Two days = two challenges resolved!

These191 steps were very steep, damp, and uneven.

Remember the tin mine in Cornwall where I succumbed to fear? It turned out to be just a short level walk, so I should not have wimped out. Yesterday I beat that demon and took the deep tour of a slate mine in Wales. The tour start was a challenge all by itself as we descended 191 steps to the first underground level. I might not have been the fastest one down, but I made it. We walked to a lot of chambers as we learned  how slate is mined. Then, to my dismay, we went down 61 more steps to the last level remaining that isn’t underwater. After walking through a lot more chambers, we were able to ride a cog train back to the surface. One of the  worst things about working in a slate mine is that the actual digging is done in total darkness. When they demonstrated the lights being out you literally could not see your hand in front of your face. Another terrible thing about this type of mine is that slate contains silicon and  a large number of minors developed silicosis, a terrible, horrible way to die.

And the second challenge? After 45 years, we finally found Hadrian’s Wall! These days the whole area is a well marked tourist attraction which made it somewhat easier. There are several places to see the wall and where we stopped, a short walk led to  a sheep and cow farm. You open a couple of gates, enter the field and you are able to go right up to the wall and the remains of a mile fort. 

In between these two stops, we visited a moated Tudor home built in the early 1500’s, and is so unique that I’m including pictures of it along with the mine and wall.

The fireplace isn’t uneven, the house is.

Tonight we are in a fantastic castle hotel built in the 1100’s. Our room is right out of a fairy tale, but when we entered, we didn’t see a bathroom. There was a canopy bed, antique chairs, tables, desk, and a huge armoire. But no bathroom. Brian opened the two smaller doors in the armoire and found the closets. When he opened the middle armoire door, it turned out to be the hidden entrance to a full bathroom. Narnia!