September 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*

3 2

sorry! one more...
by Sefryn Penrose 29 Sep '11

29 Sep '11

Forgot to add - If you have a minute, perhaps you could vote for Bude Sea Pool on NatWest's Community Force initiative which might get it 6000 pounds towards the minimum 30k it needs to function each year.... http://communityforce.natwest.com/project/1257 Thanks, Sef

1 0

Love lidos? Hate low-lifes? Saltdean & Bude campaigns
by Sefryn Penrose 29 Sep '11

29 Sep '11

Hello swimmers, As it's getting cooler (haha) and we have more time on our hands, and more money in our pockets (hahaha), here are some suggestions for your newfound wealth and spare time. Or perhaps you have some expertise you could share with campaigners, or maybe you just love signing petitions.... The Bude seapool in Cornwall is a lovely pool on the beach at Bude. Recently the Council who previously administered the pool decided they could no longer operate it. It is being transferred to a community group. If you fancy lending them some support, you can join the campaign for 10 quid a year. They are also looking for fundraisers, people with experience, committee members etc. http://www.budeseapool.net/ On the gentler south coast, Saltdean Lido is still under threat of development by a dastardly businessman. You can join that campaign too, but in the immediate future, can you give a minute to sign a petition on Brighton & Hove's website. http://present.brighton-hove.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?ID=236&RPID=202… And if you happen to be free on Wednesday... "Wednesday 5th October between from 5.10pm - 5.45pm. This day will be a red letter day for the Save Saltdean Lido Campaign. We need your help to show once again that people care about the future of the lido and its buildings. Councillors and officials from Brighton & Hove City Council are visiting the lido to meet with our campaign and various other community groups. At this meeting we will be insisting again that the Council start legal proceedings to get the lease back from Mr Audley, the property speculator lease-holder. Please come and stand outside the entrance to the community centre (library entrance) on *Weds Oct 5 from 5.10pm - 5.45pm.* Feel free to make a placard – we will make some – and come ready to shout “People Power. Get the lido back”. Ok so that’s not a very good chant. All suggestions welcome!" The lido campaign website is here: www.saltdeanlidocampaign.org Apologies for lido news bombardment...

1 0

Swim the Thames #11 catch-up
by Sharon Curtis 28 Sep '11

28 Sep '11

Hi all, Inspired by this lovely Indian summer I am planning a catch up swim from Newbridge (The Rose Revived) to Northmoor Lock this Saturday afternoon. Anyone fancy joining me? (support team provided too) Sharon

1 0

Indian Summer Swim
by Chris Dalton 27 Sep '11

27 Sep '11

Hi All, As the weather forecast is so good for this week I fancy a swim after work on Friday. Any takers? CD

1 0

FW: swimming stretches
by Pam Jones 26 Sep '11

26 Sep '11

More shoulder stretches From: Pauline Squire [mailto:pauline_squire@sky.com] Sent: 15 September 2011 22:25 To: jacky.mayes(a)hotmail.co.uk Cc: sibarber_2005(a)yahoo.co.uk Subject: swimming stretches hope these help you as much as they have helped me,

3 2

OSS Swim the Thames Catch Ups on #9 and #14
by Jo-Anne Rutterford 26 Sep '11

26 Sep '11

Hi All We have two catch ups planned for next weekend for those interested in joining us: Swim #9 - Tadpole Bridge to Shifford Lock (a longun - wrap up well!) - Saturday 10.30 Swim #14 - Pinkhill Lock to Cassington Cut (a mediumun!) - Sunday 11.00 Please let me know if you would like to join us so that we can organise venues/cars etc Thanks Jo

1 0

OSS Swim the Thames #14
by Chris Dalton 25 Sep '11

25 Sep '11

Hi Gang, GPS track from yesterday attached. Another good swim but I think I may have to dust off the gloves for the next one! <http://connect.garmin.com/activity/116988226> http://connect.garmin.com/activity/116988226 Distance travelled today: 3.42 km Total distance travelled: 81.32 km Distance travelled since Cricklade: 60.95 km Distance remaining to Teddington Lock: 157.05 km Distance remaining to Sea Reach No1 Buoy: 262.68 km CD

1 0

OSS Swim the Thames #14 - Pinkhill Lock to Cassington Cut - Sat24Sep11@10:30am
by Jeremy Wellingham 19 Sep '11

19 Sep '11

/In our relentless journey downstream in the Thames towards the Teddington Obelisk, and beyond, the next step (stroke?) will be Swim #14 from Pinkhill Lock to Cassington Cut, or thereabouts. We now have the delights of the Georgian Toll Bridge at Swinford to look forward to. One shilling to cross but free to swim under. (5p in new money . . .)To make the swim worthwhile, but keeping it to this side of excessive, it corresponds to Swim #26 and part of #27 in The Book according to Michael Worthington and is around 3.3km, or less if we decide to get out earlier. We will meet at the car park at Swinford at 10:30am on Sat24Sep11, marked by the Green arrow, on the north side of the Thames (Thanks to Jo for the local knowledge): http://g.co/maps/t3mbk We can then shuttle (5p at the ready) up to the housing estate at Meadow Way, park, at 'A', and make our final preparations in the field, Green arrow, on the way to the lock: http://g.co/maps/46tjw We will then walk to Pinkhill Lock, jump in and swim down towards Swinford, under the Georgian Toll bridge (better practice butterfly beforehand), skirting Eynsham Lock, and on to an exit on the south bank and the Thames path, opposite the Cassington Cut. This is where the Wytham Great Wood, on the south bank, starts receding from the Thames Path (Green Arrow): http://g.co/maps/gfu47 Advanced tri-athlete party to keep eyes peeled to avoid going on to King's Lock, which is another 3.5km away, and is to be swim #15 on Sun09Oct11! We will then walk back to the Swinford car park, get changed, shuttle drivers to cars left at Meadow Way (More 5p at the ready) before putting the Landlady at the nearby Talbot to the test for lunch (Green arrow): http://g.co/maps/gcaz6 Look forward to meeting all the regulars but to all those recently inspired by David Walliams we'd welcome you to come along and sample the water with us as well. Contrary to the BBC and Walliams' PR crew we've not found it to be 'filthy' . . . . Any questions, drop us a line. Jeremy and Sef and the gurgling gudgeon of the Thames. Oxford(a)outdoorswimmingsociety.com <mailto:Oxford@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./

1 0

Oxford swims September 16 and 18
by Pam Jones 17 Sep '11

17 Sep '11

Dear All I still plan to swim on Friday 16th September in the evening in the Thames at Port Meadow and on Sunday 18th September in the afternoon in the Cherwell from the Victoria Arms at Marston Ferry Road down to Parsons Pleasure. Friday At the moment, my plan is to meet at the car park near Port Meadow at about 6:15pm. I will be cycling from the Science area so will meet you in the car park or on the bank. http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=51.762608,-1.273727 <http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=51.762608,-1.273727&hl=en&sll=51.762268,-1. 271083&sspn=0.006295,0.006295&num=1&t=h&vpsrc=0&z=15> &hl=en&sll=51.762268,-1.271083&sspn=0.006295,0.006295&num=1&t=h&vpsrc=0&z=15 walk across to the river and swim upstream until we get bored. Possibility of visit to pub on Walton Street with pies afterwards. Possible swimmers are Sharon, Jeremy, Tracy and Pam. Anyone else? Sunday Can I suggest meeting at the Victoria Arms 01865 241382 Mill Lane, Old Marston, Oxfordshire, OX3 0QA http://www.victoriaarms.co.uk/home.php at 2:30pm. Leave cars there, swim down to Parsons' Pleasure (about 2km I think) Start point http://maps.google.com/maps?q=oxford <http://maps.google.com/maps?q=oxford&ll=51.776895,-1.247302&spn=0.002835,0. 008256&oe=utf-8&t=h&vpsrc=6&z=18> &ll=51.776895,-1.247302&spn=0.002835,0.008256&oe=utf-8&t=h&vpsrc=6&z=18 End point http://maps.google.com/maps?q=oxford <http://maps.google.com/maps?q=oxford&ll=51.760373,-1.246133&spn=0.002377,0. 005112&oe=utf-8&t=h&z=18&vpsrc=6> &ll=51.760373,-1.246133&spn=0.002377,0.005112&oe=utf-8&t=h&z=18&vpsrc=6 Perhaps we could have a cup of tea or something stronger at the Vicky Arms at the end. Sharon has offered Charles as an attractive assistant on the bank. If that is still so, Sharon, would your van be able to transport us all back to the Victoria Arms so that I don't have to worry about parking my car? I realise that it depends on numbers. Possible swimmers Sharon, Pam, Sue. Not sure about anyone else. Please let me know. Pam

6 6