Today we learnt the true meaning (and value) of porridge. We now know that without porridge, the non-stop blur that is Rhona’s legs really don’t work. However, we did put our legs to the test today. We started at 8.40am feeling refreshed by Ali and John’s fab food and a comfy bed. We set a fairly good pace and soon reached The Stepping Stones over the River Mole.
This is a favourite walking place in the past for Fi, so it was good to see it looking so tranquil. She didn’t dare tell Rhona just how steep the climb was from the river to the top of Box Hill. There were small whimpers and sighs heard as the steps up the hill were too high to stride up for her. However the view and the smug self-satisfaction were worth it.
There followed a lovely ridge walk which was fairly level. in the woods we found a mobile mast disguised as a pine tree. Only the ladder gave it away!
We soon dropped down to the bottom of the scarp at Juniper Hill. Oh yes, what did that mean? You guessed, another climb. No steps this time, but still it proved ‘quite a challenge’.
It was a shame that it was a little hazy, yet the views required to be admired. We found the Inglis monument and thought of our friends Pat and Martin. The ceiling had a night sky scene painted on it.
We met Jonathan in Gatton Park and ice creams were distributed to those of a heroic nature.
It all got a bit noisier then as we neared the M25 for a while.
We stopped off at St Katherine’s church in Merstham – Jonathan got all excited by the misericords!
Spookily we then had long uphill pull across several harvested fields. Oh my. It was so good to see Jonathan’s car!
So quiz questions of the day – 1) look back at yesterday’s photos and find the one of a concrete bowl in the ground. What is it and how is it used?
2) what are the white painted posts? They were at the top of Reigate Hill.
I know the answer to 1, but not 2!
Today, Fi’s pilgrim scallop shell (the internationally accepted symbol for pilgrims) has been banging against her arm reminding her of why we are doing this.
We have remembered all those who are walking with us in spirit as Pledging Pilgrims both at home and abroad. Thank you for your support – thinking of us, sending us messages on the blog, on facebook, financially, morale-boosting, etc. Thank you.
Love the Pilgrims
xxx
P.S – I will be away from my laptop tomorrow, until Sunday afternoon. I will post about the Pilgrims 7th and 8th day on Sunday evening, so our lovely followers can read about the Pilgrims weekend travels then! In the meantime, you can comment this post with messages of support to our Pilgrims, or become a pledging pilgrim yourself!
Love the blogger!
x
Salisbury to Canterbury 
Sharing Jon’s love of misericords. I still think some of the best in the country are in the ‘long, wool churches’ in Suffolk……slightly off route admittedly.
The answer to question 2 is that the white posts are marker posts, now numbering about 210 but originally about 280 in number, erected in the 1860s and forming an irregular loop between 12 and 18 miles from London to mark the points where taxes on coal were due to the Corporation of London. There are a number of different types – the white cast iron posts are the most common.
Good going thus far! If those are misericords, Jonathan, one cannot perceive the gap for raising the individual seats. (As if one continuous seat!) I may be wrong, but wait til you see our 84, in the cathedral, all individually carved beneath the seats. (Bring a torch)
We await your arrival (Wed.?)
Robin Eyers
Cathedral Steward/Guide
Thank you for your comment Robin, I will pass the message onto Jonathan about the misericords at Canterbury, he will be extra delighted to reach the Cathedral on Wednesday!
Love the Pilgrims
Xxx