Scott arrives - Day 17 - Fri, Aug 29th

Scott (Jim's son) arrived around 2:30pm and we hit the ground running.

First stop was 2 blocks away so Scott could eat lunch at the Swan & Castle.  Their menu features many meal with drink combos that includes beer - so we joined him with a pink.  I took a picture of the beer taps - you can see the UK cask ales with the temporary "guest ales" signs and their tall handles which are used because they must hand pump them.

Second stop was 8 blocks away at Java Coffee where they of course had coffee and I had a pot of jasmine ginger tea.  I took a picture of the "Suspended Coffee" sign which basically means you can pay for an extra cup of coffee and then when a homeless person comes in asking for a suspended coffee, they are served the coffee you earlier paid for. 

Then began our 2 mile hike out the Thames Path (remember my day 4 write up?) to The Perch.  We wanted to share the hike with Scott, along with the beautiful scenery and the interesting path and gardens of The Perch pub.  They were advertising Pimm's so we each had that instead of beer and sat in the garden.

Classic Pimm's & Lemonade is a popular UK summer drink.  (Pimms is a "spirit drink" or liqueur - 25% alcohol, stronger than wine, weaker than vodka - and UK lemonade is like our Wink or Sprite)  Mix 1 part Pimms with 3 parts lemonade.  Add cut up strawberries, cucumber, mint and orange. 

Inside The Perch, I took a picture of one of the dining rooms because it has a small piano inside the obviously non-working fireplace.  The tables - like in most pubs here - are farmhouse tables and the chairs come from churches.  In the video below, note the bookholders on the back of the chairs and one chair has a cross cut into the back.

We altered our route on the way back by crossing the river and cutting across the Meadow on a path leading we did not know where.  It landed us in Jerico - a small village, part of Oxford - where we wandered the streets and enjoyed pints in a couple pubs.  We'd read about The Harcourt Arms pub and spent some time there as the locals greeted us and gathered us into their conversations.  A true "Cheers" type atmosphere.  They recommended The Old Bookbinders pub a couple blocks away for dinner but said they weren't taking anymore reservations.  Apparently we arrived at the correct moment as we got one of the 5  tables in the rock and roll room with signed pictures of the Beatles on the ceiling, and posters of Bob Dylan and other singers around the tiny room.  Dinner was wonderful and we took more pics of the buildings as we walked back to our flat.

The last picture I took of beer taps is to show the tap for Aspall Cider as the left-most tap.  I've been trying quite a few ciders too.  I've been enjoying the ciders, they taste more like wine, and they have more alcohol content.  Most of the ales here have 3.5 to 4.5% alcohol, ciders have 4 to 7% but most beers in the US have 4 to 6% alcohol. 

The video below has pictures of what I've mentioned above.  The final pic is Jim standing in front of Oxford University Press building which has published several of his books/textbooks.