Winchester, Day Two

So, after a chilly night in a too-small sleeping bag, I was up and around several hours before anyone else, due to the time difference for me. It was quite nice to go sit in by myself the walled garden and watch the birds. I wish I had the camera that morning, but I didn't want to rummage around for it and wake up my tent-mates, so you only get a description. There were ducks (ordinary mallards) living at the Hospital and one of them flew up from the river to perch on the roof ridge next to the weathercock. It was quite amusing to watch him balance! Even better was the hawk who caught a meadow mouse not ten feet from me and flew off to breakfast on it. It was quite the feat.

Once everyone else awoke, we had tea - yum! - and apples, and bread and butter. Then it was time to start the Pilgrimage. Lore Rafe sent us off in groups of three or four, after taking a portrait of each group. Here are some of us waiting our turn to leave.



Edith, Constanza, and I made up a group and we were among the early departures. The path was along the river, shady in spots and quite sunny in others.




We encountered swans and cygnets...



Other pilgrims...



a blind beggar, a pair of young ruffians, a poor widow, and several learned folk who tested us on our ecclesiastical knowledge and ascertained that we knew how to be pilgrims.

We saw a beautiful castle...



and finally made our way to Winchester Cathedral. (Oh-bo-de-o-do... Makes you hear the song to read it, doesn't it?) We saw Jane Austen's grave, the Winchester Bible and some truly lovely architecture. We finally succumbed to heat and hunger and made our way through the gaping tourists ("Might I ask why you're dressed like that? Oh, may I take your picture?")and found an excellent pasty shop. Then it was back to the Almshouse to watch the afternoon fighting demonstration.





Some of us were a bit tired by then.




After the demo was over and the crowd cleared, Their Excellencies Daffyd and Chiara held court, then it was off to the feast.




It was a lovely evening, ending up around a makeshift "fire" of lots and lots of candles on the green. There was singing, poetry, and storytelling and it was perfect, really!