Hadrian Wall Adventure

Trail covered:    Pennine WayGreenhead - Chollerford (30km)

Wildcamping:      There are loughs surrounded by trees, where pitching a tent is easy.  Locals               

                  said you can camp anywhere above the trees, which gives a lot of options.

Complete Gallery: PHOTOS

I had enough.  I had to leave the city to explore some wilderness.  Well trust me it is hard to call English nature wilderness.  But the Northumberland park for sure offers the closest experience to a wild environment in the whole North East England.

I set of early, with the dusk and got on a bus in Newcastle, which took me all the way to Greenhead, where I commenced my hike.  I got to the place that I pinned on the map and just rushed to the closest entrance to the Northumberland National park.

Greenhead is a very small village and to my surprise it hosts a youth hostel.  Before I set off I wanted to just sit down and have a cup of tea as I didn't get much sleep (the English party lifestyle won't let you have much of it) but there was nowhere to go.  Even though the youth hostel seemed like the only establishment where you could get something, half seven in the morning is just way too early.

I also wanted ask about the most convenient way to start the hike as the signage was not so clear.  But after I went through many fields I finally got to the long awaited Pennine way trail.  I started my hike with inspecting the Thirlwall Castle ruins and from there the direction was pretty clear.  Just head east.

Most of the hike lead through random farmer's sheep and cow fields but was absolutely astonishing.  Exactly what I needed after some time being stranded in the city.  The most amazing thing is the idea of following a wall that is 2000 years old.  And the wall stretches from the very west to the very east of England past Newcastle all the way to Wallsend.  Obviously with little interruptions but the most intact part of the wall goes from Greenshead to Chollerford, where I ended my hike (about 30km stretch).

Even though it is not allowed, I pitched my tent by the beautiful Crag Lough, about halfway through my hike, watched an amazing sunset and slept through a night with no one bothering me
.  All freshened up by the sleepover in the wilderness I set off for the rest of the hike.

If only I had a bit more time. I definitely would hike the whole trail all the way back to Newcastle.  Well maybe next time!

BIKE MY WAY 'ROUND

2. Realising Where I am

Cold. Damp. Loud.  

That's how I'd describe every morning. That is what in fact wakes me up every morning.  But somehow I don't mind. There's nothing like being woken up by a strike of fresh air and the angry ocean waves beating the sandy beach and rocks. I unzip my sleeping bag, suck it up that it's cold, and crawl out of my tent to see where I ended up this time.

Be it a campground, a ditch by the side of a road, or a house of a kind stranger that let me hide from the rain.  I am on the road, cycling.  The adventure of waking up on places I've never been to before and not knowing where will I be next is something that keeps me going. 

Cycling made me truly realise how beautiful the Pacific Coast is.  I never have thought that it can get any better than from what I've seen on my previous travels.  The elevation, corners, steep cliffs just off the sides of the roads and views that are not visible from a car make it very special and somehow more intimate.  You get to feel and truly realise where you are.  

“It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them.” Ernest Hemingway

I have cycled more than 550 miles now and getting to a midpoint of my journey that hasn't really been properly established yet.   I am enjoying every single mile of this trip and to an extent don't even pay attention where I am on the map.  The biggest enlightenment for me so far was picking up the ability to learn to enjoy every place I'm at no matter what the weather is like and how far away I am from my final destination.  I am on the road and that's all that matters for me. 

Help me support a good cause:

www.justgiving.com/bikemywayround

BIKE MY WAY 'ROUND

1.Setting Off for a Big Journey

For the past six months or so I have been getting myself ready for a big mission.  I have been training and collecting experience for my long time goal that I have been wanting to tick on my bucket list.  

That is to cycle across America.  

I will be cycling for charity to raise awareness of environmental issues and education.  I selected Cool Earth charity to volunteer for and support them in their unique mission to halt rainforest destruction.  My goal is to fundraise $1000 (USD).  

The number 1000 has become a lot more significant for me as I'm planning on covering over a 1000 miles on a $1000 budget.  I would be very delighted if you helped me to reach this goal and helped me do Good by preserving a good portion of rain forests and supporting communities inhabiting them.

My journey will begin in Vancouver on 10th March 2015. My first destination will be Victoria BC, from where I'll travel to WA, OR, and CA, rimming the Pacific Coast.  All by myself on a very limited budget.  

Here's where you can make a difference:

https://www.justgiving.com/bikemywayround

Thank you for your support.

I will be posting my progress here.

Jonas