High school reunion at Oxford

Fridays
It was my sin that nailed him there. It was my cross He had to bear.

Our first bus trip out of London! After leisurely getting up and getting ready, we did our first overnight backpacking trip. All the way an hour and a half north to Oxford. There, my friend Dan P. from high school hosted us in student housing at St. Katherine’s College. Special thanks to Andrea for letting us be in her home when she wasn’t even there and for lending us her husband who was a wonderful tour guide. After a bike tour of the High Street and several of the more interesting streets, we ate dinner at The Head of the River, literally. We also met a couple of Canadians who came down and taught us a new board game. Even though Bree and I didn’t win, we still thoroughly enjoyed the game – Settlers of Rotan. So much in fact, if it hadn’t been one in the morning, we would have played another game right then.

Saturday
For the first time since we moved into our flat, we woke up in a bed other than our own. And did we ever wake up to a wonderful adventure. We explored a half dozen of the colleges at Oxford and climbed a very narrow staircase to the top of a tower to look out over a British College Station, if you will. Only the “New College” at Oxford is like 500 years old – and that’s probably a tad older than Zachary and Harrington.

We went to the covered market and we had our first pastey – a filled pastry that they apparently initially developed as a quick lunch for the farmers in the field. Kind of like a luxurious hot pocket that has real meat inside.

We learned a little bit about rowing – apparently in some races, all you’re trying to do is catch up to and “bump” the boat that’s ahead of you – and then they rub it in the face of their rivals the rest of the year.

And Dan P. is quite the chef, serving some wonderful filled pasta with his own sauce. The Canadians contributed apple crisp, yum yum, and of course brought the board game back.

And then it was back to our home – we have to gradually try being away longer. Whew – what a wonderful day. We apparently had the best weather that Oxford has seen in a while, so it was a great weekend for a day trip.