A quarter of the way there

Day 11: so much more enjoyable than yesterday. The sun shone, the scenery improved, and we did rather less nettle-knocking and bramble-bashing than yesterday. It was a long, hot day - 21 miles, our longest yet, and our feet were certainly talking to us by the end - hence Track of the Day is “You Need Feet”.

Stiles were abundant - Paul, perhaps influenced by Joe Root’s staying power at the crease, reckoned (as we passed yesterday’s record before lunch) that we could make a half-century - and so it proved. The picture shows him in a muted celebration. We were eventually run out for 52 - or rather walked out; the Miles to Maltsters never run except when crossing a fast road.

On to the Peak District tomorrow, and with much lighter packs - much to be welcomed. And we have done a quarter of the journey - how did that happen?