Peter and Dennis, with their horse Marcus, and Toby the donkey, leave St Cross on the first stage of their journey to Canterbury. They encounter the urgency of rush-hour traffic near Winchester, but soon the serenity of the riverbank and the tranquility of the fields where they meet the river keepers and the farm workers, restore their spirits. With only the occasional mishap to mar their day, they eventually reach their overnight stop near Alresford.