Punting

Punting is a British tradition where one takes a pole and pushes a boat along on a shallow river. It is complete with umbrellas and a little picnic of strawberries and wine. So far, I have punted three times.

1. I hopped in the first time with my friends, Danny, Johnny and Drew. We started at 7 and got back at 9. This is technically 19-21 but I am not good at that time. We literally explored everything. Danny and Drew like to stand and pretend they are Washington crossing the Delaware.

2. I think it is so fun because everyone, young and old, can punt. I thought that it would be complicated or heavy, but it is rather easy to get your pole out of the mud. I also found that the whole steering thing is super easy when you have been a coxswain in a past life. I was about to go do homework when the punting trip distracted me. Suddenly I was in a boat. We got to travel up the River Cam and past all of the colleges. I had punted with the guys, but this time I actually tried it. We also had a fiasco where two of the punts tried to race (its like watching snails) and my friend Matt fell into the water. This is also something that happens in punting.

3. This was after the first formal dinner. We get five total formal dinners at Cambridge where everyone dresses up and gets served by waiters. After dinner, we daringly decided to go night punting. We put seven people in this tiny boat and it did rock a bit. However, the funniest moment is when this big guy Drew does not see a low bridge in front of him and wipes out in the water. He was our punter, so we had to rescue the stick later. This is unfortunately where my phone landed in a boat puddle. I am on my third phone. One to punting, two to a raving drunk Scotsman thief and now I protect the final one with my life.