Day 8: Canterbury to Charing

The whole of today's walk follows the traditional route of the Pilgrims Way (as walked in 1976), albeit in reverse, which is the (then new) North Downs Way.

The day started with Mass at St Thomas's.

In an addition to the published programme, we called at the Cathedral where we were wished Godspeed by Canon Allchin.

At Chilham, we prayed at St Mary's

but, as the pubs were too small to host us, the vicar had invited us to picnic in the Vicarage garden. (We brought our own beer, which is being served on the steps in the background)

It's a bad plan to have a birthday on the pilgrimage, as playground traditions like the bumps are continued (this was only one of two on this day!)

Meanwhile, Fr Bob is keeping out of trouble!

But Clare is decidedly in trouble having visited the lily pond

First stop of the afternoon was All Saints, Boughton Aluph.

Then St Christopher's, Boughton Lees, where we found ourselves locked out!

Next was the ruined Eastwell Church, where we prayed in the open air (as in 1976)

The lakeside setting providing a welcome resting place.

And so on to Charing where we slept not only in the Church Barn (as in 1976)...

... but also in the Parish Hall (pictured tomorrow).