The Semester Ends & One of Us Takes a Long Walk

Well, the semester at St. Clare’s College has wound down. Ken has graded the papers and turned in the grades. It was a delightful experience, including an interesting group of students and a kind and generous array of colleagues and new friends. St. Clare’s, Oxford has an interesting history, having been established following World War II to bring together English and German students. Now it hosts students from more than 25 countries, and occupies something like 27 Edwardian buildings in North Oxford.

St. Clare's College Administration

St. Clare's Library

One of St. Clare's classroom buildings

As the semester was ending we also had the fascinating experience of being in the United Kingdom during the national election, which resulted in an unlikely Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition. The outcome seemed to disappoint most of our friends, but most people also seemed to think the Labour party, which had been in power for 13 years, had more or less run out of ideas. So we’ll watch with interest to see how the new government does.

Soon after the end of the semester, our friends Mike, Charlotte, and Molly came to Oxford to spend a day with us. We drank lots of tea, walked around the city to see some of the colleges and other sights, and had lunch at one of Oxford’s many fine pubs. We very much enjoyed their company, and of course hope we’ll see Mike, Charlotte, and Molly when we’re next back in the beautiful Shropshire countryside, where they live in a renovated 12th-century church.

We spent the past weekend in and around Ludlow, where Connie stayed with Joan; they passed the time visiting the Hergest Gardens in Kington, drinking tea, reading, and shopping. In the meantime, Ken, Mike, and Jonathan went walking on Offa’s Dyke, an ancient (8th century) earthen fortification that extends for 80 miles or more along the Welsh-English border. They departed from a point a few miles north of Hay-on-Wye on Friday, and walked north along the Dyke. Finishing at midday on Sunday, they walked about 30 miles, staying overnight at pubs in Kington (a lovely little town) and Knighton. Joan and Connie dropped them off at the beginning, and picked them up at the end. To top it off, Joan treated the whole group to Sunday lunch at the Sun pub in the pretty village of Clun. The walk encompassed steep climbs to high vantage points with amazing views, the crossing of countless meadows and pastures full of sheep and cattle, and paths following pretty rivers. The hikers also had a couple of exciting (and humorous) opportunities to ford the River Teme. As always, we very much enjoyed our time in Ludlow, and left talking about when we might return.

Hergest Garden

Offa's Dyke Walkers -- Jonathon, Ken, Mike

On the Dyke

Fording the Teme -- someone is keeping his boots dry, huh Mike

The last pub stop -- Joan and Connie are having a drink under the umbrella while waiting for the walkers to return

Today we are back in Oxford, awaiting the arrival tomorrow of Heather, Steve, and Jamie. They will share our last 11 days here, returning, as we do, to the States on May 29.