Day 12 - 18 September 2009 - 47 miles

After yesterdays report was sent, a good mate emailed the following: "You are now a long way North boy and you need to watch out for men in skirts."

With this warning in mind, I decided to take a little detour from the itinerary. Heading east under dry gray skies, I left Carlisle and made my way to Hadrian's Wall via Brampton to Greenhead, Northumberland (approx. 1/3 of the way to Newcastle). Then slightly northwest to Gilsland and on to Birdoswald Roman Fort along Hadrian's Wall. Begun in 122 AD, during the rule of emperor Hadrian, it was a stone and turf fortification built by the Roman Empire across the width of what is now northern England. Aparently, the Romans were wary of men in skirts too.

From thence to West Hall, Kirkcambeck, Roadhead, Sleebeck, Catlowdy and (cautiously!) into Langholm, Scotland.

This is the Langholm Church on the River Esk. No men in skirts spotted yet but the accents are getting a wee bit more difficult to understand and gloriously fun to hear! I'm ever hopeful of acquir-r-r-ring a luvely br-r-r-r-rogue over the next few days.

So, after today's par-r-r-tial detour-r-r-r of 47 miles, I have a further-r-r 456 to go. Cheer-r-r-rs!