Jousting at Blenheim Palace - May 7, 2012

Bank holiday Monday May 7

This was the day that I'd be moving across the courtyard at the B&B to the larger room with ensuite bathroom. I thought I'd buy some postcards and have a relaxing afternoon in but first decided to drive back to Summertown to email from Starbucks. That was one of the easier drives. At a fair-sized, well-marked roundabout, the turnoff onto Woodstock Road takes you straight down to the Summertown shopping area in no time.

I had heard about a jousting match at Blenheim Palace but it was cold and pouring rain. I considered driving up to Chipping Norton, just to stay in the warm car.

But after emailing from Starbucks in Summertown I drove north toward Woodstock and though I hadn't really decided on whether or not to go to Blenheim Palace, there it was. You can't miss it.

I drove through the gates into the huge grounds, parked the car and walked across the muddy field. Perhaps I could have taken the train.

There were pheasants - tamer than ours, not that I've seen one for several years.

My purple umbrella that I would later leave in the gift shop and never see again. There was some uncertainly about the jousting taking take place because the ground might have been too slippery for the horses. But someone in the gift shop - white building on the right - did some checking and reported that it was going ahead.

I did one tour of the palace and saved the other for later because the jousting was about to begin. It involved another long walk down a wet, sometimes muddy path to get to a field with a roped off ring area.

Let the jousting begin

A photo shoot.

The four horses and riders gathered...

Then went charging into the ring one by one. It was hilarious good fun with lots of banter between riders and announcer. Horses were fast and very agile, like polo ponies.

Some 'casualties' happened at ground level.

Some final laps... 

... then the crowd herded back to the palace. I enjoyed that immensely even in the rain. It was probably the first time I laughed since Winslow.

On a nice day one could spend hours exploring the 2000+ acre property.

I should have written more about Blenheim Palace, home of the Churchill family. Apparently photography wasn't allowed because I have no photos of the interior. 

At the front steps, if you look up, you see a bunch of eyeballs looking at you.

It doesn't appear to have stopped raining but it must have if I left without my umbrella.

Back in Burford I had fish and chips for supper.