Day 3: Ealing to Farnham Common

Today we escape the Metropolis of London and head out into rural Buckinghamshire. After finding the Grand Union Canal, we make our way to Hayes Town for a 'Find-your-own' lunch stop. We then rejoin the canal and follow it as far as the M25 Circular, where we head north-west to Black Park Country Park and on to Farnham Common

After breakfast and packing, our day started with a Eucharist in the adjoining Church of St Stephen. Fr David talked of the King James Bible, celebrating its fourth centenary.

Rev Simon reads the gospel.

Soon we were on our way through London's western suburbs... busy streets...

...and quiet residential roads.

It was a bright sunny morning.

Sarah talks to a lady who was interested in all these hikers in Ealing - not a common sight.

André has popped in again.

A smiling Simon leads into a park.

We joined the southern branch of the Grand Union Canal - bit more scenic than the Paddington branch we walked yesterday, but still with old industrial buildings alongside.

We climbed alongside a flight of locks.

Happy smiling pilgrims!

Not so happy - Caroline has to count her toes to make sure they are all present!

Swans copying pilgrims, in single file?

There were more waterfowl around today.

Gina shows us the way.

Lunch was a free-for-all in Hayes town centre - many ended up in the Wetherspoons.

We were hoping to pray in the Methodist church, but it was closed, so Caroline gave her reflection in the bandstand, based around an article she wrote for Retreat magazine on "what we get from pilgrimage".

It was quite a good location - an act of witness in a very public place.

Tilley-hatted pilgrims talk to a local.

More canal walking then a deviation to our first drink stop.

Back to the canal again.

We crossed the M25 by a long footbridge.

At Iver church we found Howard resting in the graveyard.

The Rev Tim Eadie (formerly vicar at Brighstone on the Isle of Wight, to the excitement of our Island pilgrims) welcomed us and told us about the church, parts of which are pre-Norman. Doug and others led the reflection.

Looking back at the church.

Susan and Michael leave the churchyard.

Bridget found a friend.

Julian and Grace (and Betsy) met us at the café at Black Country Park.

Bill and John discuss our route (and the route we took in 1982 on our way to Wembley to welcome Pope John-Paul 2).

Next stop was St James' Fulmer.

The grand tomb of the founder of the church.

The prayer stop consisted of songs sung by Louise (not pictured), Helen...

... and Helen, Clare and Jonny, making the point that we can pray in song.

As we left the church it started drizzling, but we made it safely to our destination.