Day Five - Abingdon to Wallingford

Day Five 13.5 miles was all we had to do today. Easy peasy and Colin had set the pace determined we finished by 3pm to have time to visit national trust property. We set of at 9:30 and headed east into the bright morning sunshine.   Abingdon was our starting point and  we bought sandwiches before we left and took photos of the very impressive county hall at the centre of the town. Out across the sports ground we soon reached Culham lock and Sutton bridge. Some big open expanse of nothing and then we reached Day's Lock built in 1789 and now the main gauging point for the flow of water on the river. But more important just a little further from here was little Wittenham and the home of the annual world Pooh Sticks championships!  I need to get myself down for this.  Shillingford bridge the final bridge of the day before we arrived in Wallingford and just in time. Poor Colin had dragged his feet the last three miles in determined effort to get to the end with a brave face. As his reward we headed off to Basildon Park in an air conditioned car. Basildon is an impressive Georgian mansion extensively restored for twenty five years. We parked in the shade and decided upon a nice ice lolly to walk up to the house with. Then we had tea and cake and once those priorities were complete we actually looked at the house. A true example of make do and mend from war time. Also the most insane collection of shells I have ever seen in one room. It was like a room grotto, tacky but incredible. We were too exhausted for the gardens but sat on a bench looking down over the thames and to the path we would walk/hobble tomorrow.  Our evening meal was in the Old Post Office restaurant in Wallingford. Food was amazing! Power Cut when trying to pay was not. Also it was entertaining to watch the table next to use have a twenty minute argument about a béarnaise sauce! From hear it was quickly off to the hotel as we were faking asleep. Of cause we found time for rocky road and Eaton mess before that.