Friday was our first day's walking together, and what a delight it was. Pam managed to turn it into an extended shopping expedition - we have an agreement that if we go past a thrift (charity) shop that's open, we go in - and spent half the day walking with three rolls of fabric over her shoulder. They were a huge bargain, so she's going to mail them home. We must have presented a bizarre spectacle.

The other thing she's carrying is some sprigs of eucalyptus which she picked. Like me she's obsessed with all the exotic trees and plants here in California, and we have to subject every garden we pass to intensive critical analysis. This makes for a slow journey, but we only have to do ten miles a day.

Jack is joining us on the walk today, and we're really looking forward to seeing him.