The Border is Open!

For the first time in 6 months we were able to cross the border into Scotland. We took the opportunity to drive up to the top of the Coquet to the Chew Green Roman camps. Normally the continuation of the road is closed as it goes over the Otterburn ranges but in April the range is closed for the lambing season so we continued across the moors to Redesdale to reach A68 and the border.

From there we took the first single track road to the top of the Kale Valley, down to Hownam then left past Over Whitton, the farm in the blip. This was my great-grandfather’s farm. We stopped at the top of the moor at Dere Street Roman road to look back the way we’d come, the other picture. We could see Whitton Loch, part of the farm where I was brought up. The loch was used by the World Motor Racing champion Jim Clark for water skiing. We were like a real old couple with our flask of coffee.

No walking was involved. Mr C drove me along the street and up Bkaeberry Hill to the physio appointment. I couldn’t walk up the hill. Stephen spent an hour pressing and pulling at my foot and calf. He has sent exercises and gave me a wee spikey ball to roll my foot over. I have NOT to walk up hills or walk barefoot. I must stretch my Achilles and the only thing that will succeed in improving things is to do the exercises. I walked home which was excruciating. I can’t do some of the exercises such as walking on tiptoes as that’s too painful. I’m resting it and will try again tomorrow.