Day 3: Bracknell to Henley-on-Thames

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So we all managed to fit into Priestwood Youth Centre, and have a decent night's sleep despite the illuminated and refrigerated Coke dispenser which we dared not turn off lest it flood those sleeping nearby.

We awoke to a grey day, but the rain had passed. Morning prayer was said standing among the sleeping bags, then breakfast and the perennial "last call for luggage" as the van was loaded. After our daily setting out prayers, the front markers (Dave with the assistance of Jenny, John and Louise) set out on our way towards Henley.

Joan and Millie seemed pleased to be turning their backs on Bracknell (but they'll be less pleased when Lesley overtakes them!).

After a couple of miles we reached All Saints, Binfield, where the lych gate welcomed us. Unfortunately, probably due to a mix up in the arrangements, no one else did!

So we sang "Oh when the saints go marching in" around the locked church before continuing on our way...

while Anne thought she was Zacchaus!

Our next stop was All Saints at Shurlock Row, a redundant Victorian church:

where Tom was ready to lead us in prayer on the theme of rebuilding

The clock chimed 11 as Tom was in mid flow, just to prove that there is still life in the church.

And we concluded singing an adaptation of Bob the Builder as "God the Builder, he will fix it!"

A short walk took us to Waltham St Lawrence and the Bell Inn for lunch. The front markers were well settled!

After lunch Alured and Tass had obviously found it too much, and crashed out in the churchyard of St Lawrence's

Inside the church, Sue was joined by a local!

At lunch we were joined by the founder of our pilgrimages, Bill Haynes, and Kate. They walked with us for the afternoon, here Bill is getting the lowdown from Sarah.

Shortly after lunch, Anne was led astray and was found creeping out of a wayside pub!

During the afternoon we caught up with the front markers on a few occasions, but it gave us the opportunity to enjoy a lovely view across the Thames valley.

And so on to Remenham and the church of St Nicholas, where we were met by ....

And so on towards Henley where we paused briefly at St Mary the Virgin

Just before the hall we found an elephant with a problem...