R&R day in Oxford
The hirer agrees to replace the double kayak with two singles (full marks to Ruksport for their patience with difficult/demanding customers). However since they wouldn’t arrive until 2 pm, we decide to make the day a rest day and enjoy a second night in our own beds.
I for one need the break, feeling so weak this morning that I‘m not sure I can continue. Seems I have blackened two toenails through impact pressures inside the kayak, that’s apart from the various cuts, bruises and scrapes to the legs that are normal to this kind of activity.
A day of leisure helps however, and we spend an afternoon testing out the new single kayaks. A great improvement I think – we can each concentrate on our own paddling style. Mine suits me very well – it looks a very long, slow stroke, but it is a pace I can keep up all day.
While exploring some of the local backwaters we attempt to shoot a weir, something I haven’t done for over 20 years. An audience of local boys seem to find the escapade vastly amusing – we each get a cheer as we go over the edge. I thought we did rather well, even managed to stay (mostly) dry.
Very good. We’ll continue in the morning.
Go to Day 6: Oxford – Appleford
© Philip Hunt 2020
