Blenheim Palace

Blenheim Palace, birthplace of Winston Churchill and home of the Duke of Marlborough. Beautiful grounds, buildings, and a sunny day!

We have year passes here, now! Too bad we didn't think of that before this excursion. Look what we have been missing these last 9 months! We'll have to make up for lost time in the next 3!

Loving the sunshine!

Bridge behind us was built by "Capability Brown" (what a name, eh?) but never completely finished.

Such a fun time in this maze. Beautiful and so well kept! We also enjoyed playing giant checkers, lifesize chess, the butterfly house and a human sundial!

The gardens were amazing...and so was getting Lucy to take out her binky all on her own!

A little wrestling on the lawn...daddy dogpile! Looking at buildings and gardens all day is not easy for kids...we ALL needed to release a bit of pent up playfulness!

Playing (and posing) in the long grass.

We went back a second day for a picnic overlooking the lake. Idyllic.

"The Bumps" on the Thames

"The Bumps" Race is an annual competition both for Cambridge and Oxford intramurals. We set out on a rainy day to see one of the first days. The Thames River flows right through Oxford and not too far from where we live. The main objective of the race is to "bump" the boat in front of you before the boat behind bumps you! Each college has a boat, with eight rowers plus a cox (who both steers and calls out direction for the backward facing rowers). They line up in single file in the narrow river with one and a half boat length between them. A cannon signals the start and off they go!

A bit windy, too! Yes, both of their umbrellas were blown inside out!

View from the bridge. Boat practicing and rowing to its starting position.

We brought out the camera when the rain subsided. I was lucky to grab Sophie's rain hat to borrow!

In the background is St. Hilda's men's team. Nice headgear, Hildabeasts!

And nice smiles, kids!

Walking alongside the Thames. Right before Lucy fell face down on the muddy path!

Lining up. Women's teams.

Learn more about Oxford rowing and the Bumps race here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bumps_race