Halfway there!

Day 25: we are half-way through our quest in both distance and time, having walked more than 333 miles. We can scarcely believe it. And we have climbed the height of Everest, although we are not halfway there in this respect - 1.8 more Everests to go!

It was a bright day with a fair bit of sunshine, but strong wind. Unlike Monday when Storm Floris blew us along, today we were walking due west almost all day, into the teeth of it. Hat management was a challenge: Richard seems to have glued his sun-hat to his head, as it never came off, whereas mine was on the back of my neck every few minutes. Danny, who has joined us for the next few days, wore a tight-fitting baseball cap, while Paul continued to expose his flowing locks to the elements. It's become customary for Richard to find an enlivening subject each day once we have three miles to go; usually trivial or nonsensical, but it gets us talking again and takes our mind off our tired feet. However, today his words were whisked away by the wind - he could have been quoting Nietzsche for all we know.

We enjoyed the typical Dales landscape of ancient farmhouses, steep-sided gills and dry-stone walls, then got into some of the country's best limestone scenery, from the secret cleft of Gordale Scar (pictured) to the dramatic cliffs and limestone pavements of Malham Cove. We're now ensconced in the Golden Lion in Settle, a favourite from our Pennine Way days, whose Settle Pudding did not disappoint.

As with any West End musical, there needs to be a cracker of a number to end the first half. Today's Track of the Day is one of my favourites, "A Weekend in the Country" from A Little Night Music, where an invitation to such a weekend triggers all sorts of consequences. And although the parallels aren't exact, somehow the invitation to join my mad escapade has brought a lot of wonderful people together, both the nine of us here in person and those supporting us from afar. Thank you all, and please stay with us for Act 2.