4th FEB. Nr. BARBURY FORT to A338/B4494. 5th FEB. Bet. A338 and B4494 to STREATLEY YHA

4th FEB. JOSH- Roge woke late at 6.20 , so I got a lie in.Whilst packing up we were slowed by Roge popping to the toilet by the country park and then me going there to wash the pots.The outer tent was quite wet but we took it down anyway.Got walking about 8.10. It was a long boring day, it is amazing how they much slower days go without bics or snacks.All we had was legt over Crunchie Nut cereal, tasty but not as long lasting or wholesome as a nice digestive or custard creams. There was a possibility of a shop just off route in Ogbourne St.George, along a road through the village that met back up with the path.No shop even though it seemed quite a large village, we passed a house with village shop post office, but it was obvious that it was now an ordinary house. Roge did manage to book the hostel in Streatley while I retrieved my hat and headphones from the depths of my sleeping bag. We got back to the path walking along with headphones/radio for a few hours befote Waylands Smithy. Waylands Smithy had been reconstructed but was still impressive with two small chambers you could go in bent over. From the 19th century photos they had re erected the two large stones by the entrance. Near Uffington Camp/ fort we stopped in a corrigated metal sheet sheppherds shelter on metal wheels, pretty old and in a bad way.We ate the last of Crunchy Nut cereal. Very windy and chilly for most of the day, should of worn my snuggie.Very boring in most resoects, saved by the radio. I did spot a barn owl, before the A338. Toward the end of the day Roge ran down the road to get water from the Court Camp Centre , apparently it was £8 each for a pitch there, also a hostel. We were aiming for a pitch area near Baron Wantage monument 2 miles on, however we found a spot beside the track before hand. Lack of meths meant only partly done water for tea and porridge for tea, much needed though. Had an early night but rather uncomfy with slight tummy ache and large stones under me.Along with strong wind and rain that woke me ,I did not sleep well.
5th FEB. Neither of us slept that well. Rain,  sleet the flash and crack of thunder,  and wind shook the tent making it a bellow. I dozed on and off expecting to exit the tent to re-do guy lines. I lay there listening to the wind,  I could hear the gust just before it hit.
I eventually slept from 3 to 5.30 ,on waking the wind had died to a freezing breeze. The tent crackled with its ice coating as I opened the inner zip to get the porridge on. We were very short of meths meaning that I soaked the porridge over night and was able to heat it only to warm as opposed to hot. It did feel hot to us though in such conditions.With wind chill it was -5. We only had a semi  warm mint tea which worked better than ordinary tea.
We were ahead of schedule with me climbing out of tent  at 6.50 , having ensured I pulled boots on and fiddley gaiters in the shelter of the tent, it was cold enough without the hassle of frozen hands doing up zips and tying laces.
We were packed up fairly quick,  I taking tent down as Nowhere finished taking putting on his gaiters in the entrance. Incredibly bitter wind ensuring we kept the Snugpaks on and mountain hats over ears...both important and certainly the Snugpaks were a piece of kit we have been more than happy with, although mines actually made by Montane bought at a car boot.
The walking  started with the sunrise in clear skies as we crossed the B4494 and passed the Baron Wantage monument.
The ground was frozen hard , mud thankfully frozen solid and walking was warm in gloves and hats.  The nature of the track seemed to change in character as we crossed junctions. A mile on decent grassy track,  cross at a junction or road and it would change either to tarmac or chewed up mud by tractor or horse.
Considering we often passed gallops we saw not one horse until a mile from Streatley....not surprising considering the cold wind chill.
The need for a map was not necessary , the plastic Ridgeway signposts led the way,  and as with the previous couple of days the route was straight forward,  a few turns but basically straight on. Views were pretty good,  rolling treeless,  relatively hedgeless, treeless open route. Josh found it boring and walked absorbed in his Radio 1 , now and then pointing out a Red Kite or Buzzard. I would stop and point out something such as Didcot,  and having lived in the area for a few years in my twenties I could relate to the scenary better.
We crossed under the A34,  I kind of hoped we would see a garage to get a bar of choc, but none was available.It is amazing the importance of snacks such as biscuits on a walk, it boosts moral , J suffering from this asking me for a chewing gum which he never does.
The route dipped down to an old railway bridge and disused track, we stopped as J tied his boots and he asked for a packet of noodles to eat as crisps. Either side of the path was massive lakes of flood water connected by a three foot flow on the actual path, a few weeks ago this would of been impassable.
The route,  apart from a couple of slight ups ,descended? positively to a tarmaced road, our first folk of today a couple riding in the opposite direction. The sign of the road meant we only had a couple of miles to Streatley our destination. This put a spring in our steps and we prematurely took off radio earphones. Those last two miles felt like five as we reached the main road.We both felt like we were running on empty.
We walked the short distance to the Streatley Youth Hostel,  a quaint old building by the Goring crossroads, dumped our packs and sought out food and drink.
We walked across the Goring/Streatley bridges,  the same bridge we had walked on when doing the Thames Path on the 19th Jan. , then we had done 2707 miles,  now we were 4 miles short of 3000 miles , almost 300 miles since our last visit.
We walked into Goring, posting a few parcels on route and buying a choc bar and cold drink, I did not drink as what I really wanted was a hot drink. A cafe nearby supplied a decent coffee and baked potatoe with beans, Josh had a tuna pannini....much needed.
We received great news from Joshuas mum Kate,  it would enable us to finish the walk....more details when I do the book. Thank you from us both Kate.
We returned to the hostel where I blogged this and waited in the lounge for the reception to open at 5. I hung a frozen tent out to dry.