h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

When I went punting I got the pole stuck in the bottom of the Cam and we had to paddle back to pick it up.

Sounds like you had a time, Hyp. I hadn't realised how much stuff you did on your tour.

I did have fun that day. There was no question that I would love Oxford. I am a bit jealous of all the people who have had the opportunity to study there. It must be a fabulous experience.

A got the pole caught in some bushes and it was a tad tricky getting us going again. I think it's a hoot that Oxford and Cambridge have different polling styles. Talk about your old school rivalries. One poles from the front and the other from the rear.

The next column will be about Hidcote, then I'll finally be getting around to the day I spent with you in Haworth and Bradford.

And you notice I got the column about Oxford written without mentioning Inspector Morse even once.

I think "poling" is the word you want. Polling is what market researchers do.

Oxford give you an oar as well, according to your article. Cambridge didn't.

Oops. Thanks for pointing that out, Bagpuss.

Yes, they gave us an ore to use. It actually came in handy. None of those at Cambridge, huh? I wonder who decided that there should be a difference in the way you punt in the two places? That would make an interesting article if the information is available out there somewhere.

The difference probably came about by chance, but with the rivalry between the universities I bet they each insisted their way was the right way, and made fun of people doing it the other way. History's so easy to understand when you imagine the groups involved are petulant children.

Sorry Hypatia, not only am I lurking, I'm a lurker from the Other Place.

They usually do give you an oar when you're punting in Cambridge, except they call it a duck-bat for some strange (and possibly cruel) reason. I think "petulant children" is a good description - I'm sure that's the reason for Cambridge having "courts" instead of "quads", too.

Out of curiosity, how do you punt in an Oxford style? How do you steer if you're standing at the front of the punt?

Hi Aurora.

I'm not really sure about the punting question. I didn't try it myself. And am only passing along what I heard when we got back to the boathouse. That it is done differently in the two cities. Perhaps that is what the oarsman is for. But in the movies you just see one person with a pole.

We need someone with some actual expertise to answer your question.

Well don't ask me. I'm just the bloke in the photo with the pole in my hands.

As far as my vague uni memories of the punting rivalry go - both universities do the punting standing at the back of the boat so you can use the pole to steer as it trails in the water behind the boat. The difference I think is which end of the boat you call the back. One lot stand on the flat bit that protrudes at one end only and the other stand in the bottom of the boat and send that flat bit out as the prow.
That probably makes no sense at all to those who've never punted.

Thanks MC. So the orientation of the entire boat is changed. That does make more sense than trying to steer from the front.

And of course A was lending a hand from the front with a paddle - not the rear. I must e-mail shazz and ask her to change that.

Ahh, that does make sense.