I am the least fitted of our group nowadays for uphill stretches and only a fraction of the three stone overweight I carry was shed in perspiration but Alum Bay and the excellent value ice-cream there were some reward for those struggling efforts.
Back over Tennyson Down with its imposing monument to the great laureate included the second lunch stop after which it was downhill all the way. That didn't necessarily mean easy because the last couple of miles on the flat were a delicately interwoven composition of aching feet and running on empty. Although not wishing to take any pleasure in the discomfort of others, I was at least consoled to hear of the specific aches and pains of others to realize that I was not alone. 12 miles must be the giddy limit for my walking capacity these days.
So, the rewards were roughly commensurate with the pain at the time and once it is all over, one appreciates it the more.
But the day had a further highlight in store. Not even capable of the challenge of a late evening bottle of Merlot, I settled horizontally to enjoy once more a couple of episodes of The Office which kept me up long enough to see Chic's performance at Glastonbury.
My favourite act from over 30 years ago delivered what a memorable set, as good as any live performance I've seen for a long time and, I imagine, the best thing I've ever seen from Glastonbury. On the other channel, and presumably on a different stage at the same time, the Arctic Monkeys were grinding through their dismaying routine of indie posturing. There was simply no comparison. Nile Rodgers is a blinding talent, continually renewing his minimal but glorious deadpan dance music. I had as much of a disco as I could while supine and clapped out. Quite glorious.
