Hadrian's Wall Hike, Day 2, Part 4-July 27

Housesteads is the grandaddy of the Hadrian Wall forts. I arrive here about noon. It was a rough hike to this point. Weather from Green Carts starts out good but later into the hike I encounter heavy rain, strong wind, and long climbs. Weather clears when I approach Housesteads. Lots of mud. My packed lunch's Mars candy bar is the most wonderful thing! Thank you Sandra at Green Carts! View of Housesteads fort.
Closeup of one of the many Housesteads buildings.
This is a granary. I leave Housesteads at 1:05 pm heading for Twice Brewed.

Hadrian's Wall Hike, Day 2, Part 3-July 27

Sewingshields' Grindon Milecastle sign.

Milecastle remains.
Another view of milecastle.
Pretty view along the trail looking west. Those are water drops on my camera lens.

More sheep. Looking west after crossing a stile (wooden structure in lower right corner). Notice the ditch.
Closeup of thistle.

Hadrian's Wall Hike, Day 2, Part 2-July 27

Descriptive sign of Mithras Temple at Carrawburgh.

Cow at Mithras Temple bemoning the fact that some of her relatives gave up the ghost at this very spot. She seeks reparations from the Romans. (I don't have the heart, nor vocabulary, to tell her that the Roman Empire too gave up the ghost 1600 years ago.) Notice all the M&M--Mud and Manure.

Mithras Temple. Notice the water. Water makes mud.

Temple altars.

Closeup of one altar.

Hadrian's Wall Hike, Day 2, Part 1-July 27

Looking south out Green Carts B&B window during early morn breakfast prepared by my host, Sandra. Green Carts is a working farm. Sandra tells me that Boy Scouts founder, Lord Baden-Powell, camped with his scouts just beyond those hills. Today I hike the longest and most grueling part of my hike--13 miles to Twice Brewed. It is also supposed to be the hike segment with the best display of Hadrian's Wall. Weather is good for now.

This pit along the trail contains blocks of superhard whinstone rejected by Roman Wall builders. The basalt stone was too difficult to work.
Limestone Corner looking west is the northernmost point of the Wall; hence the northernmost point of the Roman Empire.
Limestone Corner looking back east.
Sign for Mithras Temple at Carrawburgh. Mithraism was an eastern mystery religion that was popular with high-ranking Roman soldiers. Inductees into the cult stood under a grid supporting a live bull which was then slaughtered spewing blood onto the inductees.