Relaxing Day

We travelled down to Oxford  by bus from the end of the road. The bus service around here is excellent with buses arriving every fifteen minutes. I got my jacket potato fix in the Spa Cafe near Carfax Tower, then we meandered around the shops. We got the bus back to Sainsbury’s Superstore in Kidlington to forage for food to take back to the boat. The bus shelter was odd, it had two bars on which to park yer bum while you wait, a bit like bird perches! We didn’t mind that the afternoon was rather wet and drizzly as we relaxed aboard, reading books and of course our forums.

More Food for thought.

Inside the undercover market there are many little individual specialist shops. This is one of my favourites, you are absolutely spoilt for choice of cheeses here. This afternoon Milly M passed “go” and collected some cake for tea. Maffi is on his way down to see the new bridge being put into place over the canal and catch a few images. We are looking forward to him joining us for lunch on his way back tomorrow. Quite a few boats on the move today, mainly hire boats zig-zagging their way northwards.

Food

Oxford is awash with posh nosh places which all appeared to be busy. There are also many take-aways and people eating on the hoof. We were feeling hungry but didn’t fancy paying the high prices so went into Marks + Sparks for a snack and to use the loo. Considering all the eateries and drinkeries in the city there is a surprising lack of lavatorial facilities!

We drooled over these exotic rather expensive but exquisitely designed cakes in Patisserie Valerie as we passed by.

Then the drizzly rain set in which made this little alleyway shine. Time for a quick exit we thought.

Oxford Heads

We returned from a walk around the city with cricks in our necks, as nearly all the stone carved masterpieces are placed high up on the buildings. My favourite one was the Elephant. This building was also adorned with an elegant elephant weathervane.

I wonder how long it took the stonemasons to carve all these spectacular heads? Anyone know what the TB might have stood  for? There were also some smaller heads along the bottom of this window.

We walked along the High Street as far as the bridge and there was an abundance of heads on the building opposite the botanical gardens. I think I photographed  most of them and none of them are the same. I like the fine lines of this man and the simple little ventilator on this one. We looked down on the punts which all had a fair amount of rainwater in them, so there is still work to be done even when they are not being hired out.

             Some are interesting whimsical gargoyles.    

Feeling very weary we winged our way home on our bus passes. Just after the Squirrel was lit and the dinner was started it absolutely tipped with rain. how lucky was that?  The wind is gently rocking the boat and the canal has now turned brown with all the mud it is carrying south.       

Oxford

Today was a milestone, reached by many that have gone before, the using of a bus pass for the first time. I have been ‘qualified’ for a little while but had not managed to arrange for one.

So off to Oxford, a saving each way of £2:80, that’s nearly two pints of beer.

Just a few of items that caught my eye:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you ever visit Oxford remember to look up, there is so much to see. (lots more pictures taken but aware of bandwidth)

Just one more, especially for ‘Maffi’