In between days 1 and 2 we had a break to sort out a few car related matters, but I did sneak in an extra 1.7km across Carlisle.  So day 2 started in east Carlisle and it was definitely the nicer side of the city.  Lots of dog and day walkers out on a sunny Sunday in the parks around town.  After a few hours walking I saw the first bit of actual wall (albeit “refurbished”) and then, near the end of the day at Hare Hill, the tallest remaining section of wall, indicating just how high the original was.  The late parts of the day saw the first real hills of the walk, with a modest 357 m of climbing.

Some navigation skills picked up on my South Downs Way walk last year have been useful – so far I have not walked the wrong way and had to retrace any steps.  Because the UK has so many public pathways, bridleways and long distance trails that frequently intersect, it is easy to find yourself going the wrong way on a different path altogether – as I did for a whole km last year!

6 hours and 23 km later I pulled up at Banks East Turret carpark to find the biggest bit of the wall seen to date, and Debbie waiting for me.  After 2 full days and 49 km on the official trail I have completed nearly a third of the walk.  Tomorrow will be another rest day.