July 2011 - OSSOxon

Swim the Thames 2
by Sefryn Penrose 11 Oct '11

11 Oct '11

*Dear all, Details of Swim #2 in OSS Oxford and Reading's Swim the Thames event series. This is the second swim of the OSS Swim the Thames event and we will pick up where we left off at Water Eaton footbridge. Hopefully by now the Thames will be deep enough to allow for more swimming than wading. The swim will combine swims 3 and 4 from Michael Worthington's book - 'I Love the Thames' - and will cover about 3km. If the going gets too heavy we can always stop part way and re-schedule the remainder for another day. We will be meeting at 10:30 on Sun 15 May 2011 in the Red Lion car park at Castle Eaton (marked by the green arrow). We have promised we will eat lunch there at the end of our swim. http://tinyurl.com/CastleEatonRL The swim will be from Water Eaton footbridge (marked by green arrow) http://tinyurl.com/WaterEatonFoB to Round House farm, which is upstream of the Red Lion. We can shuttle up to Water Eaton where there is limited parking for 3 cars - just - in a pull off from the road next to the entrance to the private fishermen's carpark (marked by green arrow). http://tinyurl.com/WaterEatonParking (If no fishermen are present the green field car park makes for a good outdoor changing room.) Walk up the road towards Castle Eaton and take the Bridle Path to Water Eaton footbridge. We will exit the river opposite the Round House farm campsite (marked by green arrow). http://tinyurl.com/RoundHouseExit Then walk down stream about 1km back to the Red Lion for lunch. The Red Lion is the first pub on the Thames and the grounds go down to the river so must be part of the Swim the Thames experience. Following our experience with swim (wade) #1 this is going to require a decent pair of 'feet' - a pair of surf boots with thick grip soles - but you can get cheap shoes of the kind that you can buy at the beach for very little and they'll do, either on their own, or with a pair of wetsuit socks which are again quite cheap. (See OSS Facebook Wading shoes discussion http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=55781602829&v=app_2373072738#!/topic.… ). As I (Sef) missed Swim 1, I will be catching up on this on Saturday. If anyone would like to join me, **drop me a line, or if you have any questions *(07949039099). * **By attending you confirm that you are a member of the OSS and have read and accepted the OSS swim responsibility statement: http://www.outdoorswimmingsociety.com/index.php?p=sw imming_tips&s=responsibility See you there! Jeremy & Sef Oxford(a)outdoorswimmingsociety.com*

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OSS Swim the Thames #7
by Chris Dalton 09 Sep '11

09 Sep '11

Hi Gang, Another great swim today! I seem to have got a bit burned despite the sunscreen! GPS track below. It's a bit off course to start with - probably because I forgot to turn it on until just before we got in and it didn't have a good lock. http://connect.garmin.com/activity/102849890 Distance travelled today: 3.60 km Total distance travelled: 53.03 km Distance travelled since Cricklade: 32.66 km Distance remaining to Teddington Lock: 185.34 km Distance remaining to Sea Reach No1 Buoy: 290.97 km CD _____ No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 10.0.1390 / Virus Database: 1518/3785 - Release Date: 07/24/11

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Swim the Thames #6
by Chris Dalton 25 Jul '11

25 Jul '11

Dear All, Please see below the GPS track for today's Swim #6 catch-up.. http://connect.garmin.com/activity/101497855 Distance travelled today: 5.29 km Total distance travelled: 49.43 km Distance travelled since Cricklade: 29.06 km Distance remaining to Teddington Lock: 188.94 km Distance remaining to Sea Reach No1 Buoy: 294.57 km CD

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Swim #7 Swim the Thames series - Sat30Jul11@10:30 - Grafton Lock to Radcot Lock
by Jeremy Wellingham 24 Jul '11

24 Jul '11

Swim #7 of the OSS Oxford & Reading Swim the Thames series This is the seventh swim of the Swim the Thames series and will take us from Grafton Lock to Radcot Lock, a distance of 3.4km. We expect to be swimming all the way now we're in the navigable Thames. This is equivalent to swims 13 and 14 in Michael Worthington's 'I Love the Thames'. Meet at the car park on the island across the river from The Swan at Radcot at 10:30am on Saturday 30th July 2011, marked by the green arrow: http://maps.google.co.uk/m aps?q=51.69311%2C-1.588181 &hl=en&sll=51.695453%2C-1. 590648&sspn=0.013833%2C0.0 32015&num=1&t=h&z=17 <http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=51.69311%2C-1.588181&hl=en&sll=51.695453%2C…> We will walk upstream from the car park to Grafton Lock, jump in and swim back down, past the The Swan and on to Radcot Lock. From there we will walk back upstream to The Swan, get changed and have lunch at the Swan. For those who would like a shorter swim, you can get out at The Swan instead of swimming on down to Radcot Lock. By attending you confirm that you are a member of the OSS and have read and accepted the OSS swim responsibility statement: http://www.outdoorswimming society.com/index.php?p=swimming_tips&s=responsibili ty <http://www.outdoorswimmingsociety.com/index.php?p=swimming_tips&s=responsib…> All swimmers swim at their own risk. Jeremy and Sef of Team Thames e-mail: Oxford(a)outdoorswimmingsociety.com

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Swim #6 of OSS Swim the Thames - Buscot to Grafton Lock - Sun17Jul11@10:30
by Jeremy Wellingham 21 Jul '11

21 Jul '11

Calling Team Thames, Calling Team Thames /Details of Swim #6 in OSS Oxon and Reading's Swim the Thames event series. Buscot to Grafton Lock - Sunday 17 July 10:30 - 15:00 We have emerged from the swan and weed infested Upper Thames and are now firmly in the Middle Thames and adjusting to being out of our depth and swimming properly. Boats have replaced swans as the threat to our continuing journey downstream to Teddington and beyond. Meeting up at the visitors car park at Buscot which is within a few hundred yards / metres walk of Buscot lock at 10:30 am on Sunday 17th July 2011. Marked with a green arrow: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=51.677545,-1.667587&hl=en&ll=51.678037,-1.6… <http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=51.677545,-1.667587&hl=en&ll=51.678037,-1.6…> We will take a couple of cars, with clothes to change into after the swim, to Kelmscott - which is about half way between Buscot and Grafton lock. (Access to Grafton lock by road is problematic.) We are swimming from Buscot Lock to Grafton Lock, a distance of about 5.4km, passing Kelmscott on the way. The river is, supposedly, fast flowing along this stretch so it won't feel as far as it sounds. There is also the option to break the swim at Kelmscott, where a couple of cars are, if we are feeling weary. When we arrive at Grafton Lock we will walk back to Kelmscott and lunch at The Plough in Kelmscott. We can then shuttle back to the car park at Buscot. There is a Tea Garden at Buscot in case anyone is still hungry after lunch! We may also be able to schedule a visit to Williams Morris''s Kelsmcott Manor, depending on opening times. Hope to see some of you at the Oxford Big Jump this Sunday /By attending you confirm that you are a member of the OSS and have read and accepted the OSS swim responsibility statement: http://www.outdoorswimmingsociety.com/index.php?p=swimming_tips&s=responsib… <http://www.outdoorswimmingsociety.com/index.php?p=swimming_tips&s=responsib…> All swimmers swim at their own risk. Jeremy and Sef and the serene swans of Team Thames e-mail: Oxford(a)outdoorswimmingsociety.com <mailto:Oxford@outdoorswimmingsociety.com>

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Re: [OSS Oxon] Full Moon - Timing Poll
by Chris Dalton 11 Jul '11

11 Jul '11

Hi All, Show of hands needed here. Moonrise on the 15th is at 21:04 which brings on something of a dilemma. Do we: A) Meet early, say 19:30, and swim before moonrise - followed by pie and chips. We could then go and pay homage to the moon on foot afterwards. Or B) Meet late, say 20:30 and swim to see the moon rising over the meadow. This may be a bit late for some people and is likely to lead to us missing pie and chips afterwards. If you indicate preferences directly to me ASAP I will adjudicate and publish the details. CD _____ From: Chris Dalton <seedy(a)breakingglass.net> To: OSSOxon(a)earth.li; ossrats(a)earth.li Sent: Wednesday, 6 July 2011, 19:26 Subject: [OSS Oxon] Full Moon Hi All, What with all the Swim the Thames-ing that’s been going on this year I feel we have been slacking a bit in the Full Moon department. Seeing as I can’t make the Swim the Thames next weekend as I’m going to be playing at being a tri-ath-lete I was wondering if anyone was up for a Full Moon dip somewhere on Friday 15th? CD _______________________________________________ OSS Oxon mailing list OSSOxon(a)earth.li http://www.earth.li/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/ossoxon Please note that OSS Oxon exists to put swimmers in touch with other swimmers, not to organise swim events or in any way suggest that outdoor swimming is a safe activity or that you should go swimming. If you choose to swim you do so entirely at your own risk and on your own initiative, and any plans you make are your own responsibility. _____ No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 10.0.1388 / Virus Database: 1516/3749 - Release Date: 07/07/11

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Full Moon Swim Oxford - Final Details
by Chris Dalton 09 Jul '11

09 Jul '11

Dear All, It seems that the overwhelming majority of us are more interested in eating pies than they are in seeing the moon rise and quite rightly so, in my humble opinion. Therefore, as The Victoria stops serving food at 9pm, we will meet at 7:30pm for a 7:45pm start. We can then either walk upstream and swim back or do an out-and-back swim as the mood takes us. This should give us plenty of time for a good swim and to change and make it to the pub before the kitchen closes!! Meet at Walton Well Car Park, off Walton Well Road at the edge of Port Meadow (see blue arrow). Set your satnav to OX2 6ED which should take you to Walton Well Road. Keep going to the end of the road, keeping left to go over the railway bridge and the car park is round the corner on your left. http://tinyurl.com/Walton-Well CD Before signing up to join the OSS or partaking in any swims mentioned on this site or the Outdoor Swimming Society facebook page, please read the OSS swim responsibility statement. By signing up to join the society, or participating in any swims, you confirm that you have read and understand the OSS swim responsibility statement and accept its terms: http://www.outdoorswimmingsociety.com/index.php?p=swimming_tips <http://www.outdoorswimmingsociety.com/index.php?p=swimming_tips&s=responsib ility> &s=responsibility

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Full Moon
by Chris Dalton 07 Jul '11

07 Jul '11

Hi All, What with all the Swim the Thames-ing that's been going on this year I feel we have been slacking a bit in the Full Moon department. Seeing as I can't make the Swim the Thames next weekend as I'm going to be playing at being a tri-ath-lete I was wondering if anyone was up for a Full Moon dip somewhere on Friday 15th? CD

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Big Jump
by Sefryn Penrose 06 Jul '11

06 Jul '11

Dear Big Jumpers, We will have guests at the Big Jump from Speedo, who are doing a series of small films on 'unforgettable swims'. The films are personal stories of swims - "An unforgettable swim stays with you forever. It's a swim that changes you. A feeling you try to re-create again and again." The nice man from Speedo will bring a camera and are looking to film any of us who have unforgettable swims to impart. Have a look at the link to see the films already made. http://unforgettableswims.speedo.com/en/ If you don't want to be filmed, please don't worry, we can keep you safe. If you do have a swim that you'd like to talk about, do dust it off for the telling. I'm not sure how it will work but perhaps we can give Mr Speedo a choice. Rather than an exercise in shameless branding, we hope to get some good Big Jump and OSS coverage and support from Speedo, so OSS and Big Jump stories are especially welcome, and if you have OSS t-shirt, jumpers etc, please do wear them. Also, our OSS 'I ♥ the Thames' swim hats are ready. 'I ♥ the Thames' swim hats are this season's must have swimwear accessory, especially for those who, er, ♥ the Thames. If you'd like one, they are £7, and I will bring a few with me. Let me know if you have any questions, or if you're a potential story-teller. Sef

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