5 days and counting until Hadrian's Wall

Our 4 day hike along Hadrian's Wall begins on Monday. Hadrian's wall was/is a 73 mile-long (stretching across the width of Great Britain), 10 foot thick, ten foot tall stone wall built two millennia ago by the Roman legions, who were attempting to conquer the UK. They made it as far as Scotland, where they built the wall to protect the Roman Empire from the "barbarians" who had slowed their Northern expansion. Being a little limited with time (halfterm break), we will hike the visible portion of the ruins in the more scenic interior.

I've been reading "A Walk Along the Wall" by Hunter Davies, in an attempt to better understand the trek, the history, and the people. I picked it up at a second hand book store in London a few months ago. It was written in 1974, but since the wall had been built around 100AD, I figured that it was hardly outdated. It's been a fascinating and humorous read, hearing his take on all the research HE'd read, and hearing his insights into it as he examined the Wall Country himself. (Remember that there are Roman town ruins, bath houses, forts, tourets, barracks, and museums displaying the tools and treasure hords along the way as well). However, every time I read about some exciting side attraction -such as the shop that sells hand-knit unwearoutable socks, or the medieval feast at a local castle- I find that it has long since disappeared into the mists of time.

I'm getting excited. I have many loose ends yet to tie with only an action packed few days in which to do it. This IS the Queen's Diamond Jubilee weekend.