Hadrians Wall Walk

I returned home from California and 4 days later found myself at the start of a week long challenge to walk the length of Hadrians Wall with my brother and a group of friends in support of Children with Aids.
We had everything for the trek, tents, sleeping bags, food, cooking equipment, sturdy shoes, 3 dogs and boundless enthusiasm and a map. Probably far too much as our packs weighed rather heavy, but we strode off to the west, through Newcastle and out into the countryside. There was a music concert in the city and the Copthorne Hotel put on an excellent free lunch, buffet spread that we took full advantage of. It was great to leave the city behind and head off along the Tyne valley out into green fields and hills.
Night 1 in the corner of a sports field, with our tents, a great fire and several million mosquitos.... to say that some of us got bitten was an understatement. Note to self - NEVER leave home without insect repellent again!!
It gets light early in northern england, the sun emerged at about 4.40 and shone straight through our tents. I listened for movement from the others and then, hearing nothing, pulled my wooly hat down over my eyes and got another 40 winks. They started to emerge at around 8am. We had a hearty cooked breakfast, broke camp and set off for the day.
Up hills, through fields and over styles, along quiet lanes and through woodland, it's amazing to realise how much ground you can cover on foot when you put your mind to it. Looking back, Newcastle shrank into the distance before disappearing beyond the hills. Quiet countryside with the sound of birds on the air, wind in the trees and livestock to contend with. Some farmers dislike having to maintain public rights of way across their land, so put bullocks and more boistrous livestock along the route to keep walkers on their toes. Walking with dogs makes it especially interesting at times.
A couple of days went by without incident. Hard going on the legs and a good challenge. The group had bonded well and we were supporting and encouraging ourselves well. It was great to be out in the wilds, picking up supplies where we could, finding places to camp at night. No mobile phones, lap tops or even music, away from the trappings of modern life, we enjoyed the simplicity of it all.
Then a stumble, Adam fell on some steps and had to be carted to hospital. I went with him in the ambulance to make sure he was OK and to look after his stuff. The others continued walking and i rendez vous'd with them later that afternoon. Carrying two packs was interesting and with his arm broken in three places, Adam was in no fit state to do any carrying. Once seen to, he was free to go home. We made it across town and he got a train home.
I caught up with the team, stopping to buy supplies on the way and we continued along the wall. OUt into wilder countryside with steeper terrain and more stunning views. Walking by day, eating round an open fire and camping at night. The Romans certainly had grand ideas for such a remote part of their empire.
With the injury set back and certain unavoidable work commitments the following week, we realised that we could not complete the whole wall within the time we had set aside. We decided that we would walk as far as time would allow and then get the local bus service to the end of the wall for our final night. It would have taken another good couple of days to have travelled the distance on foot.
An excellent achievement by all involved, and nearly £1000 for the charity Children With Aids. Thank you all for your support

Big Sur

A great day out with my good friend Tana. She drove all day and I enjoyed the view. We had great fun, amused ourselves, ate and drank great local fare and laughed about many funny things and had a fabulous time. Thank you Tana.

Just Giving Dot Com

http://www.justgiving.com/windy-dicken-and-craig-walk-hadrians-wall

Check out this site and support a worthy cause. I fly back on Tuesday, tomorrow, and will be joining my brother Windy (aka Peter) and some of his good friends to walk the length of Hadrians Wall starting next weekend. I have my fingers crossed for good weather, a decent sleeping bag and some excellent support from your good selves.

Enjoying a hectic and fun last few days here in Santa Cruz. Beach party today, road trip down the Big Sur coast road yesterday, I am still trying not to think that I am leaving, it will arrive soon enough.

Photos to follow..........

What to do?

The end of my stay is suddenly upon me, quite by surprise as it feels as if i still have ages here. Eight days to be precise and i have little idea of what to do when i get back to England.

My visa situation is still in the air. I can make no long term plans until that is decided, but either way I have the summer ahead of me.

Windy, my brother, has just invited me on a charity walk the week after i return which looks like an excellent thing to go and do.

Yo Big Bro!

Mum & Dad tell me you're flying back on the 19th...??

Acestix!

I'm thinking, if you'd like to, it would be awesome if you wanted to join us on the Hadrians Wall Walk, which we're setting off to do on Sunday 24th May, & it'll take 5-6 days....

Check out:

http://www.justgiving.com/windy-dicken-and-craig-walk-hadrians-wall

...and let me know if you're up for it..it'd be awesome if you were...

I'm still trying to raise donations as much as possible...I'll be emailing Joy, Jac & Tania, etc...

anyways...spk soonest....

Big Love

Lil Bro XX

I have several invitations from friends around the UK to visit for a while which is excellent, all good folk who it will be great fun to spend time with and catch up on all the goings on.

HelpX hosts are inviting me from around Europe, i did suggest that i might plan a summer trip there, but i never thought it would generate so much interest. 3 farms in France, one in Portugal and several hosts that i have found that look really interesting. I could be gone for a while.

I also need to add a couple more blog posts to let all you good followers know what i have been up to for the last few weeks. My parents visit, more stuff down on the farm, parties and more. Lets see where i get to in these last few days. Take care y'awl.

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence Easter Party

Plenty of folk had told me that it was not to be missed. The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence put on a great party, especially their alternative family easter gathering. The pictures tell the story far better than I ever could.



The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence®
is a leading-edge Order of queer nuns. Since our first appearance in San Francisco on Easter Sunday, 1979, the Sisters have devoted ourselves to community service, ministry and outreach to those on the edges, and to promoting human rights, respect for diversity and spiritual enlightenment. We belive all people have a right to express their unique joy and beauty and we use humor and irreverent wit to expose the forces of bigotry, complacency and guilt that chain the human spirit.


A big open air concert in Dolores Park, with numerous musical acts, competitions to find the most outrageous easter bonnet, the best outfit and the hunkiest Jesus to mention a few. The park was packed with people picnicking and enjoying the atmosphere and checking out the goings on. It was marvelous to be in a gathering so intent just to enjoy themselves however they felt fit in whatever they felt comfortable in for the day.

The park party finished at 4 and moved via a procession of sorts through to a street venue. An attending police officer decided that the marchers weren’t protesting loudly enough so tried to liven things up a bit by shouting encouragement through his loud-hailer. A local dance radio station played the latest dance music to a merry dancing audience on the street through into the night. Great fun and a wonderful way to spend Easter Sunday, I sloped off soon after dark, it got really cold really fast, back to the bar for a more sedate night.

I chilled out on Monday with another stroll through China Town and the wharfs of San Francisco, relaxing in the spring sunshine and watching another world go by.

It's been a while

Where do I start? I have not posted since before Easter, so there is plenty of catching up to do.

I was somewhat surprised, for such a christian, church going nation, that there are no big public holidays over the Easter weekend. Unlike in the UK where businesses close for Good Friday, Easter Monday and nearly everything is shut on Easter Sunday, things continue nearly as usual throughout the whole weekend here, a few places closed on the sunday.




Not that it made any difference to my plans, I was having a great time in San Francisco for the whole weekend. Daniel, one of the farm volunteers offered me a ride up on the Friday with his family and I spent the day with them, Carla, his wife and two girls, Izzie and Sophie. We had a great time in the Exploratorium, a hands on science museum with loads of interactive exhibits and tricks of the mind. We made square wheels roll along a bumpy road, floated dry ice “comets” across an “outer space” pond and watched them spin and collide as if in space. Watched a bulls eye being dissected and saw all the parts. Discovered the power of centrifugal forces and how geysers reach so far into the sky when it is just water. Listened to never ending scales in a sound booth and created lightening by winding a big handle on a strange machine. I had just as much fun as the girls did, and from the look of it, most of the other adults there. It’s just how it all works.

They took me to their favourite candy store and then we had a great meal on a pavement table at a great restaurant and a fun walk through China Town. It was great to experience some of these places with other people, especially youngsters with all their questions and excitement. It was one great day.

To finish off, Daniel insisted on dropping me at my hostel to ensure that i found it ok. Brilliant, as it was quite a bit further out than i had expected. I had a quick kip then headed out for a bit of a night on the town.

The night turned out to be more than I had planned for, a good bar, with great music and some interesting people to chat to. They pour a mean JD and coke I can tell you. I somehow stumbled back to the hostel in the early hours and poured myself into bed. Thankfully I had chosen a lower bunk as climbing at that late hour would have been far beyond my capabilities.

Saturday saw me leap out of bed and head out in search of a hearty breakfast way before 8 in the morning. A window seat in the sun, scrambled egg with smoked salmon, piles of rye toast with butter and jam and a good pot of earl grey brought me to my senses. I was still drunk. The sustenance fueled my nerves and they delivered the slow message to my brain that nothing was to be done for quite some time. Determined to take no notice I walked a coupe of blocks in search of inspiration for the day. The further I got the more determined my hangover became. By 10am I was tucked back up in bed, where I stayed for the majority of the day, only venturing out in the evening for some light Thai food and to investigate the view from the roof terrace. I ate, the view was there and I went back to bed. The nightclub downstairs did its best to keep me awake for a while but failed abysmally. I slept and Sunday soon arrived.

I felt much better for my extended rest and plenty of sleep and ready for the party of Easter weekend.

Caution

It has just occurred to me that growing conditions in the UK are quite different to those i am experiencing here in California, and my frequent references to the Love Apple Farm blogsite may be causing some of you Brits, and folk elsewhere in the world, to take what is written as correct for you.

There are several things that come to mind as considerations:

Planting things deep into the soil may be fine here, where the ground tends to be on the dry side, but will probably cause rot and disease to the stems in cooler or wetter climes.

Constant hydration (watering) to keep the potting soil wet at all times is now always advisable. Allow the surface of the growing medium to dry off between waterings is advised where humidity and temperature differs.

The season starts much earlier here than it does back home, so adjust sowing and planting dates accordingly. Surprisingly the last frosts are expected here on the farm at a similar time to those in southern England. The days, however are much warmer here.

More tender crops, tomatoes, peppers, melons etc do well outside here with plenty of daily warmth, many will, unfortunately require the help of a greenhouse or polytunnel elsewhere.

I don't want to put you off from trying, just to consider differing climatic conditions before proceeding exactly as suggested on the blog.

Happy growing.