Punting Along The Backs of Cambridge Colleges

This past Saturday we took Ana punting for the first time. In fact it was the first time for many of our friends....David and Giullem who came to visit us from Barcelona. Our friends from Finland (Sanna, Jonne,Aada) had never been punting. But our Polish friends (Martyna, Piotr,Tymek) and Chinese-American friends (Jane, Richard, Abagail) were old pros at it by now since they have had lots of visitors SO we made of day of it and rented 3 punting boats.

Joshua is now with us for the rest of the summer but he is an old pro at riding along the river. We went before 12 in the morning because it was less busy and less hot. It takes around 2 hours to punt the whole length of backs of the colleges. Weekends can get quite crowded with all the tourists visiting and one of the great things to do while you are in Cambridge is to punt along the back of the Cambridge Colleges because it is so picturesque.



We are at the beginning of the river and Ana was having a snack before we started punting.


Andrew is quite good at punting...but then you would expect it as he was born and raised in Cambridge.



Sanna, Aada and Tymek, Martyna (L-R) passing us by on their punting boats.


David got invited onto Jane and Richard's punting boat before he realised he was going to be the punter...he thought was going to ride along instead of actually having to work! You can see that Jane is helping him paddle.


David taking a rest and we are still at the beginning of the river...not even close half way finished! It's hard work being a punter.


Richard, Abagail and Jane enjoying the scenery as well as being punted along.


Kings College Chapel which was complete by Henry VIII. It is worth it if you ever get a chance to visit inside, it's very beautiful. Even better if you can go for a music concert there.


Joshua enjoying the ride with Piotr in the background punting quickly ahead of us.


Ana enjoyed being with Josh and Giullem on the punting boat. Here we are at the end of the river so have the punt our way back. It took 1 hour to get here so another hour to get back to the boat house. Both boys got to try punting and did pretty well.


David finally enjoying the ride back rather than the work of having to punt.



It is nice to have a picnic with you so that you can eat and drink as you are being punted down the river.


Ana, Aada, Tymek, Piotr and Sanna sat onboard the horsey for a ride.


Abagail, Tymek, Ana and Aada
After punting we took the kids to the Lammas park which is next to the punting boats and had a picnic under the trees. It was a hot day but lovely when you can find shade under the trees. Lammas park has so many slides, swings and rides for the kids that they can play there for hours and then when they get hot and tired they can have an ice cream. Riding horsey is one of their favorite things to do.