Sunday Roast Paddle: The Plough

The day started well with a relaxing paddle up to Osney Lock with Jen, Chris, Sarah, Adam, Sue L, Tom, Emma and Scott. The sun was shining bright and the temptation to pick juicy blackberries from the river side was too much as lunch time was drawing closer. Chris spotted a cherished antique floating in the Oxford canal (a VHS of 'Westlife On Tour') and proceeded to attach it to his boat...perhaps saving it for a rainy day!!!

The temperature continued to rise and our skin sizzled as we 'melted' in the beer garden of 'The Plough Inn' in Wolvercote. Tom and Adam braved a Sunday Roast despite the heat whilst the rest of us opted for more cooling choices such as salad or Chris' Ploughmans which included a baguette the size of a limb!

After many rounds of drinks, we decided to set off but not before a quick play on the rope swing! Jen took us on the 'scenic route' back which we now understand as the nutty option as we found ourselves 'limboing' under low lying shrubs, thrusting ourselves over branches to calls of 'just shag it!' and squeezing through narrow sections of Oxford's backwaters. Along the way, Chris, Jen and Tom decided to cool down from all the energetic pursuits of the day by having a water fight; Sarah often getting soaked in the cross fire!! Jen found herself an unwelcome visitor as a persistent spider clung to the front of her boat! Sue L hit jackpot as she found some Isis treasure in the form of a fluorescent, nearly new football ideal for a game of water polo! As we neared the main body of the Thames, the adventures didn't stop there as we paddled under the series of tunnels near the 'Head of the River' pub, dodging spikes, bushes and a deserted punt boat. A leisurely paddle back to the Scout hut followed and concluded a highly enjoyable and beautiful day on the river. Back at the hut, talk soon moved on to discussing the eagerly awaited Isis summer ball, which we now know was a storming success. It seems like, here at ISIS, the fun never stops (*sorry for the cheese; couldn't resist*)!

- Sarah

Photos by Jen.