Legs and Borders

I nearly went through all four seasons today, crossing Ahuriri wasn't possible so I had to take the detour. It was still raining in the morning, I put my wet underwear, pants, socks and shoes on, ate porridge I cold soaked overnight and hiked out. Next couple of hours were a mixture of rain and wind. Wind would dry my clothes, rain would make me wet again, it happened several times. Eventually weather stabilized, but it was quite windy until the whole day. At around midday I started to see Northbounders, few crosses the river yesterday and camped on the other side but the ones trying to cross today couldn't do it, everyone was taking the detour to the bridge few kilometres downstream. I reached Ahuriri at 1pm, checked both recommended crossing points, but the water would go above my knees immediately after stepping into the river and my trekking pole would disappear while trying to check the path. Water was all muddy, current very...

Today the weather was mainly windy with splashes of rain and an occasional shy appearance from the sun. The path itself was amazing, completely different from the first 30 miles from Newcastle, it was mainly hiking along the actual Hadrian Wall mostly restored (in 1970s) with many forts, gateways and turrets scattered and still visible along its path. Think I must have walked a similar distance to yesterday, about 24 miles which leaves me with 16 for tomorrow to finish it off in Carlisle, from what I heard the path turns again into a walking next to the side of a road kind of experience for this final (for me) stretch but it's alright with what I have seen today.  Relentless wind made me relocate the campsite at the last minute tonight, I planned to sleep in one of the turrets next to the wall but I just couldn't set up the tent without it being shred to pieces by the wind. Instead I'm staying in a corner of a good old cows field surrounded by a stone fence, it's just e...

Right next to Auschwitz and Pripyat ; if it only was easier approachable; it should be a must go destination for anyone. This place bares an unbelievable historic value, luckily it is being preserved with great care. Museum in Hiroshima goes into a lot of detail about the history and circumstances of the explosion, you can spend hours walking around and reading materials about it, there are many items salvaged from the site like actual human remnants, personal items, bricks, tiles, melted glass jars - all bearing effects of the disaster, some of them you can touch and inspect yourself. There are also survivors, now volunteering at the museum answering the important questions. It's all very well organized and you can walk away with a lot of information's of what actually happened here. Thousands of people visit the museum daily which is quite comforting, as the knowledge is passed on to the young, few of which fell into tears right in front of my eyes. A watch belon...