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Post by whollygoats on Jun 10, 2019 15:31:56 GMT
Places I have rested and found pleasant: From two years ago in the UK, along Hadrian's Wall, I rode the bus to the Vindolanda site, a former Roman occupation community, near Once Brewed in Northumbria. It was a sizeable expanse of a hillside overlooking the Tyne valley, littered with wall footings, descriptions, and reconstructions. It had rained furiously the day before, so I had not even dismounted the local transit (line # 122 AD). This day had dawned more promising and I was covering more ground. Sure enough, the clouds disappeared and I was exposed to the midday sun. With no cover in the glaring sun, I withered. I took refuge in the nearby glen, where a brook bubbled through, with a source of food, drink, and trinkets, and clean, open-air seating in the shade. It evidently had been a sacred glen to the local population in Roman times (view from the footbridge): They have recreated a local temple to the Nymphs at brookside (view from the umbrella covered seating): I had lunch and lingered. I had great fun feeding a bold bluetit who practically demanded a toll for me to sit at the table. There was also a very bold vole rushing out from the nearby shrubs to snatch dropped crumbs. I heartly recommend spending time brookside at Vindolanda.
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Post by Mari on Jun 10, 2019 16:51:30 GMT
Looks lovely
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Post by whollygoats on Jun 10, 2019 17:01:48 GMT
The town site: The museum/cafe/temple glen is in the forested area upper left.
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Post by Moose on Jun 13, 2019 2:01:59 GMT
I could rather do with being there now.
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Post by Mari on Jun 14, 2019 19:54:26 GMT
What is that place called, WG? Do you remember? It's something to put on my list.
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Post by whollygoats on Jun 15, 2019 1:16:01 GMT
Vindolanda. The nearest town is Once Brewed, and it is very small. I stayed in nearby Haydon Bridge, on the River South Tyne. There is a regular public transit, line # 122AD, which makes circuits of the Hadrian's Wall sites between Hexham and Haltwhistle. Hexham is the larger of the two cities, and most easterly, while Haltwhistle is the more westerly, but nearer to that particular site. There are several places to access Hadrian's Wall, at least one other museum, a couple of active archeological sites, and it is well traveled by walkers. It was basically my place to access Hadrian's Wall, and this place and the Roman Army museum, were bonuses. I understand that nearby, toward Newcastle, there is an entire community which does (or is an) historical reinactments....Jo would know, as I believe she recommended it. It is a very nice area and the folks are friendly; I enjoyed my stay in Northumbria.
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Post by Moose on Jun 16, 2019 2:21:38 GMT
Only time I have been to Vindolanda was with Antti and my mum, many years ago. I saw enough to realise that it would have been fascinating had it not absolutely pissed it down the entire time we were there. I felt for the Roman soldiers.
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Post by Moose on Jun 16, 2019 2:22:35 GMT
It did have a nice place to stop and eat and buy postcards
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Post by whollygoats on Jun 16, 2019 2:23:41 GMT
But you, and others, suggested that I visit some nearby village, which did historical re-enactments...period costumes, all that. Not necessarily Roman era. ETA: Ah... Beamish. That was it.
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Post by whollygoats on Jun 16, 2019 4:38:30 GMT
Well, it pissed down on me when I actually did hike up to the Wall. At Walltown, where the Roman Army museum is.
The next day is when I went to Vindolanda and it was perfect. What a difference a day makes in Northumbria.
Of course, that clearing would lead to searing temperatures over the next ten days, searing in my brain how stinking hot and miserable Britain is in June.
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Post by raspberrybullets on Jun 17, 2019 10:48:53 GMT
Looks very respiteful.
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Post by Moose on Nov 16, 2019 22:46:13 GMT
Your photos aren't showing any more
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Post by JoeP on Nov 16, 2019 23:10:13 GMT
Hmm, nor for me.
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Post by whollygoats on Dec 3, 2019 18:55:36 GMT
Hmm....Those are pix picked up from my F******k account. I suspect that an 'update' of some kind broke the link. In the process of seeking out the appropriate pix on my voluminous selection of F******k pix (ever more onerous, thanks to the volume) to update the prior photo, I ran in to another locale of respite from that trip.... I submit to you: The sanctuary in Ely Cathedral. A welcome escape from the blazing heat of a Fenland summer. This was one cool hangout. And, with an attached cafe, as well! I've also freshened the links in the prior pix.
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Post by Moose on Dec 3, 2019 23:18:08 GMT
cathedrals! cake! egg (?) sandwiches!
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Post by whollygoats on Dec 4, 2019 1:35:09 GMT
Egg salad sammich with crisps and two side salads, green and slaw.
Carrot cake and strawberry rhubarb Posh Pop.
It was cool and friendly, if a mite crowded.
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Post by ceptimus on Dec 4, 2019 3:49:09 GMT
The cathedral is known as the ship of the fens because of its prominent position on the skyline seen from the mostly pan-flat land for miles around. I remember watching a documentary about it which explained that the name was also apt because the cathedral really does float - it is built on soft clay land and the weight of clay displaced by the foundations - crypts and so on - equals the weight of the stonework above ground: if it didn't, then the whole building would gradually sink or rise over the centuries until equilibrium was restored - assuming the whole thing didn't collapse during the process.
The name of the city may or may not have been named after the eel, but it is a place well-known for eel catching, and the land containing the quarry from which the cathedral stone was quarried - in the neighbouring county of Northamptonshire - was paid for at the rate of eight thousand eels per year.
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