Day 1: Crawley to York

Our first day - getting to the start. In fact, some of us had started the night before, travelling to Brighton to load the van, travelling up to Crawley this morning. The van collected luggage from the train party before setting off north via the M25 and A1. The "walkers" took the train, tube, and 125 to York, meeting the van party and the Sheffield contingent (complete with spare caterer's car - the original one being pranged en route).

I am reminded by Louise, who was "leader" of the train party, that all was not well for the rail as well as the road contingent. Arriving at Crawley station, it was discovered that the group ticket to convey several dozen pilgrims to York had been left on the van, now heading rapidly north. Somehow a duplicate was issued and the group continued their journey.

For some, it had clearly been a trauma getting the packing done!

All together again at York Station, we walked via the City Walls and Skelderdale Bridge to St George's Church, where we celebrated the first Eucharist of the pilgrimage and distributed crosses: we had officially begun.

Inside the hall, the packing was still only just under control!