Yesterday we went punting ...

[tamaranth]

P making a splash
Originally uploaded by tamaranth

... and swimming: quite a lot of swimming in my case.

Here is spidermonkey hitting the water. The Cam, upstream, is remarkably clean and pleasant to swim in.

We had a Kings punt, which does not come with paddles, as will become increasingly evident. There was punting (harder work than expected), being punted (much more fun), a splendid picnic and some swimming. Then punting back to Cambridge ...

"Oh no, I've lost the pole!"
As the only person still in swimming gear, I volunteered to retrieve it.

"Aaargh!"
and again.

"... T?"
and again.

What have we learnt?
1. It really is faster to swim, even against the current.
2. The Cam is ill-equipped with exits.
2a. Scrambling up a muddy bank is not improved by the presence of waterfowl and their excrement.
3. Splintery punts and M&S swimsuits don't mix.

4. It should be mandatory when punting to be equipped with a harpoon and a live chicken. (See N. Stephenson, The Confusion, for details.)

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

All I can say is that at least you didn't sink the punt. Someone I knew did sink once once, but playing cricket on it.

[surliminal.livejournal.com]

There was the Famous Occasion c 1983 when me, Andrew K, Jonathan and Vicki and sundry others not only sank a King's punt but broke it neatly in half by taking it through the weir at the Anch0r.. beware drinking and punting!!!1 :-) (I still don't quite know how we didn't have to pay for it..)

Also this is the second ref on my FL in 2 days I think to swimming in the Cam, something I definitely didn't now was possible or I'd have tried it!

Sigh. Meanwhile it is NOT heat wave here - bah!

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

I remember that one, too. But it went a little beyond sinking, I think.

[uitlander]

It has been a long time since I have been punting. Or seen the swing. This should be remedied before the Autumn arrives.

[bugshaw.livejournal.com]

Great photo!

[anef.livejournal.com]

Curiously, I too have been swimming in the Cam today. In fact I fell out of a rowing boat (I have been learning to scull, and single sculls are much less stable than bigger boats). Fortunately it was by the boathouses, so was quite shallow and not very muddy. Also, not at all cold.

[tamaranth.livejournal.com]

I was pleasantly surprised by the temperature -- may have to do a little more river-swimming and a little less trekking to beach ...

[easterbunny.livejournal.com]

Excellent. I missed out on punting - I really must rectify that during some future visit!