a crazy idea but over time started to take shape.

[salivia-baker.livejournal.com]

if you really walk up to 20km a day it certainly is.
Will you be out camping or stop at hostels? how will you manage with the backpacks? you said something about one having a bad back.
I'd so love to see you make a video documentary about it.

[falcon-horus.livejournal.com]

We'll go from B&B to B&B, and our luggage will be taken from place to place through means of organized transport. We will only be carrying in backpacks what we need during the day, like lunch, sweaters, snacks, water, ... and anything else we might need. Besides my sister's not a camper-person, plus indeed her back won't tolerate such a heavy weight. She went camping once and had a bad experience with it so she won't do it again... any time soon anyway. =P

I'd love to indeed make a video documentary out of it. I was already planning on buying a new camera, but it'll likely end up being a videocamera instead.

I'm really looking forward to it.

[salivia-baker.livejournal.com]

how will that organized transport work?

[falcon-horus.livejournal.com]

They come and pick your luggage up from the B&B, and take it the next one that you're staying at, by means of a van. There's also transport to and from the trail if the B&B is situated at some distance away from it, which is entirely possible.

We booked our holiday today - didn't come cheap but we're okay with that. We knew it would cost us a bit of money to do this trip - almost at 1200€, which includes B&B's, lunch, luggage transport and maps needed to walk the trail.

[salivia-baker.livejournal.com]

I didn't know you could do that.
Is that a service provided by the B&B or do you have to pay another company?

[falcon-horus.livejournal.com]

The organization that we chose will take care of it, including booking for us in the B&B's. They do all that stuff for us. All we have to do really is be in Newcastle on time to get on our merry way.

We booked the holiday today - planetickets, rental car for afterwards, B&B for afterwards (we're staying around for 4 more extra days), and of course the organization that will take care of our walking trip.

I could give you the details of the organization - though have to ask my sister since she's got their addy and all.

[salivia-baker.livejournal.com]

that sounds really organized. Seems it's getting more and more real, ey?
When is the starting date?

No, that's alright. I just never heard of it so I didn't know how that would work.

[falcon-horus.livejournal.com]

We're leaving at 9.30am on saturday the 9th of July, the 10th being our first walking day. And we should reach the end on the 20th of July, after which we spend 4 more days halfway at a place called the Kellah Farm. It's a B&B we stayed at last November and where we had a great time. It's close to the major sites such as Housesteads (Roman encampment) and Vindolanda where there is still an active digsite.

[salivia-baker.livejournal.com]

I hope the weather will be alright when you walk