The Journey North. Day 4 Wed 25th Apr 2018
From: Glenridding To: Hadrian’s Wall Camping at Melkridge.
Mileage: 57
Lazy start to the day. It was
drizzling but we had decided last night that we would breakfast at Fellbites
Café/Resto this morning. We took the path parallel to Glenridding Beck and soon
arrived at the village. Walking through Fellbites door at 1000hrs there was one
solitary customer. His back to us. Obviously lost in his own world. My ‘good
morning’ registered no reaction. Soon a staff member appeared and took our
order, scrambled eggs on toast for me and a veggie grill for Jackie. We sat
there drinking our coffee and studying the wall map of the fells. Tracing
routes we had taken these last few days. It’s always easier ‘going’ somewhere
on a map than actually tabing!
1300hrs and we were packed up at
the campsite ready to roll. We bade farewell to Glenridding and wondered if we
would ever get back again?
1335hrs Refuelled at Rheged
Sevices at junction 40 on the M6. The shop inside the petrol station was more akin
to a Waitrose or upmarket deli. Everything food wise was seemingly available.
As Jackie was busy adjusting the seat in
the drivers position for the next leg it was I who was in the shop paying. £95
for diesel! That filled the tank from empty. My eye was taken by some locally
made Cumberland sausage rolls. Now I do not normally buy s rolls. To my mind
they are pretty naff. These looked delicious and even with a £3 price tag I was
determined to buy one. I also bought two of the seven varieties of scotch egg
on display and some locally made cheese and onion bread. Fresh in. The sausage roll was gone by the time we made
the on ramp to the M6.
Jackie drove North giving me
disgusted looks at the way I was devouring the sausage roll. “You paid how
much, I cannot believe it”. I ignored her and munched on.
Junc 43 Carlisle was our exit
point. We then drove along the A69 passed Haltwhistle and turned N at Melkridge
to Hadrians Wall Campsite www.hadrianswallcampsite.co.uk
where, due to my charming personality we managed to get two nights with
hardstanding and electricity where upon arrival we were told they were full.
They weren’t full but due to the recent rains and wet winter the pitches were
sodden. There were a few cars and tents but they were not allowing motorhomes
on. What few hardstanding’s there were, were taken. In a conspiratorial voice the lady
directed us to ‘our spot’. We soon had a brew going and sat for a while
reading.
1600hrs We decided to get some
exercise and walked the mile or so up onto Hadrian’s Wall. Most of the wall is
now never more than a metre or so high by a couple of metres wide. We walked in
at Caw Gap. It was a windy evening but clear skies. Away to the West rain
clouds seemed to be approaching. We mooched around the wall, taking photos,
gazing North into the border lands and chatting to a few through hikers. Yet another one from Saltash, then returned
to the lorry for some Doritos, a cider and to prepare dinner.
