How far have we walked to date? The total "official" mileage (what was on the Route Cards) is 6,530 miles up to the end of Wells-Arundel in 2007 (not including reunions etc). On the assumption that the average number of walkers on any given day is about 50, that's almost 326,500 miles (enough to get to the moon! - we're well on the way back now)

Which was the longest pilgrimage? The first Walsingham Pilgrimage in 1977 totalled 273½ miles, 13 miles more than the next longest, Buckfast 2 in 1982.

Which was the shortest pilgrimage? The Papal Pilgrimage in 1982 was just 101 miles long, from Arundel to Wembley. The shortest "annual" pilgrimage was Canterbury 3 in 1988 at 142¾, when (after the trials of Walsingham 2) we went for a one-week pilgrimage. The shortest two-week pilgrimage was St Michael's in 1998 at 165 miles, which had fewer walking days because of all the travelling. St Richard's Anniversary in 2003 was just under 161 miles - the shortest 2-weeker yet!

Which pilgrimage had the longest days? The Buckfast 2 Pilgrimage in 1982 averaged just over 20 miles per walking day, beating Buckfast 1 (19.3), Walsingham 1 (19.2) and Norwich (18.6). No wonder we started Buckfast 3 in Winchester!

Which was the longest single day? A 26½ mile marathon from Horndean to Fawley on Buckfast 2, especially as it included a ferry crossing: we set out at 7.30 in the morning and were due in at 8.30 that evening. Next was a 25½ miler from Osmotherly to Richmond on Lindisfarne, and a 25 miler from Fordingbridge to Blandford Forum on Buckfast 1. We haven't had a day over 24 miles since 1985, or a day over 20 miles since 1996 - well, not until Ss Chad & Cedd in 2002 when we had 2 days over 20 miles, and 2004 saw the longest day (at 22.75 miles) since 1993. Both 2005 and 2006 had one day over 20 miles, but 2007 didn't.

Which pilgrimage had the shortest days? St Dunstan's in 1999 averaged just 14.3 miles per walking day, a bit less than St Chad in 2000 (14.6) and Martyrs in 1995 (14.7). The average walking day has been generally lower in recent years, though this depends on the route and accommodation. Ss Chad & Cedd in 2002 took the average back up to nearly 17, but in 2003 it was back below 15 again. On the basis that "short" is less than 10 miles and "long" is more than 20 miles, St Richard's Anniversary in 2003 was the first pilgrimage ever to have no "short" days and no "long" days. Moderation in all things... (An achievement repeated in 2007) Chester pushed the average above 17 again - the longest average day length since 1993. Winchester in 2005 saw the average back at 15.6 miles per day, mainly because of a series of short days towards the end. 2006 was only fractionally more at 15.8. And 2007 dropped to 15.4.

Which was the hilliest pilgrimage? A new category for 2006! In calculating the timings for each day, we use the Naismith formula, allowing 20 minutes per mile walked and 20 minutes per 500 feet climbed, so we have to measure the ascent (or rather, get the mapping software to measure it). "Hilliness" can be expressed as the percentage increase in time over the flat equivalent (a 2 mile walk with 500 feet of climbing would require 40 minutes for the flat walk and 20 minutes for the climbing, and so would be 20/40 = 50% hilly). I have applied this to pilgrimages since 2000, and Chester in 2004 is the highest with a hilliness of 24.6% (I'm sure those who walked it would not disagree!). Lincoln in 2006, despite its hills in the middle, was only 15.9% hilly, though three days in the Peak District were 28, 29 and 30%. The least hilly of these 21st Century pilgrimages was 2003 at just 13.7% - well it had two days with hilliness of only 1%, including the flattest day, from Newchurch to Rye, in which we climbed just 75 feet in nearly 16 miles. The 2007 pilgrimage was back up a little at 17.4%, largely thanks to two very hilly days round the south side of the Isle of Wight.

Which pilgrimage went furthest from our Diocese? Easy - Lindisfarne, which started further away than most finish. Holy Island is 400 miles drive from Arundel.

Which pilgrimage stayed closest to home? Well, treating the Cathedral at Arundel as "home", I'd reckon it was the Birthdays Pilgrimage in 1985 which was always within about 45 miles of Arundel. St Wilfrid's in 1981 stayed wholly within Sussex (East and West) but went to the eastern edge at Rye, some 10 miles further away.

Which pilgrimage reached the highest altitude? As far as I can ascertain this was Bolt's Law on the day from Stanhope to Minsteracres on Lindisfarne (1984) where we topped 1772 feet! The previous day would have come very close, but due to poor visibility we followed a lower, road route. Apart from Lindisfarne, the highest I'm aware of is Rippon Tor (1560 feet) which we crossed three times - on the last day of each of the Buckfast pilgrimages. The second highest was taken by Chester where the ascent of the Long Mynd took us to 1,575 feet. We nearly reached the record again in 2006 when we crossed Axe Edge Moor outside Buxton at what was planned to be 1,739 feet; in the event, the drinks stop was slightly off the planned route, and because of the rain we stuck to a lower path, at just 1,700 feet - still a clear second place.

Which pilgrimage reached the lowest altitude? That's a rather trickier question, as we've often been down to sea level (or at least, to the level of the sea). My vote for the lowest (deepest?) would be the last day of Lindisfarne, where the incoming tide must have reached waist deep. (An alternative award goes to Mike O'Shea's sunglasses which sank to the bottom of Lyme Bay during a water fight off Lyme Regis in 1982).

Which was the coldest pilgrimage? This is easy - the very first Holy Year Pilgrimage in 1975 was at Easter, and we endured blizzards, so that was the coldest by far. Of the others? I haven't a clue! Anyone else got an opinion?

Which was the hottest pilgrimage? The start of the Pilgrims Way Pilgrimage came at the end of the long, hot summer of 1976. But the rain came mid-way through. I remember the middle of Buckfast 3 as particularly hot, but it was cool and wet at the start and the end. Send in your nominations for the hottest pilgrimage day! Well, we probably made this record on the first walking day of St Richard's Anniversary in 2003: we were in Kent not far from Gravesend where the hottest temperature ever in the UK was recorded at 38.1°C

Which was the wettest pilgrimage? By repute, I'd have said Walsingham 2, where the hall at Roxwell was flooded. But this may not be the pilgrimage with most wet days!

Which was the driest pilgrimage? Good question! I don't remember a pilgrimage where the wet weather gear wasn't required, do you? Julian Martin suggests that the rain gear stayed away on Evesham in 1983. Any other suggestions? John Chenery says that, apart from one very heavy shower, St Richard's Anniversary in 2003 was rain free. And Peter Whipps adds "My recollection of the Norwich pilgrimage (1993) is of zero precipitation during the whole walk. As we finished the last hour or two into Norwich, the temperature dropped giving rise to a small amount of 'condensation' to refresh(?) us".

Which was the smallest hall? There've been a number of small halls, but what really matters is how many people you're trying to squeeze in! The award for the tightest fit has to go to the Othona Community near Burton Bradstock on Buckfast 1 (1980).

Which was the worst accommodation? Difficult one! From memory, it would be a close run thing between the redundant school in Ryde (Glastonbury 1, 1978) and the Woodmead Halls in Lyme Regis (Buckfast 2, 1982). The former hadn't been used for ages and required thorough cleaning before we could get in; the latter (which we'd also used in 1980) was due for demolition. indeed, they had started demolition, but stopped so we could use it (the new hall hadn't been finished in time).

Which was the best accommodation? Danny specialised in top quality accommodation during his tenure, and I managed to find some good halls too, as did our predecessors in the job. But which was best? Rosie and I agree on King Edward VI School's hall in Stratford-upon-Avon on the way to Lichfield in 2000, though the 2a.m. alarm call detracts a bit! Anyway, what makes a good hall?

Which was the scariest night on a pilgrimage? For many this would have been at Michelham Priory on the Sussex Pilgrimage in 1981, when there were bats flying around the converted barn which we were sleeping in.

What was the biggest disaster on a pilgrimage? The theft of half of our boots from outside the hall in Salisbury on our way to Glastonbury in 1978 or the flooding of the hall at Roxwell on the way to Walsingham in 1987 were major practical challenges, but I cannot forget Tim Howlett's death after he left the Buckfast 2 pilgrimage in 1982.

What was the closest "near miss" on the pilgrimage? Probably when the support team arrived at Farnham on the way to Evesham in 1983 to find that all the plumbing in the hall had been stripped out and the place was uninhabitable (and we were there for two nights!). Before the walkers arrived, Mike Simons had organised the hire of an alternative venue, and most the of the walkers were hardly aware of  the change of plan! More literally, Bill had a close thing when a car was intentionally driven at him as the pilgrims crossed the A25 in Borough Green on the way to Canterbury in 1976 (the driver was later prosecuted and convicted).

What was the greatest number of pilgrims staying overnight on a single night? Good question, and I don't know the answer. I know it's over 100, as I remember the first time this figure was exceeded (at Charing on Canterbury 2 I think).

How old were the youngest and oldest pilgrims to walk with us? The youngest is a tricky question, as it depends on the definition! I think I'd give the award to Robert Morwood-Leyland, who came with his parents in a Moses basket, but clearly walked nowhere! As for the oldest, there must be several contenders, but I don't know the answer. Come on, own up!

Which was the toughest pilgrimage? Both of the Walsingham pilgrimages are renowned for being tough: the first was just plain long, the second involved the Roxwell flood. Lindisfarne had the toughest terrain, but the days were a bit shorter.

Which was the easiest pilgrimage? There's no such thing as an easy pilgrimage!

Which was the best pilgrimage? The unanswerable question! Even for an individual, I think this is a difficult question. Many people remember their first pilgrimage fondly, others have the latest pilgrimage clearest in their mind. However, Bill dared to put up a slide after Buckfast 1 captioned "The happiest pilgrimage yet?", and I think few would not put it in their top three. For me, St Chad's was special because of the way it all came together at the end. Others will remember the community that grew out of disaster - stolen boots (Salisbury, 1978) or flooded hall (Roxwell, 1987). Patrick reported the welcome at Chester in 2004 as particularly special, and in 2005 at Winchester we were given a standing ovation by the choir as we processed into Evensong in the Cathedral.

What's the best thing about the pilgrimage? ALL OF IT!