EVENTS & NEWS

AOAC Oxford Punting & Pimm’s Day Trip – 14th August 2010 - By Aj

Earlier this summer Dr. Dave and I were chatting about a place we both know well, Oxford (Dave was at Uni there and it’s my hometown)…..and hatched a plan to head there for a day of punting as an AOAC trip.

Dave had mentioned he’d organised punting trips to Oxford before but wasn’t particularly lucky with the weather……and this was to be no exception!!

Emma had informed us the day before that the forecast for that Saturday afternoon in Oxford was MONSOON RAIN!! As this trip involved no prior financial commitments this presented the organisers (Dave & myself) with a real challenge to encourage those who’d said they were interested to actually turn up at the rendezvous point (Tesco car park in Eastville) on the Saturday morning.

In the end 9 of us in total turned up and we headed off in 2 cars….Mike & Adrian kindly offering to drive. Aj’s parents lived in Oxford so he was driving too but was planning to stay overnight in Oxford.

Everyone met up at Magdalen Bridge punt hire in Oxford at 1pm and were surprised to find clear skies and sunshine...ha, ha we thought, those idiotic weathermen had got it all wrong again!! So we enthusiastically boarded 2 punts and off we set gently floated along the river under Magdalen Bridge at past the Botanical Gardens and on towards Christchurch Meadows. It was just as we’d hoped for…..a perfect summer’s day with the magnificent Oxford landscapes awash with glorious sunshine.

Unfortunately our summer idyll was broken a mere 15 minutes into our trip when the skies darkened suddenly and we got soaked in MONSOON RAIN!! Thankfully it only lasted for about 20 minutes and then it was lovely and sunny again…..but some of us got much wetter than others!!

The appointed captains, Dave and Mike gave all of their crew a chance to try punting and Emma on our punt was awarded the prize for most improved beginner….a worthy winner after bravely trying to steer a straight path whilst enduring Dave’s “helpful comments”!!

After 1 hour 15 min of punting people were ready to head to a pub to dry off, quench their thirst and grab a bite to eat. So we headed for the Kings Arms on Broad Street in central Oxford.

A couple of pints, some good food and some exchanging of tales about the days adventures were followed by the group splitting into two…..one half went to check out Exeter College whilst the others headed for shopping in the fabulous Covered Market and  doing a quick trip to Egypt via the Ashmolean Museum.

We all met up again at 6pm at the Kings Arms to bid farewell and everyone (except Aj) headed back to Bristol with the feeling that they were glad they made the effort to come along despite the weather forecast to be rewarded with a wonderful day out with great company!

And here’s what some of the punters had to say…….
 
Mike – “We gather at Tesco on a cloudy morn, outside checking our texts for latecomers or cancels. Nine take to the road, heading east. Arrive, a transfer and a dash visit to the covered market for a bite to eat. Assemble by the river, captains appointed and we are off in the bright sunshine. Like swans gliding over the water and unlike swans gently bumping into the bank/s. It's good to be back on the water.  A few rain drops follow then the sky opens. One crew get wet the other ..............soaked. Our time is soon up, retreat to the pub for beer and food, the rain continues. Two parties split for an hour or more, one museums and shops the other a cultural tour, of Exeter but not the town. We meet again and say goodbye, new friends to meet old friends to greet. Many thanks Aj and Dave”
 
Adrian – “Aj, Dave - Brilliant day, thanks so much for making it happen and stiffening wavering souls in the face of a bit of rain! My memory of the day was Ali bailing out our boats with her strawberry tub! We may have sunk without it!”

Jon – “Thanks from me too. Really enjoyed it!”

Julia – “Hi guys. Thanks for a fun day!”

Mark – “From Bristol to Egypt via the monsoons of Malaysia - a Philias Fogg tour? No, a day punting in Oxford with Aj and friends. Thanks for the expedition! Good fun and great people!”