Day 13: York to Hovingham

Well, our evening was hardly uneventful. About teatime a young man appeared in the school and sat at a table reading a newspaper. When challenged, he said he was waiting for someone, but was evasive. He went off further into our part of the school, but was eventually flushed out. We immediately reviewed our security.

Not long later a security man appeared, and told us they had an intruder alarm elsewhere in the building. Later again, the police arrived with a dog and began to flush out the school. Some pilgrims getting an early night were surprised to find a police alsation pulling its handler past their bedspace.

Anyway, later again the policeman went past and gave us the thumbs up - we assume the intruder was apprehended rather than that they simply found nothing. Even so, our security is tight, and everyone's a bit on edge.

Well, it was a quiet night despite the late return of a few revellers, though the 7 o'clock alarm was a shock to many! It wasn't long, however, till things were sorted and we were on our way.

Front marking, we soon saw the Minster again.

After a couple of miles we joined the route of the 1984 Lindisfarne Pilgrimage.

We celebrated Mass at Huntington.

We pressed on to Strenshall for lunch, only to find that the pub didn't open until 2 o'clock and they weren't expecting us. We had to wait patiently as one lady served 50 thirsty pilgrims. (At least this pub opened: the next 4 were closed when we reached them).

After lunch, we were due to stop at the Methodist Church, but it was locked up.

Ant soon saw an opportunity for a challenge to the backmarkers - a challenge which John took up with relish...

We pressed on to Sherriff Hutton, with its ruined castle

and the parish church of St Helen and the Holy Cross

In which a Prince of Wales is buried.

The next phase saw our first significant hill for some time, and a view back to Sherriff Hutton (and to York Minster if your eyes were good enough).

As we approached Terrington we found a standpipe opposite the cemetery, a chance to replenish water bottles and cool off.

We'd been following the Ebor Way much of the day - overgrown and hard to find in places. We were now in the Howardian Hills - the hills around Castle Howard we assume.

Our final prayer stop was at Terrington.

Finally we descended into Hovingham.

The mobile phone reception isn't too good - Pat seemed to think that standing on a chair would help (or was it a mouse he was scared of?)