DAY FOUR Newchurch to Rye

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Well, we all did make the 7.00 a.m. rise - or at least only a little bit later, when breakfast cooking set off the smoke alarm.

Yet another hot day and by just after 9.00 a.m., we were striding out through the fields once more.

The frequent drink stops were very welcome, the first coinciding with our first prayer stop at St George's Church at Ivychurch.

Maurice spent a few minutes in quiet contemplation and discussion before sharing with us his thoughts on the Prayer of St Richard.

And still the sun shone down on us:

Our next stop (prayer and drink) was at St Clement's, Old Romney, where the original altar stone, removed at the Reformation, has been rescued from a local garden and reinstated.

John led the prayer part of the stop, talking about the pilgrimage - our route arrows, the heat, and the different terrains - as a metaphor for our journey through life.

Other pilgrims preferred their own quiet reflection.

Our third and final prayer stop of the morning was led by Terry at St Augustine's, Brookland, where there is an unusual free-standing bell tower.

We were again thankful for pub beer gardens, as The Woolpack provided about the only shelter of the whole day.

After lunch there were no further prayer stops so we continued to follow arrows for the remainder of the afternoon.

The last part of our route into Rye, took us along the Royal Military Canal, which became tidal below the last lock.

A quiet evening followed. Some pilgrims attended the mass at St Anthony's Church and others went swimming, mainly for the opportunity to make use of the showers afterwards, before settling down for the evening.

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