Up the Lazy River - and Back Down Again

 SK arose early today to take the sisters into London. They didn't have to be there until 11, but SK always worries about getting a parking spot. Underneath Hyde Park Chapel is a parking lot, that has spaces for about 12 cars, but on busy days 16 to 18 might crowd in. The problem with that is that no one can get out until the last one to park leaves. 

He drove them in, no doubt entertaining them with all kinds of stories and jokes. He stayed in the chapel waiting an hour for the meeting to begin, sat through the training meeting with the young elders and sisters, then helped load up the car (good thing I didn't go- he had to put luggage in the front passenger seat), and brought the sisters safely back to Oxford.

He came in late in the afternoon and took a nap. 

At 5:30, we walked a mile to the head of the river where we boarded a small boat, shaded with a canopy. At six, our young pilot pulled out on the Thames, and we were off - traversing Oxford by water. It was supposed to be a 2 1/2 hour ride, but was nearly 3 hours. Even though it has been hot and humid all day, the boat ride was pleasant, and we had a breeze most of the time.

Although we stayed right in Oxford the entire time, it felt as though we were out in the wilds of England, until we hit a spot in Port Meadow where students were gathered to swim. There was a giant and graceful ancient tree with a rope dangling into the water. We watched as several launched themselves out over the river, screaming wildly. It was hot today, and everyone out on the river was there for relief. 

I must say, I can't remember when I have seen such tiny swim suits. We saw several young women who from the back looked like they were wearing a string around the top, and a string around their waist....thongs have reached a new high or low.  Their entire bottoms were exposed. There comes a point where you wonder why they bother with putting on anything at all. Three small patches of fabric. I am getting old.

We passed cows, geese, swans and ducks, all equally comfortable with walking or swimming humans.

The only one who wasn't, was an obstreperous old goose who took exception to the fact that we weren't throwing him food. He honked at us several times, even swimming after us to scold us further.

Part of the boat cruise deal was a picnic lunch. It was packed in a lovely rattan picnic box. On our table was a bottle of water and a decanter of lemonade. Inside the basket was a container with three kinds of sandwiches, two individual quiches, a little bowl of wonderful strawberries, and four scones with two containers of rich creamy butter and two of strawberry jelly.

Look at these fat geese watching us cruise by.

I enjoyed it immensely, but SK must have gotten the memo that real men don't eat quiche, and he concluded on his own that real men don't eat scones. It seemed such a shame to not eat them, but there was too much for me.

Around 9, we walked home down a river path, past Bill's hangout, nodded to the backyard castle and home. 

It is midnight now and the humidity is beginning to climb again, where it will peak in the mid-90's somewhere around sun rise. I'll get through tomorrow, and then there is a promise of relief from the heat, and hopefully the humidity.