Flood!

This is the path that I cycle every day into the city centre. We call it the "marsh path" because it's surrounded on both sides by marsh. This week, the marsh has completely overflowed, and the path has been completely flooded by our recent torrential rains. The water on the path is about 12 inches deep in places! I finally broke down today and bought a pair of wellies (Wellington boots, green rubber knee boots like you sometimes see fishermen wearing--most people here own a pair for sloshing around in the perma-mud in the autumn and winter and spring).

But for the first couple of days, before I got the wellies, the only thing to do was take off your shoes and socks, roll up your pants legs, and slosh through. On the first day, I had to ring my bell at some swans who were gliding across the path in front of my bike! I was Unfortunately, I didn't pay attention to my poor bike, and my bearings are creaking now... so I'll have to take everything apart and dry it out and grease it up again. Sigh.

This is the park on the other side of the path called "Parson's Pleasure." See the signpost in the center of the photo? On the FAR side of that sign is the River Cherwell. Everything on THIS side of the sign (between the photographer and the sign) is supposed to a grassy park. At the moment, though, it's become an extension of the River Cherwell. It was funny to see swans and ducks and marsh hens swimming around the part of the park where you used to walk the dog.

Here's a lovely bench you can wade out to and enjoy a picnic on, if you've got your wellies on. Of course, in a few days when the river goes back to normal, you'll be able to walk out to it in your tennis shoes again.