Rest day, Ravenstor Mansion, day 17 (has it really been 17 days on the road?)

    Actually got up for breakfast. Ravenstor is like a hotel; pop in your orders and some poor volunteer has to deliver your food, as requested, to your table. We sat with our feet up trying not to stare at parents trying to cope with unruly toddlers. Played the Wii for the first time ever today, simply because they have one here. It’s situated in a cushy games room, in the basement. They also have vending machines down here, so I sat eating chocolate as Robert got beaten at every game by a nine-year old named Terry (who was very fast at mental arithmetic). There was also a giant Jenga set in the basement, which was far too tempting to balance. Sadly it collapsed on me, teaching me a valuable lesson: giant Jenga is only for giants. I now have a cut on my forehead and a sizable lump by my temple; I had only been bending over to pick up more blocks when I turned around I got an unexpected face full of pain.
    Had a decent casserole for dinner. The girl from reception is apparently an acting waitress too; I hope she gets paid for her work (she even offered to wash some of our clothes). Most people at this hostel are really easy going and interactive. We met a girl named Xena and played pictionary with a mental health nurse from Northampton.
    My knee is exceedingly swollen. It’s been getting steadily worse since Settle, and now it feels rusty as if something inside is grinding with every flex.
    The four of us had a chat about the pace we should go at as a group. This resulted in the inevitable schism, which is sad since James and Euan are good company; however, necessary since Robert and I go at a more intense pace. We didn’t leave the hostel today, but rather enjoyed its large living rooms and the chance to rest up. It feels more like we’re making progress south now, the hostel visitors have fewer northern accents.