For this trip the weather gods were really looking down favourably upon me. I wanted some cloud for the pier at Sunderland and I got it. For the rest of the time I wanted sun and, despite being January, I got almost totally unbroken skies all the time. Being the only person for miles around at dawn on Hadrian's Wall was definitely a highlight along with meeting up with my friend Jo and staying at her lovely cottage in Sedbergh.