Push!

This weekend we had fantastic weather and this means one thing in Cambridge: punting!

You don't know what that means? Well, neither did I, but it is a big thing here (if you search for it in Wikipedia the first image is actually at Cambridge...). It is basically trying to push yourself from a boat into the cold river with the help of a long stick. Some side effects of this might be the fact that you move a small boat forward that is carrying your friends, but that only happens if you fail at loosing the balance. 

It actually looks quite safe and when you see the professional tour guys do it it looks easier than walking. But when you get on the platform at the end of the boat (that luckily is well varnished so the friction does not prevent you from getting into the water) and you feel how much it is shaking you don't feel that confident anymore. 

Don't let my reassuring smile fool you, the pole is heavier than it looks like and of course completely wet (eg. slippery). The main goal is to get the pole into the water fast enough so that it touches the ground before you are already to far to be able to push and then push the boat forward with it. A motion that in accordance to relativity can also be perceived as you pushing yourself off the boat with that stick considering the lack of friction on the feet. But that is of course not enough, because you have to push in the right direction or you'll end up zig-zagging from shore to shore as graciously as I did and you also have to try to avoid as many boats as you can (because that Cam was PACKED).  

When you are lucky enough that your friends don't trust your punting skills anymore you can just sit back and enjoy the bypassing College buildings that are really fascinating!

On the sides of the rivers people sit down to watch the punters and make sure that it is embarrassing enough if you fail.

Surprisingly not many people actually fall into the river. I even managed to get out of there dry, too... Not that anyone would have expected it, since I am almost a professional now! Give me two more weeks and I will be able to punt with one hand and hold my drink in the other like the guides do!