Walkies, no talkies

Self-confessed chatterbox Christabel Smith set off on a silent pilgrimage – could she stay shtum?

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Before embarking on a silent pilgrimage a few weeks ago, I conducted an informal poll on my Facebook page. 'About to walk for eight miles without saying a word. Thoughts?'

I'm a self-confessed chatterbox, so it was no surprise when dubious family and friends reacted to the post with laughing and gasping emojis.

Months earlier, I'd met Dawn, who worked for the British Pilgrimage Trust. She said the trust was modernising pilgrimages and had a 'bring your own beliefs' policy for people of all faiths (and none). When she mentioned a day-long silent pilgrimage from the village of Chilham to Canterbury, close to where I live in Kent, I was intrigued. Could I manage seven hours without yakking? My husband's raised eyebrow told me all I needed to know about his opinion. So I signed up, hoping I would prove everyone wrong.

Sociable sort

As the time neared, my trepidation grew. A friend, also the sociable sort, said she'd come too. 'I'll bring Post-it notes in case of emergency,' she told me.