Another day. Another cycle route...this time it's NCN 72, otherwise known as 'Hadrians Cycleway' (the full route is 170 mile and runs from Ravenglass to South Shields) and although I'm not completing all of it.... I feel like I have!!!- 40 miles in this part of the country feels like 100, with near constant incline/decline (see below for the only flat road I came across)...at times I could have pushed it faster....and eventually that's what I decided to do!😂

I decided to push my bike the last couple of miles mainly so I could actually see Hadrian's wall (the cycle route runs parallel just to the south of the wall itself). This, it would be fair to say, was a challenge...at times requiring Mountain Goat like precision to carry my fully laden bike over and up boulders and hilly scrambles...but as I commented to a passer by when he complemented my rock hopping..."challenge brings adventure"...and it was totally worth it! Not only did I get to actually walk on the wall this time and see the most impressive century guard outposts (these were formidable and demonstrate the Romans superior innovation of their time- see below) but the views of the surrounding landscape are breathtaking.

It also meant that I could visit the Sycamore Gap without a massive cycling detour. For anyone who doesn't know the Sycamore Gap was a100 yr old (approx) sycamore tree that sat in a dramatic dip in the landscape created by glacial meltwater and was used as a symbol of Northumbria and arguably more importantly was used in a classic scene from Robin Hood 'Prince of Thieves' (otherwise known as Ben Young's favourite film)....and in 2023 a couple of idiots chopped it down...there still hasn't been a solid explanation of why..possibly fame, possibly money...but fair to say that there are no heroes here amongst these dispicable 'Acts of Man'. However, despite this, if you look closer, you can see new shoots starting to break through and the national trust has fenced it off so (big maybe) there might be a chance it will grow back...let's see in another hundred years 🤔

And so on to my hostel for the night where I find myself writing this. It's a lovely modern YHA built into the landscape with great facilities for walkers/bikers and the like....but more crucially it is next to it's very own 15th century pub and attached brewery! And the best bit...the location is named after the brewery! I will put a link to explain better but essentially, I am currently sitting in a place called Twice Brewed...or Once brewed... depending on your point of view...(I have ticked off an ambition, I never knew I had😂)...anyway, it's a great story and I encourage you to read it. The other strong point, is the brewery is now modernised with a shed load of craft beer offerings. And so I find myself on a sunny Sat evening, staring at the rolling hills of Northumbria and enjoying a hazy pale (6 out of 10), a tiramisu stout (7) and blueberry sour (8). The taproom is fantastic (cozy fireplace in winter, scenic beer garden in summer) and offers tons of their own craft beer in cans....if only I could carry it!... Maybe I'll fit one can in but it will be a difficult choice!

Another boon to this stop is that it exists in a 'dark sky' area. It even has its own observatory that offers astronomy events (I know...to good to be true right but I assure you it's verifiable😂). So as the sun tucks it's way behind the clouds, I grab a small snifter of Nectaron IPA and settle at the far tables away from the pub, for what will hopefully be a starry spectacle👍

Footnote: I didn't see anything due to the skies being quite cloudy but I'm assured it's quite spectacular and I would like to return with the kids at some point! Also, it might be of interest to the amateur astronomers on Becky's side of the family!!