My travels continue through the curious place I mentioned in the last post.
But there seems to be a problem with my camera now. Every photo has this white, dusty stuff spread across the frame. No amount of cleaning will eliminate it.
Below is a view of the river. They seem to fancy (see, I'm learning the local language) these shallow boats a lot. But I have no idea how they're propelled. There are no proper oarlocks (which they refer to as 'rowlocks'), no sails, and no motors attached.
And I couldn't suss out by observing just how the boats are driven, as for some reason no one was using the boats today.
I wonder if any readers can figure out what town this is. There's a major university here. JP attended a major university which he said was not the one here. He described his university as nearly heaven on earth, and kept referring to this as 'the other place'.
I always thought 'the other place' was filled with fire and brimstone, but that is decidedly not the case here.
Update, sometime a little later:
Well, now this duck has appeared on the dock, and doesn't appear to be able to get comfortable. It's buried its head under a wing and seems to be waiting for things to improve. I assure you it's not dead, but merely sleeping. Lovely plumage.
The white dusty stuff is cosmic rays. Makes it hard to pick up the local radio via ones tooth fillings.
ReplyDeleteI knew it would take a photographer to explain this.
ReplyDeleteThe only radio stations I can pick up on my fillings all have the same basic name, with a different number added at the end so that you can tell them apart.
It is indeed the other place.
ReplyDeleteThe university that is nearly heaven on earth is where Newton, Darwin, JP and I were educated. The other place is where Rupert Murdoch and "that bloody woman" went.
At the university that is nearly heaven on earth they propel those shallow boats with a pole while bravely standing on the platform at one end. At the other place they timidly stand in the well of the boat at the other end while poking a stick in the water to try and make the boat go.
Every year there is a boat race, cleverly titled The Boat Race, between the university that is nearly heaven on earth and the other place, to decided which is the best place. The university that is nearly heaven on earth has won The Boat Race more times than the other place, has the longest consecutive streak of wins, holds the course record, and won it last year.
The other place tends to be full of American tourists because it is an easy and pleasant walk from the small hotel in Belgravia where all the American tourists stay. The people at the university that is nearly heaven on earth don't mind at all that most American tourists go to the other place.
I'm actually planning on attending The Boat Race this year.
DeleteBut the spectator crowds are said to be formidable. And you know how unruly Londoners can be. Taking a tip from Buff Staysail, I was thinking of renting a wetsuit and swimming out onto the river to get a better look.
Do you think anyone would mind?
I think it's all about the drinking. The boats will go past you in a few seconds. Or you could watch it on BBC1.
DeleteO Docker - Please note the following excerpt from the official website regarding the 2012 competition, which was a win for Tillerman's crew. I understand they will be prepared to harpoon any swimmers this year.
Delete2012 Race Times: The race was stopped shortly after Chiswick Steps due to a swimmer on the course, therefore there was a long pause (of over 30 minutes) before the race was restarted. The actual elapsed time for the light blue winners was 48 minutes 11 seconds, however the finsh judge Ben Kent adjudicated the final time to be the consolidated time the crews actually raced, hence the winning time is recorded as 17 minutes 23 seconds.
I don't think harpoons are used, Mojo.
DeleteIf the teams want to move anyone out of their paths, they just swat at them with their oars. The team from 'the other place' tried that last year against the team from the place that is nearly heaven, with limited success.
And I don't think the proper term is 'oars', either.
Another very confusing thing about this place is that nothing seems to be named what you think it should be.
You should have been in training for your trip by watching Downton Abbey.
DeleteI was referring to the race boat officials as to the hurling of harpoons. The oarsmen are too busy worrying about the other boat to notice the flotsam and jetsam on the course.
Delete'Oars' is a perfectly correct term. Or 'blades', if you like.
BTW, I am happy to report that the Bulldog Rowing Club eight will be competing in the Henley Masters Regatta (55+ bracket) this July! I am really looking forward to it!
Wow Mojo. I'm impressed. I hope Buff Staysail and Sassi will be covering the Masters Regatta. I'm almost tempted to arrange a reunion of the 1968 May Bumps Queens' College 7th boat to give you a run for your money.
DeleteGreat news, Mojo. Everyone assures me this white, dusty problem should be cleared up by July.
DeleteBut I'd bring a spare camera just in case.
By all means, Tillerman, gather your Queens' College mates and enter! You will be two brackets up from us in age, and I think the competition may thin a bit there, at least for the eights. When soliciting interest from your lads, be sure to remind them that it's only 1k meters. Much more appealing for senior masters than the 3 mile course we slog through every year at the Head of the Charles. On the other hand, we will probably row it 6-7 strokes per minute higher down the course at Henley. Ouch.
DeleteThanks, O Docker, for the assuring weather advisory. The white stuff and the temperatures that bring it might really spoil the enjoyment of a Pimms Cup or two, or ... [many] Yum
So you think we have a chance to win? We were only bumped on 3 of the 4 days in 1968.
DeleteUnfortunately the Henley Masters is on the same weekend as the Newport Regatta which is a bit of a conflict for me. Mojo, do you think you could get those chaps at Henley to change their little race to a more convenient date please?
I think past a certain point in life, all we can really count on is our delusions.
DeleteQuite right, O Docker. I think that point is about 500 meters into the race.
DeleteDandruff. You can buy shampoo that will control this problem.
ReplyDeleteOh, is that all it is?
DeleteAt first, I thought it was something serious, like the heartbreak of psoriasis.
I believe the collective term is a bunch of punts propelled by a load of rowlocks(but I could have misheard)
ReplyDeleteI understand that punts are not for kissing in, but I could have misheard.
ReplyDeleteare you sure that duck isn't nailed to that dock?
ReplyDeleteI'm less and less sure of things the more time I spend here. They probably don't even call them ducks - they could be 'water hens' or 'river boffins' or something even sillier. I did see 'local pigeon' on the menu at the inn where I'm now staying.
DeleteHow do you think that would be received in Brooklyn?
Where is the small inn where you are now staying O Docker? Can you do any easy and pleasant walks from there?
DeleteI think it's called Munchkin, or maybe it just sounds like 'Munchkin'.
DeleteEveything here is at least 500 years old, including the plumbing. The roads are only wide enough to walk on, but people insist on driving on them anyway. If you meet someone coming the other way, you have to back up until the next town.
Every second shop, uh, sorry, I mean shoppe, is a tea shoppe where all of the cream has somehow gotten clotted.
Don't let them fool you. It was all created by Disney in the last 20 years to attract American tourists. You don't think real English people would put up with roads and plumbing and spelling and cream like that for 500 years do you?
Delete