August 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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OSS Swim the Thames #8 and 9
by Chris Dalton 05 Sep '11

05 Sep '11

Hi Gang, Great effort this weekend everyone. Thanks to all who helped to make it so special! I'm about ready for bed! http://connect.garmin.com/activity/106497637 http://connect.garmin.com/activity/106497824 Distance travelled today: 5.08 and 5.30km Total distance travelled: 63.41km Distance travelled since Cricklade: 43.04 km Distance remaining to Teddington Lock: 174.96 km Distance remaining to Sea Reach No1 Buoy: 280.59 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 _____ No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 10.0.1390 / Virus Database: 1518/3798 - Release Date: 07/30/11

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Catch up #8?
by Jo-Anne Rutterford 01 Sep '11

01 Sep '11

Anyone up for a catch up on swim #8 on Sunday (or Saturday even possibly?) Jo

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Catch up swim #11 - Weds 31st August
by Chloe Jeffries 30 Aug '11

30 Aug '11

Dear all, Just to say that Ann and I are catching up Sunday's swim (#11) tomorrow (Weds) afternoon, meeting at 4pm. If anybody would like to join us, get in touch. Chloe.

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OSS Swim the Thames 10 & 11
by Sefryn Penrose 22 Aug '11

22 Aug '11

Just when you thought life couldn't get any better, another Swim the Thames weekender! The August Bank Holiday offers the chance to accelerate our splendid progress towards Seareach Buoy No. 1. We will be swimming on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th, and camping overnight if you'd like at Northmoor Lock. *Swim 10: Saturday 27th August *Meet *9.30am *at Northmoor Lock if you're camping so we can pitch up before we swim. If that's a bit early - you can always sling the guy ropes later on. http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?daddr=%2B51%C2%B0+42%27+56.72%22,+-1%C2%B0+22… If you're not camping, or just late, meet at *11.00am* at the Rose Revived Inn at Newbridge. Those of us camping will walk or shuttle up to meet non-campers at the pub. http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=OX29+7QD&sll=… We'll then shuttle up to Shifford Lock, and swim down. It is the bank holiday and the river is likely to be busy so we will *try* and be prompt with this timing, and then keep a weather eye for merry boaters. This swim is equivalent to 20 and 21 from *I Love the Thames* and will come in at a weighty 5.2km. (*Stop press! Neil has measured this at 4.25.)* We will 'land' at the Rose Revived for a hearty feed. Those camping can then head back to Northmoor Lock and low-key barbecuing may follow. *Swim 11: Sunday 28th August *Meet at 10.30am at the Rose Revived. Those camping can walk up from the campsite (exit point), and those not camping can be shuttled back to the pub afterwards by campers. This swim is equivalent to 22 and 23 from *I Love the Thames* and will be a sweet relief for veterans of the Saturday swim - a mere 3.2km *(3.45km by Neil's calculations)*. * If you would like to camp, please let me (Sef) know as soon as possible* so I can reserve us pitches at the campsite. It is another rudimentary lock campsite, but there are showers at the weir. They also have caravan hook-ups. Standard pitches are 15 pounds for 2 adults, a tent (or caravan, or Bertie) and a car. There are such things as mini-pitches at 6 pounds if it is just you and no car. http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/thamespath/site.asp?PageId=24&SiteId=602&c= Or for those seeking a more plush environment, try these campsites which are nearby (and have caravan hook-ups). http://www.lincolnfarmpark.co.uk/ http://www.hardwickparks.co.uk/index.shtm If you haven't joined any 'swim the Thames' swims thus far, come along for Saturday or Sunday - there's still 280km to go to the Nore! Yours truly, always available to give watery help, Jeremy and Sef and the tenacious tadpoles of the Thames. Oxford(a)outdoorswimmingsociety.com *OSS swim responsibility statement:* * * 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.

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"Throw down" swim - Shifford Lock to Newbridge
by Sharon Curtis 22 Aug '11

22 Aug '11

I've got a trip report too. It was feeling way too long since the lovely OSS swims from Radcot Lock to Shifford Lock, and I can't make next weekend's swims, and it was a glorious day yesterday so in desperate need of some Thames swimming, I decided on the spur of the moment to swim the next section, from Shifford Lock to Newbridge. You can't "catch up" in advance so this must be a "throw down" swim. Look what you've done, OSS, you have me hooked now!!! 3 kingfisher sightings, 1 grey heron, 3 swans, 3 boats, 1 powered punt, 1 poled punt, 1 canopied rowing boat, 1 canoe, 1 magnificent sunset, 1 ford. 1 swimmer, 1 walker (the wonderful Charles). We approached Shifford Lock via Duxford ford. The water was about 8 inches deep across the ford, with a slippery concrete surface. The most original question of the day was from the canoeists, who unlike all the other boat occupants, did not shout "Isn't it cold?" but instead asked, "How far to the nearest pub?". The third swan encountered (0.5 mile downstream of Shifford Lock) was most unusual. Firstly, it was not mute but did seagull impressions. Rather good seagull impressions, just not as loud. I kid you not. Secondly, rather than the usual swan behaviour of keeping to one side of the river as I kept to the other side to pass it, it seemed to think it a personal duty to keep fifty yards ahead of me and shepherd me all the way to Newbridge. Once we were within sight of the bridge, it turned round, started an immense flapping and ran on the water to take off, and made it, this immense bird airborne, flying back in the direction of Shifford. Two of the kingfisher sightings consisted of a bright turquoise flash in the distance as a bird shot out of the reeds area and headed for cover. The other sighting was as I swam breaststroke gently just past a big clump of reeds, only to find a bird with a bright orange breast sitting on a branch extending out over the water, just a few yards away. I sculled quietly in position for a while, trying not to let the current take me further along. The kingfisher looked at me for a while, and looked around, showing me its characteristic long sharp beak, and then after a short while, flew off. I had started at 4.30pm for an early evening swim, and the sun made the whole thing glorious, going from bright sunny sunshine to fantastic dappled effects and long shadows as it got lower in the sky. There was a magnificent sunset going on after I got to Newbridge and the Rose Revived. By the way, for future reference, there are a couple of getting out points at the Rose Revived. One is a small steeply-angled concrete ramp just below the grassy area with all the pub tables, which looks feasible if you turn round and sit on the ramp with feet towards the water, then reverse up the bank. However, I didn't fancy providing entertainment for the pub-goers, so I used an exit point further along the bank, just past the punts/rowing boats hire place. There's a sort of low concrete raft attached to the bank, which you can either haul yourself up over, if you're feeling strong, or get someone to help you, or at the upstream side of the raft, it is thigh-deep (but muddy) there and easy to get out without assistance. An added plus is that the concrete raft is much less overlooked by people so makes a good place to change. There are also lots of points along the route where there are shallow entry/exit points so if you are getting fed cookies from walkers this is easy to manage. The river temperature felt slightly higher than in previous swims, and I made it to the endpoint half an hour earlier than expected, compared to previous swims. I don't think I have improved my speed that much, so I think the current must have been a bit faster in this stretch of the river - possibly due to the rain a few days ago? Sharon

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OSS Swim the Thames - Swim #8 and #9 Radcot Lock - Tadpole Bridge - Shifford Lock - Sat13Aug11 12:00 / Sun14Aug11 10:30
by Jeremy Wellingham 20 Aug '11

20 Aug '11

We have decided, rather at the last minute, to make the weekend of Saturday 13th / Sunday 14th August a two swim weekend with optional camping on Saturday night at The Swan at Radcot, where we met for Swim #7. This gives everyone a number of possibilities: *Saturday 13th August* - Swim #8 Radcot Lock to Tadpole Bridge (4.9km) *Sunday 14th August* - Swim #9 Tadpole Bridge to Tenfoot Bridge (2.8km) or Shifford Lock (5.6km), depending on how we feel. *Or both swim #8 and swim #9* - Either camping overnight or going home, to a hot bath and a soft bed, and returning on Sunday morning. *IMPORTANT* * * *If you would like to camp, please let me (e-mail: jeremy(a)wellingham.com <mailto:jeremy@wellingham.com>) know by reply, ASAP so that I can tell The Swan how many of us to expect. The cost will be £5 per tent with no limit to occupancy but I guessing a marquee may be pushing it. So buddy up, get to know each other and save money! Camper vans are £8 (Sorry Bertie).* *SATURDAY 13th AUGUST* If you are intending to camp we'll be meeting on Saturday 13th August at 10:30am at The Swan campsite on the island at Radcot to pitch our tents, 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…> If you are intending just to swim on Saturday 13^th August meet up at The Swan campsite, above, at 12:00 midday. We'll first shuttle a few cars down to Tadpole Bridge to bring us back to Radcot at the end of the swim. Then we stroll down to Radcot lock to start the swim.(About a 1.6km walk or a mile, in old money.) We'll get out at Tadpole Bridge, pick up the cars and drive back to Radcot. We can then have a drink at The Swan opposite the campsite before setting up a Barbeque for supper. Bring food and drink for yourself/and/or to share. It's a full moon so, if we can stay awake, a midnight dip will round off the day. This is a combination of swims 15, 16 and 17 from Michael Worthington’s /I Love the Thames/ and a distance of 4.9km. *SUNDAY 14th AUGUST* Meet up at The Swan at Radcot campsite, on the island, at 10:30am Sunday 14th August: 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 shuttle down to Tadpole Bridge in cars and swim down to Tenfoot Bridge (2.8km) and walk back to Tadpole Bridge and the cars. Or if we decide on going the full distance to Shifford Lock (5.6km) we will also shuttle some cars down to Duxford which is the nearest road access to Shifford Lock. We can then go back to eat in the Trout at Tadpole bridge (Posh pub) or The Swan at Radcot (Not so Posh). (I'll check out menus ahead of time.) This is equivalent to equivalent to swims 18 & 19 from Michael Worthington’s /I Love the Thames/ and a distance of 5.6km. (or 2.8km if we decide to call it a day at Tenfoot Bridge.) Both these swims are reasonably long so bring wetsuits and rubber feet (and socks and gloves if you get cold). There will be breaks at predetermined points. The Swan at Radcot: http://www.swanhotelradcot.co.uk/index.html The Trout at Tadpole Bridge: http://www.trout-inn.co.uk/home.aspx *OSS swim responsibility statement:* * * 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=sw imming_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 and the Mermaids and Merman of Team Thames e-mail: Oxford(a)outdoorswimmingsociety.com <mailto:Oxford@outdoorswimmingsociety.com>

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Invitation to connect on LinkedIn
by Claire Samwell 18 Aug '11

18 Aug '11

LinkedIn ------------ I'd like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn. - Claire Claire Samwell family therapist at Hackney Council Southampton, United Kingdom Confirm that you know Claire Samwell https://www.linkedin.com/e/4l5wve-gri7s0mg-35/isd/3906562818/YL0BYozR/ -- (c) 2011, LinkedIn Corporation

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Hi
by Ginny Henderson 17 Aug '11

17 Aug '11

hello oxford outdoor swimming . i was given your email by laura wells . i am interested in non pool swimming . is it possible for you to let me know what is available around here ? are you a club ? many thanks ginny

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