The Healing Powers of Beer.

We're half way! What a milestone. We made it to Kendal and at long last we have a day off. It seems so long ago now since we set off... will loved ones still remember me or even recognise me? I'm tanned now and half the weight with a long beard. I've been at sea with only a football called Wilson to talk to. I might not fit in! It's at this point Gaz says I'm confusing my life with the plot of Cast Away, but I don't know what he's talking about.

We start the day from Wigan feeling brand new and with extra strength. It must have been the shorter day yesterday, or the pint we had in Liverpool. That was it, its was the beeeer! We must drink more beer. It seems to be helping.

We take The Liverpool to Leeds Canal cycling up this fantastic path beside lock after lock after lock after lock. It never ends, it's quite a sight. Then back onto the A6 for a bit, being wary, as some bits are supposed to be very busy. Lucky for us the route I made up takes us past the better bits onto quieter roads.

It's at this point I must explain my 'route.' As well as having regular A road maps to navigate I have a sport watch that I've loaded routes onto to help us. These routes are made up of suggestions from essentially a Strava type account and other cyclists make up these suggestions. So some of them are good and some are definitely 'Off Piste!' The only thing to follow on the watch is what we have dubbed 'The Squiggly Line,' like the squiggly line Stewie from Family Guy writes a poem about.

A quick stop in Preston for a fuel up and then through glorious cycle paths to Lancaster to stop for a coffee and soak up the magnificent sunshine.

We arrive at Kendal to our first Hostel experience with a very warm welcome and we are made instantly at home. We are there 10 mins and we have a cup of tea in hand, have met the dog and already have local knowledge of our route out on Monday.

With a day off tomorrow we are going to have a few of those healing Beers and a game on the free Pool table.

Total distance covered: 511 miles

To finish I thought I would put a picture of our home made flag as it currently looks. We have been collecting hand prints from all of those who put us up, as a nod to the Millions Hands Project, an initiative to involve half a million Scouts in one of four charities. The idea being as a collective we have a greater effect. The logo is designed by Geneva, one of my Scouts and it includes both Charities Logos. I think you'll agree that it looks pretty cool.