… the way I intend to continue – on a bike on January 1st. Plenty of rain meant there was no salt on the roads and the temperatures well above 10ºC – almost perfect riding conditions, but for the mucky surfaces. I am fortunate to live among country roads, not best for a sports bike, but ideal for the Scrambler. A couple of miles north and I am on the Military Road, which runs from Heddon in the east to Greenhead in the west. For much of its length, it runs parallel to Hadrian’s Wall and north of the old Stanegate Roman road. There are any number of diversions, south or north, which take you away from this almost arrow-straight tarmac, built by Field Marshal Wade in 1746 to enable easy movement of the troops and equipment necessary to supress the Jacobite uprising. It is a wild, exposed, glorious landscape.
The arrow-straight Military Road near High Teppermoor.
The road less traveled – between Hound Hill and Melkridge Common.
Towards Gibbs Hill from Hound Hill.
Parked up at the foot of Hound Hill.
Towards Cowburn Rigg from Hound Hill.
Crindledykes.
Crindledykes
northumbrian : light 
The perfect way for you to start the new year, indeed. Wishing you many more rides in 2022. And lots of cuddles with Evie.🙂
It was a real bonus Julie. I never expect much riding on January and when I do, I normally regret it, but not this time.
Evie cuddles would be nice – shame they live at the other end of the country – one of my ambitions is to ride down to Brighton in 2022, thereby combining the best of all worlds 🙂
It certainly has been a remarkably warm
Start to the year, better than snow and ice in my opinion!
I like one or the other – anything in between and I might be tempted out on two wheels when I really shouldn’t 😉
Sounds like the perfect start for you, Robin. That road looks inviting to me as well (and Hadrian’s Wall!!) but I’d have to see it via car not motorcycle. 🙂
janet
It was just perfect, Janet. I would happily take you on pillion – it’s the best way to see it 😉
All the best, R
That would be lots of fun!
Happy New Year, Robin. It sounds delightful and what a great start to the year. But Military Road and the high landscape sounds like the Anatolian Plain in Turkey, where I was for a week’s break from duty in 2000 – windy, snowy and desolate, with single figures, in dark clothing (mostly women) walking against the freezing wind for miles. I’m looking forward to the time when I can see Northumberland again.
And all the best to you and yours in 2022, Chris. Bent figures in black is exactly what this landscape lacks – shame 😉