Punting

How To Punt (Apparently) 

Yesterday, I stumbled into an opportunity to go punting. Punting is an English tradition, where a number of people sit in a "punt"  which is a weirdly flat boat, and one person uses this long pole to push the boat along by pushing off the bottom of a shallow river. There is also stupidly short paddle that isn't that useful, especially since there is only one of them. I started out our punting expedition, thinking that since I've had a fair amount of boat experience (heck, my dad and I even built a boat when I was 10) it would come easier to me.

 I was terrible at punting. The poll (which in this case was a metal rod about twice as tall as me, hollow, thankfully, since we ended up dropping it into the river) was exceedingly heavy and hard to maneuver. My friend Steph was much better than me, and I was better at "steering" (or counter steering) with the paddle in the front.

It was the most beautiful day, and a really fun experience...but I want to hone my skills so we don't end up aimlessly floating horizontally down a river.

Attempting to punt. On further inspection, I think the secret is standing on the super-unsteady looking back part of the boat, and pushing the boat from the way back, as opposed to the side. 

My more natural inclination 

Pretty surroundings 

Jack, Steph, and Jenn.