DAY FOURTEEN Bognor Regis to Chichester
Another day - our last walking day.
Amid the chaos and business of preparing for the day, Joyce found a few minutes to relax.
We began at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, just a quarter of a mile from our hall for last night, for a memorial service for pilgrims who have died.
Names were read out from a list, which, of course, gets longer each year, and a candle was lit for each.
The service concluded, we went out to a rousing rendition of "Walk in the Light".
We then set off for our last sea-front walk, heading out of Bognor.
The beach provided another opportunity for the frontmarkers. Although all these arrows are easily accessible here, the tide was coming in and the backmarkers had to remove their boots and socks and wade out to retrieve them.
At our first prayer stop, St Richard's Aldwick, the priest spoke to us and led us in prayer.
We were joined by some unexpected day pilgrims today when an entire herd of cows followed us along the path up to Pagham Harbour.
There were also some ducks which seemed quite interested in what we were doing - or, at least, in what we were eating.
Just before lunch we went via the Church of Our Lady, Sidlesham, for private, quiet prayer and reflection.
After lunch, Sue found another way to achieve a state of quiet. Here she is just waking up again, but was sure she hadn't downed quite that many glasses of beer.
Our last afternoon and St Leodegar's, Hunston, provided the venue for a significant event, the last drinks stop of 2003.
The prayer stop itself was a very moving reflection on pilgrimage led by Damien, who attempted to get to the heart of why we put ourselves through this experience year after year, reminding us of the more challenging as well as the rewarding aspects of what we do.
We came into Chichester along the canal.
We all gathered together, a short way from the Cathedral - our final destination - and processed together singing.
We were met by one the Canons, who led us on the pilgrim route through the cathedral to St Richard's Shrine, where the icon commissioned to celebrate his 750th anniversary is on display.
To conclude our visit, we gathered around St Richard's statue, outside the west end of the cathedral for a commemorative photo.
We are now staying at St Richard's Church and School. Tomorrow is our celebration day, a final chance for us to spend time together.
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ITINERARY 0855 [0.0 miles] Depart. St Mary's Catholic School, Glamis Street, Bognor SZ937993 0900-0930 [0.25] Pilgrim Memorial Service. Church of Our Lady of Sorrows, Clarence Road, Bognor SZ938991 Prayers 1015-1045 [2.0] St Richards Church, Gossamer Lane, Aldwick SZ910990 Prayers 1245-1315 [6.5] St Mary our Lady, Sidlesham SZ856990 Prayers 1330-1500 [6.75] The Anchor Inn, Selsey Road (B2145), Sidlesham SZ854991 Lunch 1600-1630 [9.5] St Leodegars Church, Hunston SU865014 Prayers 1700-1745 [11.25] Service. Chichester Cathedral SU859048 Prayers 1800 (11.5) Arrive. St Richard's RC Church & School, Cawley Road, Chichester SU862043
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