Exploridust: Berwick and Lindisfarne

Last night was our castle dance party in the dining hall. After our last class, we all got dressed up nice and went out to the pubs to celebrate Erica's birthday. Then, we came back danced into the early hours of the morning, cooked a meal of pasta, and went to bed.

Kirstie and I

Today, I experienced wind on a whole new level. It was incredibly powerful. Our first stop was Berwick Upon Tweed which is a town on the border of England and Scotland. We got to walk along the Elizabethan ramparts which were built in defense against the Scots. It was a bit of a loss, since they were never used seeings that the crown then passed to James VI of Scotland who then became James I of England, uniting the two countries. After our walk around town, we all split up and went to various cafes to warm up. Next stop was Lindisfarne/Holy Island. This island can be accessed by a causeway when the tide is out, however, the wind was so strong the water was hardly out enough for crossing. St. Cuthbert is the most famous saint of Holy Island, both for his works in life and death (his body didn't decay for centuries, it had somehow been preserved and no one can figure out how it happened). We took a short walk through the small village and toured the priory on the island. Soon, we were set free to search the beach for St. Cuthbert beads, which are small, round fossils found in the sand. I found 16, but they are all very small. Erica found a huge one, which looked very similar to a button. She actually picked it up thinking it was a button, but upon further examination realized the great treasure she had come across. Many of us probably spent a good 30 minutes laying on the beach with our noses nearly in the sand searching despite the gusting wind. Later on, I headed up to the gift shop to sample the famous Lindisfarne Mead. It was so delicious. The monks sure knew the secrets to a good mead. I was so tempted to buy some, especially since the price was very reasonable. However, it would have been very complicated to get back home. So, I decided it wasn't worth the hassle. But, it can be ordered online! After Lindisfarne, we were off to Bell's Hill Farm. We talked to the farmers who own around 300 acres of land between the coast and the cheviot mountains. We discussed different farming methods and how to make farming more sustainable. Their efforts have quadrupled their crop yields and proven more environmentally friendly. Overall, it was an interesting day to be sure.