On the Source – Day 13

Today was a staying in port day. Boat maintenance duties such as cleaning and polishing first thing, followed then by our annual pilgrimage to Summertown and lunch at the Oxford Kitchen. 

Not much to look at but the food is always amazing and today was no exception. They have had the same chef for the four years they have been open and I’m genuinely surprised he hasn’t been ‘poached’. The food is wonderful, perhaps even Michelin star quality. Fantastic flavours beautifully prepared and presented. 

Fillet of plaice

Linguine

The pictures don’t do justice to the flavours and textures that are placed in front of you. Quite the best restaurant in Oxford and always a ‘must stop’ on our itinerary. I particularly like the way they bring you the bill

Boxing clever

Early evening dog walking calls for a pint (or maybe two) of Old Speckled Hen. ‘Golden’ was the only variation available but it was a very acceptable alternative. Old Speckled Hen gets its name from the car in the Morris factory that delivered the paint to the paint shop. Because of the many speckles of paint it collected during the course of it deliveries it got nicknamed ‘the ol’Speculen’. The rest, as they say, is history. Incidentally, whilst the Model T is accepted to be the first ‘mass produced’ car, the Morris Cowley was the first British manufactured car to sell more than a million. 

Tomorrow is onwards and upwards towards the Source. Weather permitting. 

Osney Bridge. Gateway to the Upper Thames