Day One - Source to Cricklade

Day One We woke to blinding sunshine and a roasting room at 8am. I had called the garage to arrange collection of my now broken car. We took ourselfs to little chef for a simple but delicious breakfast and used the wi fi whilst waiting for the hire car company to find me a car for the day. By 12 noon we had collected a nippy black fiat 500 and were ready to drive to Castle Eaton to leave the car there to collect at the end of our 17.5 mile firat day. We arrived at the source of the Thames after crossing plowed fields and buttercup meadows.  It was in sight, and my what a sight. A dry shallow hollow in the ground marked by a lump of rock and a now dying oak tree. We were glad we had started here as finishing at this point could have been somewhat of a dissapointment.  After the essential photos we set of on our 184 miles. The sun was already high in the sky as by now it was 12 noon. We bumped into a pleasant couple for the midlands out for a days walk. We were warned by one of them that there was a little flooding on the path outside of Ewen. Her husband said she was exaggerating and that it wasn't 'that' bad. We bound of full of adventure. The going was easy or at least it was for me. Fields of freshly cut grass and meadows lay ahead to cause Colin untold battles with his hayfever. We soon walked through Ewan and found a pleasant shady area off the Thames. The path ahead then came clear into view. It was clear for sure,  under a foot of thames water! We stood and deliberated for about ten minutes before I think I convinced Colin we should remove our boots and wade through. I found the cool water quite liberating but I think Colin was fighting with his mind as he paddles the twenty metres. The other side of the hedge were countless water logged fields that meant serious route extensions to get round walking on the drier lumps of grass.  On from here, and after wiping Thames mud from our feet and legs, we reached Keynes country park. This area was made up from lots of diss used pits that now filled with water attached lots of wildlife and people taking a dip I'm the sun. By now we were suitably sticky from the sweat and sun cream. We walked round the nature reserve passing through every conceviable type of pollen which stuck fast to our sun cream and caused great irritation to Colin.  We arrived into Ashton Keyes around 5pm and tucked into what should have been tea but was really lunch since we were so far behind schedule. A charming lady in the village shop sold us a lemon lolly and magnum ice-cream and told us of a hidden bench in the shade at the back of the shop. From here it was a few miles into Cricklade and before long we could see the impressive tower or St. Sampson's church a little over a mile away. Our hearts lifted and then instantly plummeted again when a field later we came accross another flood. This time it was deep and so after searching for a way round we again had to de boot and wade through up to, and beyond our knees this time. We stopped in the meadow opposite and sat in disbelief that we had had to do this again. After our feet had dried we were off again so close to cricklade now we could almost touch it. of cause we came across another flooded field and being trapped again we had to take yet another longer detour to a cycle path into the town finally arriving around 7:30pm.  A quick look round Cricklade and a call in at the shop, before we set off for the last 5 miles to Castle Eaton. We asked a resident if we were likely to find a flooded path again and we set off on a promise of a dry path. Other than lots of nettles and inscect bites there wasn't much to mention of the last few miles. We just made it back before it got totally dark. As it reached 10pm light failed us and we reached the car. There was nothing to do but collect our car from the start of the day and settled for a fast food supper considering the 11pm time and the desperate need for a shower and  bed.