Our London Group checkpoint this year was 48 miles along the route in the village hall of  Mainstone in Shropshire about 23 miles from Ludlow and 7 miles from Clun.

There were 13 of us, from London Group, gathered together on a Saturday night, at Mainstone community hall in the remotest depths of rural Shropshire. We were cutting up hundreds of bread rolls, cooking a huge cauldron of soup, mixing custard and unwrapping part of an enormous assignment of 500 apple pies, as well as preparing the hall for an onslaught of tired and hungry walkers.

Many of us had spent the previous night in the atmospheric YHA at Clun Mill, along with several of the walkers, and enjoyed the food and hospitality of the White Horse, which was simultaneously hosting the local farmers annual Booze and Blues gig. We had also enjoyed a short circular walk to Bishop's Castle, the nearest local town, up and down along Offa's Dyke and back along the Shropshire Way. An exhilarating 12 miles but 100 miles of constant ascent and descent was another matter. We knew it was going to be a difficult night not only for the walkers but for ourselves.

Before midnight a few of us snatched a bit of sleep, while a couple sneaked off to Bishop's Castle to watch the football (they were sentenced to a hard spell of washing up). Then the first walkers trickled in. By 2am the trickle became a flood. The soup won plaudits 'Best we've ever tasted.' The custard was also very popular. Of course we did have the advantage of both a French and an Italian chef.

It was good to offer food and comfort and the odd hug to our walking friends and many continued refreshed. However many liked us so much they didn't want to move. Many walkers were cold and exhausted and chair-blocking became an issue. At 4am the sugar started to run out and had to be rationed. Disaster as sweet tea was essential. There was no mobile reception but we had two delightful radio buffs with us who kept us in contact with the outside world.

Finally the last walkers having gone through or been removed via the 'Body Bus', we were able to relax and have a sit down breakfast together. We also enjoyed another short walk before finally departing our little corner of Shropshire.

Servicing a checkpoint, in the middle of the night and in the middle of nowhere doesn't sound like the greatest way to spend a holiday weekend but as one member of our group put it 'I can't believe we had so much fun.' OK mopping the floor of the gents urinals was not one of the highpoints of the weekend (note guys the lengths we have to go) but thanks to our 13 London volunteers it was a great weekend and dare I say even more enjoyable than walking 100 miles.

Maybe we will see you again next year at a checkpoint in deepest Hackney.

Clun

Offa's Dyke

The volunteers

Shropshire Way

Mainstone