Punting the River Cam Cambridge & Clematis

“Rivers are roads that move & carry us whither we wish to go.” Blaise Pascal


It was Weisspargel season in Deutschland, when we left Cologne yesterday. Arriving in Cambridge it is merely early spring. My friend and I seize the opportunity for a glide on the River Cam. We are here on business but this is pure pleasure. Our punter, a student at Cambridge brings us rolling past The Backs.  He follows the path of the gravel ridge for a smooth ride. The flat bottomed boat glides over the river. The swans on the river are majestic, the English Gardens are filled with color and King’s College Chapel is immediately recognizable.

The banks are lush with gorgeous blooms. My friend asks me “what are those flowers?” I tell her “Clematis; I’m not sure how to pronounce it, my mother always said ‘kle-mat-is’ but recently she said she’d heard ‘kle-mAy-tus’.”  Here our punter offers, “ahhh, the actual pronunciation  is Klem-a-tus.” So, as we pass under the Bridge of Sighs, I agree with the dashing punter of Cambridge. ‘Klem-a-tus’.

Be Well. Stay Safe. Much Love.
Story & Photos: © 2020 Molly Cox