The van nearly loaded, we said our setting off prayers in the sunshine outside Detling Village Hall, where we had spent the night.

We crossed the A249 dual carriageway via Jade's Crossing, a bridge built in response to local protest after eight-year-old Jade Hobbs and her grandmother were killed attempting to cross over in December 2000.

On the far side of the bridge pilgrims stood for a moment to read the memorial to Jade.

It explained that the road was built in 1962, cutting the village of Detling in two with no provision for pedestrians to get from one side to the other. Following the deaths and after local protest and fundraising, the pedestrian bridge named after Jade was opened in 2002.

It had been slightly misty first thing, but soon it became clear it was going to be another hot day.

After just a short walk, we arrived at St Mary and All Saints' at Boxley.

The vicar who had been due to lead our prayers was otherwise engaged dealing with a wasp nest in his vicarage. Peter stepped in at short notice to speak to us about today's theme of faithfulness.

He told us the true story of an elderly Catholic man who used to walk many miles each Sunday to Mass, and each week was passed in her splendid carriage by a rich countess on her way to the Anglican church. After seeing this man for many years, she stopped and enquired where he was walking to each Sunday. The man's example of faithfulness had a profound effect on the Countess who paid to have a new Catholic church built so that the Catholic community could be better served.

Afterwards, we had a chance to look round the church and this distinctive window was commented on by many of the pilgrims.

The sun continued to burn down on us as we carried on along our way and the drinks stop was a convenient place to apply the sun cream.

This year we are walking through an area with quite a lot of busy roads, but the route planners have done an excellent job of keeping us away from these. However, our route does need to cross these and here we are going under the M20.

Although we all carry our own supplies of water, Monica and Rosemary with the drinks car, especially in this weather, are always a welcome sight.

Soon we were walking along the River Medway . . .

. . . a beautiful scene.

And more pleasant to cross than a road.

This took us all the way into Aylesford.

Before lunch, mass - and so we first had to pass the lunch pub without stopping (a pilgrim achievement!) and gathered at The Friars - an amazing array of chapels and shrines, run by The Carmelites as a place of pilgrimage.

Our Mass was in the chapel of St Joseph, where this larger than life wooden statue of the saint stands behind the altar.

In his sermon, Father David retold the story of Elijah and the Prophets of Baal, which was illustrated in a series of murals around the chapel.

During the service, Jo, a new pilgrim, was presented with her cross.

Our musicians did an excellent job, as always, in leading our worship and today were joined on the accordian by Clive, a pilgrim of old, who is this year with us as our cook Frances' driver.

After mass, and a quick look round the gift shop, we went back down into Aylesford to the Chequers for lunch . . .

. . . which was enjoyed overlooking the river.

After lunch, the walk became somewhat more challenging with a steep ascent of 120 metres. Keith made it to the top, but couldn't decide whether or not he wanted to die when he got there.

The descent was more gradual, along country lanes and tracks and eventually we were back following the Medway - but now a much broader river with beaches on each side - as we made our way into Rochester.

This seems to be an historic city, with many impressive old buildings. The castle is on a hill and dominates the Rochester skyline.

We passed this unusual sculpture, carved out of a tree trunk, presumably after the tree had met an untimely end.

Tonight and tomorrow, our rest day, we are staying in a gym at King's School. Our evening meal was accompanied by wine thanks to the generosity of Nina and Tony, who were celebrating their thirty-sixth wedding anniversary. Here they are seen cutting their cake.