Mole, bored with the chores of Spring cleaning, decides against it and heads out into the English Countryside instead; where he comes across The River and his friend Ratty. Soon after, he is introduced to Toad of Toad Hall, whose obsessive but fickle mind has given up boating for horse carts; until he comes across an even newer, flashier and speedier means of transport: motorcars. Later, after entering the Wild Wood against Rat’s advice, Mole and Rat come across Badger’s home. Inside, the three talk of Toad’s reckless driving and decide that something drastic must be done to stop him, before the feckless animal ruins himself and the name of all animals.