Boots ready for the off...
Van loaded (Howard in action)
Walking out through Riccall
To St Mary's for Prayer Book Mattins.
There was an early steep drop that took some careful negotiation.
Then a drink stop as we joined the old railway.
Joan sat on a fence to have her feet treated, the fence broke, and she nearly needed more serious treatment (as did the onlookers whose sides split)
Then the Pilgrim Express set off at high speed.
Before we reached lunch, we crossed the River Ouse on the old railway bridge. This is surmounted by the sculpture shown below, entitled "Fisher of Dreams". The fisherperson is catching the Flying Scotsman, dreaming of the days when it thundered across this bridge, but all is not as the dream: a dog is peeing on the fisher's bike.
Lunch was at the Ebor: Geoff enjoyed the Samuel Smiths Old Brewery Bitter...
... while Ursula stuck to tea.
Immediately after lunch, prayers at the Methodist Church
with a great welcome
Some pilgrims fell by the wayside on the way to the next stop
At the Parish Church at Bishopthorpe.
We were then taken across to view the Archbishop of York's residence - a sneak view from the gatehouse.
Father Joe looks at home!
The afternoon walk was largely uneventful: we crossed the A19, the A64 York southern ring road (below) several times, and crossed many stubble fields.
Monika stopped to check the route notes. (She's celebrating her feast day today, along with Monica the Neck).
Our final stop was at Heslington Church - an ecumenical church, which had been fitted out internally with great style.
And so, into Archbishop Holgate School. Soon after arrival we celebrated Mass, but we have no pictures because we found Stephen a Steinway, so both of the house digital photographers were engaged in making music. Just hum it to yourself, you'll get the picture.
And so, into rest day mode. Bruce is already - he's just set off with a load of washing to the launderette.