Comitatus Wall Walk III

[Robert Vermaat]

Paul, you look great:



PLEASE tell us more about that wall Walk, part III?

[Mithras]

Many thanks for your kind remark!

We were camping here at Winshields Farm: [url:15ihxqk0]http://winshields.co.uk/[/url]


From there we climbed up to the WAll then along to Housesteads, where we ate lunch. From there we cut across country, south to find a way up Barcomb Down, a hill covered with bracken and ferns to reach the summit. It was a ragged summit quarried by the legions, and the site of an iron-age settlement (which we identified) as well as two signal towers, which we also located. We looked down directly onto Vindolanda from here, and could see both Vindolanda AND Housesteads simultaneously.

We climbed down to Vindolanda before gearing up for a road walk to the Twice Brewed pub (beer!!!) then a short walk back to the camp site, by around 5:30.

The theme was blatantly late Roman/post Roman! I was dressed as a (very rich!!!) Pict, Stephen as an Anglian warrior circa 600AD, John C and John F as Late Roman infantry in light patrol dress, Jamie as Late Roman infantry, with helmet and large round shield. No-one wore armour, after a previous 12 mile walk in full armour proved shattering ....!

Very enjoyable. John Conyard and myself had to put our shelters up in the dark in the rain on Friday night, and then chop wood, light fires and cook on them in the same conditions! A great test of organisation and fortitude! My Pictish meal was great though, very heart-warming.

For those who want to follow outr Third Hadrian's Wall Walk in pictures, please go to: http://www.comitatus.net/WallWalkIII/

Please note, following a continuous downpour of rain all Friday, I elected to wear modern boots for the 11 mile walk, but after seeing the ground, wished I had worn my 4thC Romano-British shoes with hobnails. Oh well!

[John Conyard]

When you use modern equipment it is always a cause for regret. Remember the Scafell climb!

You could have done it barefoot.

[Mithras]

When you use modern equipment it is always a cause for regret. Remember the Scafell climb!

I do! But I remember the First Wall Walk ([url:2p4vkfa8]http://www.comitatus.net/wallwalk.htm[/url]) a little more vividly. How I wished I'd worn modern boots!

I was very pleased with my kit, its colour and everything. My plank shield and hood in particular... though I know the shield, brooch, javelins, and tunic were not up to your high standards. I think the trews and belt buckle passed scrutiny, anyhow...

EDIT: Checked the brooch: Its a Fowler A5, thistle-like knob terminals, related to Romano-British brooches, lobg survival but relatively rare. Prob. still current in Viking times. So I guess that's OK!

[John Conyard]

We are all aiming for constant improvement, and challenging what we use. I hope I'm not overly inquisitive about kit. But I really do enjoy learning about buckles, brooches etc.

I like the idea of light infantry mirging into the landscape, and without a leather shield cover most of us could be viewed miles a way. We need more shield covers.

I do understand wet conditions and heavy use kills many re-enactment shoes. If we are resorting to modern boots we will have to improve the quality of what we use. Thicker soles and more nails. My nails had worn flat and I took some nice falls.

John

[Mithras]

Boots are always a tricky issue as our fellow Jamie (Celt on the forum) will attest. You have a set of shoes you use for regular summer events. If they are homemade, they may not survive the march meaning no boots next event, or having to make a new set for the next event (or every march). If they are bought, and they (eegads!!) fall apart, that means sacrificing £180!

We gamble the survivability of the shoes for the march versus having a set of shoes ready for the next Comitatus event.

None of us are cobblers. Everyone of us who makes our own boots do so with purely amateur untrained status. No wonder their survivability is under question. However, saying that, I do believe my boots would have taken that walk quite easily - they did it last year without a hitch, followed by the 13km Piercebridge Walk.

The lack of spares, though.... that's the fear. Who wants to walk Hadrian's Wall barefoot....??? hock: hock: hock: hock:

[Celt]

“Boots are always a tricky issue as our fellow Jamie (Celt on the forum) will attestâ€

[Robert Vermaat]

I hope I'm not overly inquisitive about kit.

I don't hope that you are. But since you posted this message three times, you had me wondering...

Don't worry, I removed the other two. :wink:

[Robert Vermaat]

Boots are always a tricky issue as our fellow Jamie (Celt on the forum) will attest. You have a set of shoes you use for regular summer events. If they are homemade, they may not survive the march meaning no boots next event, or having to make a new set for the next event (or every march). If they are bought, and they (eegads!!) fall apart, that means sacrificing £180!

My thought exactly. I have only two pairs, one (Deurne) were costly enough to be very carful with them. The other pair have lasted 6 years, but I don't dare predict how much longer.. :?
I only recently met a possible source for repair, and I've not tried my hands yet at making my own.

[Agraes]

Just to let you know that your walks are really inspiring us at Letavia. We plan to do several when kits will be ready (especially soles with nails...), in the Monts d'Arée, forests or along Brittany coast to repel saxon pirats :twisted:

Maybe one day, as pilgrims to the Llyn Llydaw, and to Segontium...

[Mithras]

I hope you do Benjamin, its a great feeling to be out in the wilds with proper kit, looking and feeling the part, and marching to places or past places that were important sites in antiquity.

Rain or sun, it teaches you something!

BTW: I'm going to Segontium in a couple of weeks, I have a holiday booked in Beddgelert Forest, just south of Snowdon in North Wales.

[John Conyard]

Thank you for your comments Agraes. I can assure you we don't set out to be inspiring! Just to have a good time.

Walks are certainly a test of kit, and stamina.

I try and come up with a theme and plan the walk around that. The last one was really about finding the two signal towers above Vindolanda.

Then I plan a route very carefully. The longer and potentially risky walks need walking in modern clothes before the actual Roman march. Maps and aerial photography are also useful.

And there is a timetable for each walk, to ensure we don't finish up in the middle of nowhere in the dark.

It's good if people can take spare footwear just in case of a problem. People are naturally concerned about using re-enactment footwear. I am not a shoemaker but can turnout simple shoes with heavy nailed soles. They can take a real hammering. It sounds like I'll be teaching Paul and Jamie how to do them!

Good luck,

[Graham Sumner]

Paul wrote:

BTW: I'm going to Segontium in a couple of weeks, I have a holiday booked in Beddgelert Forest, just south of Snowdon in North Wales.

Let me know when and we could meet, either at Chester, Segontium or Sunny Flint. We can have a chat and I can show you the paintings I am working on.

Graham.

[Mithras]

John has chosen some excellent walks over the last 2 or 3 years. Very enjoyable (if you don't carry too much armour!).

It sounds like I'll be teaching Paul and Jamie how to do [simple shoes]!

Excellent! I have experience of making enclosed boots, with multiple soles, sewn in toes, heel and toe re-inforcements, as well as more simple shoe styles (all hobnailed). But I'm open to tips!

[Robert Vermaat]

Thank you for your comments Agraes. I can assure you we don't set out to be inspiring! Just to have a good time.

Neverthelesss you guys inspire us all to do things better! I'm always looking forward to reports of yet another test in the open country. Please continue!