Bill Armstrong hiking Hadrian's Wall. A B&B awaits him at night. (photo by Christine Mair)
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Hiking Hadrian's Wall:
Walking 10 miles a day and relaxing at night
By BILL ARMSTRONG
This is a hike like no other hike! Picture this:
• Walk along a World Heritage Site that consists of a nearly 2,000-year-old Roman wall in the beautiful north of England.
• Stay in a beautiful B&B every night.
• Visit the remains of Roman forts along the wall and in nearby towns.
The Romans built Hadrian’s Wall around 140 AD, marking the northern limit of the Roman Empire and walling out pesky Scottish tribes that they could not defeat. Twenty feet high, ten feet wide and about 70 miles long, the wall extended from Newcastle in the east to Bowness on Solway in the west.
This summer, not quite 1,900 years later, my daughter, Christine Mair, and I took eight days to hike along the trail and take a few side trips. We planned it ourselves, using a guide book, and we walked roughly 10 miles a day.
Our days started with a
"full" English breakfast
(no lunch needed!). We hiked through the beautiful north England countryside, paralleling the remaining wall, as we followed ancient footsteps through farm country and small villages. Our days ended at wonderful B&Bs in time for a shower, tea in china cups, and a hearty meal in a local pub.
It was our hike to remember for years to come.
Bill Armstrong, the club’s outings chair, will give a full presentation on his Hadrian’s Wall hike at the Sierra Club’s Dec. 3 meeting at the Ponte Vedra library.
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Club Meetings
in Jacksonville
& Ponte Vedra
Feature Dark Skies,
Coastal Threats
The Sierra Club Northeast Florida group resumes its regular meetings with two great programs this month and October. The meetings are free and open to all.
In September
, we meet in Jacksonville and get a look at the emerging ideas of dark skies along with the harm done by artificial light pollution.
Julie Taylor of the Ancient City Astronomy Club will discuss the environmental implications of light pollution and the possible remedies at the meeting Monday, Sept. 10, in the education building at Lakewood Presbyterian Church, 2001 University Blvd W. A social time starts at 6:30 pm; the meeting starts at 7 p.m.
In October
, we switch to Ponte Vedra (this will be the pattern for the coming year, alternating between Jacksonville and Ponte Vedra).
Erin Handy, an Oceana activist, will discuss the threats to Florida’s coastlines, marine wildlife, tourism and fishing industries, and quality of life, which are posed by the very real possibility of seismic testing and offshore drilling off our coasts. The discussion will outline what actions citizens can take to negate these threats.
The meeting begins at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 3, in the Friends of the Library main meeting room of the Ponte Vedra Beach Public Library at 101 Library Boulevard, at intersection of A1A in Ponte Vedra Beach.
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Activists gather
to celebrate
the environment
An environmental get-together was just that on August 12 when about 120 people met at Genung’s Fish Camp, on the banks of the Matanzas River south of St. Augustine, to show their support for new environmental projects and cheer the successful resolution of old ones.
Organizers said the event, which was designed to introduce new people to the movement and to encourage the veterans to keep up the spirit, was a great success.
Matanzas Riverkeeper Jen Lomberg spoke of her group’s on-going efforts to protect the river and of a sweet victory when the St. Augustine Planning and Zoning Board denied an application by developer D.R. Horton for a planned unit development on Fish Island.
Representatives of Citizens 4 Trees told the group of their fight to stop the clearcutting of trees in St. Johns County.
And two political hopefuls—St. Johns County Commission District 4 candidate Jack Gorman and state House District 24 candidate Adam Morley—attended to show their support for environmental causes and to gain some visibility for their campaigns. Both will be on the November general election ballot.
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Great ideas
in a few words
Unless we are willing to encourage our children to reconnect with and appreciate
the natural world, we can't expect them to help protect and care for it.
—David Suzuki
David Takayoshi Suzuki is a Canadian academic, science broadcaster and environmental activist.
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P
addling on Sixmile creek in August (photo by Marsha M.)
Paddle & hike with us
in September
Outings are free (except for park fees) and are open to all. Some outings require a greater level of fitness and skill than others. No pets allowed on outings. Outing participants are required to sign a waiver and release of liability at the start of the outing. Here is a copy of
the waiver form
. You'll get one to sign at the outing.
Sunday, Sept. 16, 10 a.m
.: Julington Creek Lunch 'n' Paddle. Take a beautiful paddle down to Clark's Fish Camp for a great lunch.
Saturday, Sept. 22, 11 a.m.
: Kayak Pottsburg Creek. Paddle the urban creek for about five miles. Kayak rentals available.
Thursday, Sept. 27, 9 a.m.
: Kayak Peters Creek. Take a beautiful, leisurely six mile paddle up Peters Creek in Green Cove Springs to see swamp/wetland banks, birds, and other wildlife. Kayak rentals available.
Saturday, Sept. 29, 9 a.m.
: Hike Black Creek Ravines. We'll hike about five miles through this varied and remote environment near Middleburg.
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Straw bans
gain speed
Things are looking better for the enviornment in the plastic straw controversy: People all over are asking restaurants to hold the straw and companies are listening. Starbucks, Mariott Hotels, and American Airlines are among those wito phase them out.
But what are the alternatives? The possibilites include paper straws, metal straws, and even pasta straws. Science Friday, the NPR show, has
an audio report
.
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Letter:
Thanks, and keep on going
I just wanted to give you a heads up and say THANK YOU for all of the support you have given me through the Sierra Club. I remember when the student coalition was just an idea, and now it has become a reality! Our projects, lobbying efforts, and outings have built a presence in the community.
The Student Coalition has grown into something that I am very proud of, and I don’t want it to die just because I am leaving. The new chairs of the group will be Jason Routsis and Amanda Brust, two seniors from Ponte Vedra High School who have become very active in the coalition. I have the highest confidence that they will continue to take on great projects and organize group outings.
Warm regards,
Nick Famularo
Nick Famularo is a founder of the club’s student coaltiion. He is starting his freshman year at Yale University in New Haven, Conn.
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Sierra Club, Northeast Florida Group | [email protected] | sierraclub.org/florida/northeast-florida
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