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Re: [OSS Oxon] [OSS RATS] OSSRATS Digest, Vol 36, Issue 1
by Chris D 18 Aug '16

18 Aug '16

Hi Toby / Helen Most people use the Facebook Groups to arrange swims now. There is OSS Thames https://www.facebook.com/groups/408652865865144/ and OSS Windsor and Maidenhead https://www.facebook.com/groups/524929157621394/ that mainly covers the Jubilee. CD From: OSSRATS [mailto:ossrats-bounces@earth.li] On Behalf Of Toby Gledhill Sent: Sunday, August 14, 2016 8:23 AM To: ossrats(a)earth.li Subject: Re: [OSS RATS] OSSRATS Digest, Vol 36, Issue 1 Hi Helen, I swim in the Thames near Reading. I have never actually met up with any OSSRATS, but would be really keen to. It would be fun, I would meet like minded folks and it would be good to share/hear stories/learn from experiences. I intend to try out the Tri20 Lake, near Madjeski Stadium this morning. Yesterday I went for a swim near Tilehurst (around appletree and poplar islands) and I received a: Slightly aggressive "Wot you doing!" from someone in a boat. Received criticism from a swarm of canoists for not having a bouy attached to me Then on return my girlfriend tells me someone was saying I shouldn't be swimming in the Thames: weils disease etc I will try to have emails from this address forwarded to my other email account so I can respond more reliably. Look forward to hearing form you Toby _____ From: OSSRATS < <mailto:ossrats-bounces@earth.li> ossrats-bounces(a)earth.li> on behalf of <mailto:ossrats-request@earth.li> ossrats-request(a)earth.li < <mailto:ossrats-request@earth.li> ossrats-request(a)earth.li> Sent: 24 June 2016 11:00 To: <mailto:ossrats@earth.li> ossrats(a)earth.li Subject: OSSRATS Digest, Vol 36, Issue 1 Send OSSRATS mailing list submissions to <mailto:ossrats@earth.li> ossrats(a)earth.li To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit <http://www.earth.li/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/ossrats> http://www.earth.li/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/ossrats or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to <mailto:ossrats-request@earth.li> ossrats-request(a)earth.li You can reach the person managing the list at <mailto:ossrats-owner@earth.li> ossrats-owner(a)earth.li When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of OSSRATS digest..." Today's Topics: 1. hi all (Helen Roche) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Thu, 23 Jun 2016 16:17:13 +0100 From: Helen Roche < <mailto:helen@theskyisblue.net> helen(a)theskyisblue.net> To: <mailto:OSSRATS@earth.li> OSSRATS(a)earth.li Subject: [OSS RATS] hi all Message-ID: < <mailto:2E078D11-291B-45BF-A52A-E1220ECA3FB0@theskyisblue.net> 2E078D11-291B-45BF-A52A-E1220ECA3FB0(a)theskyisblue.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 I've been out of the loop - is this email group still functioning? I'm in Reading and would love to get swimming again. Anything going on? cheers, Helen ------------------------------ Subject: Digest Footer _______________________________________________ OSSRATS mailing list <mailto:OSSRATS@earth.li> OSSRATS(a)earth.li <http://www.earth.li/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/ossrats> http://www.earth.li/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/ossrats ------------------------------ End of OSSRATS Digest, Vol 36, Issue 1 **************************************

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anything near Reading?
by Helen Roche 23 Jun '16

23 Jun '16

Hi all, I’ve really not been swimming for the past couple of years but would love to get into the water again. I’m at the southern end of your catchment, as I’m in Reading; any swims scheduled within my reach? cheers, Helen

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OXFORD BIG JUMP - Danger Bridge, Port Meadow, Sunday 12th July at 1:15pm
by Jeremy Wellingham 27 Jun '15

27 Jun '15

Calling the Leaping Lords and Ladies of Oxford, Join us for the Oxford 2015 European Big Jump day at Port Meadow Sunday, 12th July at 1:15pm, Danger Bridge, Fiddler's Island ready to immerse ourselves in the Isis from whatever height you feel comfortable with at 2pm BST: http://goo.gl/maps/NFQ37 Red bubble thing marks the spot! Every year, all across Europe, we re-affirm our connexion with our rivers and explore our aquatic origins by leaping, plunging, slipping or tip-toeing into our local rivers at the same instant in time. http://www.rivernet.org/bigjump/welcome.htm The EUROPEAN BIG JUMP is a river swimming day, where people reclaim their environment and demonstrate their wish to have clean and living rivers again. Walk, Cycle or even Drive (Parking at Walton Well car park (Pay and Display - £1.20 for 3 hours or £2.30 for 5 hours.): http://goo.gl/maps/kPLew Alternatively, Walk or Swim down from the free car park at the top end of Port Meadow at Godstow Road that's a bit further away: http://goo.gl/maps/YY7Me Bring food and drink for yourselves and/or to share for a picnic afterwards. We will have a barbecue for anyone who wants to have something warm and charred. And for those wanting more of a swim, this is the perfect stretch - trot upriver your required distance and swim back down. There will be plenty of companions and hopefully a nice sunny afternoon. See you there, Jeremy and the flying salmon of the Isis. 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 --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

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OSS Thames Oxford Port Meadow Meander Sun12Oct14 at 11:00am Walton Well Road Car Park
by Jeremy Wellingham 06 Oct '14

06 Oct '14

Greetings Oxford October Fish, Join us for a gentle meander down the Thames along the edge of Port Meadow at Oxford. Well walk up Port Meadow from the Walton Well Road car park to Godstow (http://goo.gl/maps/8d1rj ) and slide gracefully in to the Thames and swim back to Danger Bridge (http://goo.gl/maps/vVCnb) (approximately 2.5km (1.5 miles)). Plenty of places along the way to get in or out if you want to shorten the swim and keep us company by walking along the bank. Well meet up at the Walton Well Road Car park, at the south end of Port Meadow here: http://goo.gl/maps/8pilI on Sunday 12 October 2014 at 11am. Car Parking is £1.10p for 3 hours Afterwards we can find somewhere nearby for refreshments. Jeremy, Tracy and the eels of the Isis --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.com

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Anyone around/near Reading?
by Helen Roche 09 Aug '14

09 Aug '14

Hi all, I’m a bit out of the loop these days. My old swimbuddy no longer lives locally, and I haven’t been getting into the water. Anyone up for a swim in the Reading area or slightly further afield? I’m free tomorrow (Sunday) and also have a lot of time in the coming week. cheers Helen

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OSS Swim the Thames #10 - Shifford to Rose Revived Newbridge Sun27Jul14@10:30am
by Jeremy Wellingham 21 Jul '14

21 Jul '14

Summertime and the living is easy Tra la la - come and join us for a lovely swim in the Thames from the beautiful rural Shifford Lock to the metropolis that is Newbridge and the Rose Revived. A mere 4.5km if you swim, like some of us, in a bit of a zig zag fashion - only 4.25km if you swim as straight as a die. *We'll meet at 10:30am at the Rose Revived car park on Sunday 27th July 2014**here:* *http://goo.gl/maps/sRNYR * (Look for the green arrow. (On the map - there won't actually be one in the car park :o) )) and we'll either walk or shuffle up to Shifford Lock, flop into the water and float, bob, or swim a bit seriously down to the Rose Revived. Under the grade 2 listed new bridge - 14th century and new 'cos it was built after Radcot - at the confluence of the Windrush and exit elegantly on the left on to the terrace of the Rose Revived to the applause of the drinkers. For those that want to shuffle a car we have an exciting alternative to the Chimney Meadows car park . . . . http://goo.gl/maps/yG24S and cross the original Thames at Duxford ford (A bit of a tautology) and amble to Shifford lock. We can decide on the day. Jeremy, Sharon and the Naiads of the Upper Thames *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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OXFORD BIG JUMP - Danger Bridge, Port Meadow, Sunday 13th July at 1:15pm
by Jeremy Wellingham 07 Jul '14

07 Jul '14

Calling the Leaping Lords and Ladies of Oxford, Join us for the Oxford 2014 European Big Jump day at Port Meadow this Sunday, 13th July at 1:15pm, Danger Bridge, Fiddler's Island ready to immerse ourselves in the Isis from whatever height you feel comfortable with at 2pm http://goo.gl/maps/NFQ37 Red bubble thing marks the spot! Every year, all across Europe, we re-afirm our connexion with our rivers and explore our aquatic origins by leaping, plunging, slipping or tip-toeing into our local rivers at the same instant in time. http://www.rivernet.org/bigjump/welcome.htm In a nutshell, BIG JUMP is a European river swimming day, where people reclaim their environment and demonstrate their wish to have clean and living rivers again. Park at Walton Well car park (Pay and Display - £1.10 for 3 hours or £2.20 for 5 hours.) http://goo.gl/maps/kPLew Alternatively, there is a free car park at the top end of Port Meadow at Godstow Road but that's a bit of a hike away: http://goo.gl/maps/YY7Me Bring food and drink for yourselves and/or to share for a picnic afterwards. We will have a barbecue for anyone who wants to have something warm and charred. And for those wanting more of a swim, this is the perfect stretch - trot upriver your required distance and swim back down. There will be plenty of companions and hopefully a nice sunny afternoon. See you there, Jeremy, Chris and Sharon and the flying salmon of the Isis. 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&s=responsib…

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OSS Swim the Thames #18 - Folly Bridge to Donny Bridge - Sun15Dec13@11:00am
by Jeremy Wellingham 08 Dec '13

08 Dec '13

Who remembers this from two years ago? Couldn't resist re-using it. (Maybe Vladimir and his amazing swimming polar bear will join as again.) A bridge too far last time but we're all a lot tougher now. Aquatic apes of the Isis, December is upon us, and you are no doubt anxious to get your toasty toes into the water. It is a little known fact that the term 'wassailing' is actually a contraction of 'water-sailing', an auld winter custom of December swimming thought to have originated in Oxfordshire. The custom was practiced at 'yuletide' (so called because of the especially prized faster riparian December currents, and the sounds they make, akin to yuling, modern: yelling. Spiced apple juice and flapjacks were traditionally awarded to hardy folk who could swim a country mile in mid-December. Yule logs were then burnt in local hostelries to warm these romantic heroes. Mistletoe, named for the frequent occurrence of frostbitten toes lost through such japes (it was colder in those days) was hung to allow toe-less swimmers the sweet compensation of kisses from rosy-cheeked serving wenches and bejerkined swains. Not swans. They had all been wrangled for the Christmas table. Swim 17 found us joined by the Cherwell, and, maybe a little more acceleration there from. We will therefore attempt the happy mile from Folly Bridge to Donnington Bridge, erstwhile Oxford eights row-boat-super-highway. Term will have ended so it is to be hoped the young folk have deserted the river for the turkey table, but a fair bit of looking out will no doubt be required. As there has been a drop in temperature inside and outside, the distance is a little less than we submarine hardy perennials are used to - approximately one mile. We will meet at *11.00am*, *Sunday 15th December*, at this carpark: http://g.co/maps/s7v2s off Meadow Lane, Oxford, second-left after the canoe club. Meadow Lane is the last right turn off Donnington Bridge Road before the bridge from the town side, or the first left from the Hinksey side. The carpark is an unkempt wee council number with plenty of bushes for changing in. Last time I visited it was free but bring a couple of quid in case. We'll walk up the towpath to Folly Bridge weather permitting. If the weather is coming down harder than Theresa May, it is a short drive to the Hinksey Pool carpark near Folly Bridge and we'll shuttle. We will be able to get out of the water very close to the cars. Afterwards, we propose a festive pub lunch at the Isis, a little further downriver - a must-visit on the pubs of the Thames tour that we are also engaged in, and a fitting setting for a little wassailing. As outdoor swimmers and romantic heroes, who can resist the lure of the Thames (known as Isis) for the Last Swim of the year 2013? We promise yule love it. Yours, with seasons' greetings (so named because of the ancient custom of calling the heroic swimmers 'sons (and daughters) of the sea'). Jeremy & Sef and the dark blue wassailing wahoos of the Isis ------------------------------------------------- OSS Oxon mailing list: OSSOxon(a)earth.li <mailto:OSSOxon@earth.li> http://www.earth.li/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/ossoxon By joining any jolly jaunt with Jeremy and Sef you agree to abide by the Outdoor Swimming Society's Swim Responsibility Statement: http://www.outdoorswimmingsociety.com/index.php?p=swimming_tips&s=responsib… 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, or using any material on the Wild swim map you confirm that you have read and understand the OSS swim responsibility statement and accept its terms.

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OSS Swim the Thames #56 THE END - Kingston Bridge-ish t Twickenham
by Sefryn Penrose 17 Sep '13

17 Sep '13

Short version: Meet 10.45 (10.30 for peeps with that little extra to do - me, Pam, Paul?) at Riverside, Teddington - by blue start pin in The End<http://goo.gl/maps/P6pvp>map. Shuttle most up to Lower Ham Road leaving dry stuff behind. Swim down. Hop over lock. Fish slap dance. Swim to obelisk. Have photo taken as here: http://tinyurl.com/swimhat<http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7aNe68jdmyM/T-T84sK11oI/AAAAAAAAIXI/Dh8gAMhquEM/s…> Make sure to bring smart hat for photoshoot. Get out. Get dressed. Walk or shuttle to party boat. Party. Locations. http://goo.gl/maps/P6pvp Long version: Suggest pouring yourself a whiskey, making sure the neighbours are out, perhaps putting this on for some backing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egY8rUpxqcE Or grab your uke and play along. And off you go. Just do it your way. D D7+ And now we’re at the end A6 B7 Oh yes we face the final lock cut Em Em7 My friend, we swam the Thames A7 D >From start to end, we swam it all but... D7 D7+ D7 We have one more to do G Gm Just one of 150 miles D A7 And all, almost all of this G Gm6 D We did it freestyle D D7+ Beset, by boats and crew A6 B7 We met them all with brave intention Em Em7 Tracy did what she had to do A7 D And asked each one for some libation D7 D7+ D7 We planned each charted course G Gm Each careful stroke around each isle D A7 And starting at the source G Gm6 D We swam it freestyle D Yes there were times Am7 I’m sure you know G G Where we drank more Gm6 More than we could swallow Em7 A7 We’ve bobbed and waded on F#m7 Bm7 And Chris’s Garmin buzzed at every mile Em7 A7 Adam wrangled every swan G Gm6 D And we did it freestyle D D7+ Sewage burst its tanks A6 B7 We had our fill of good Thames water Em Em7 But Charles was on the bank A7 D With Macaroons, and tea for afters D7 D7+ D7 To think, we did all that G Gm >From trolls we never shied away D A7 Oh no, we butterflied G Gm6 D Each six-lane highway D Am7 Meet at Riverside Drive, faff, put rubber on G G Gm6 >From Kingston Bridge, swim to Teddington Em7 A7 And Port of London jurisdiction F#m7 Bm7 Now what will feed Neil’s addiction? Em7 A7 Just one more mile, then we’ll swim the Nile, G Gm6 D We’ll do it freestyle We did it freestyle Signin' off, Ol' Father Blue Eyes and the ratpack fish of the Tidal Thames Elvis has left the building. _________________ 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.

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OSS Swim the Thames Celebration of our arrival at Teddington
by Jeremy Wellingham 03 Sep '13

03 Sep '13

Oyez, Oyez, Oyez! Sign up now to secure a place on the party boat! Grand finale to mark our arrival at the end of our non-tidal Thames journey. We plan to hire a boat to ourselves so we can inspect the river from slightly above the water level while relaxing with food and drink. We have identified a boat that we can embark at Kingston at 2:00pm for a four hour round trip either downstream, or if the tide doesn't allow, upstream. The cost for up to 50 souls is £850.00, so we would ideally need 42 and a half people to keep the cost to a not too excessive £20 / head. Food is still to be decided but we would aim at no more than £25 per head for a decent spread. There is a cash bar on board for drinks. There are currently 30 people, including partners, signed up so we're looking for at least another 13 people. I shall be sending out the press gangs to round up any stragglers but if any of the signed up people can use your influence that would be good. We need to book the boat, along with full payment, to secure it for our grand day out so speed is of the essence. Here's who's booked, so far. Ann Chance Mike Chance Carol Kearney Charlotte Reisch Hywel John Davies Rebecca Davies Rhiannon Davies Bethan Davies Chris Dalton Natasha Woolven Macdonald Chloe Jeffries Rafael Oya Neil Richardson Claire Tuckett Paula Cherriman Pamela Jones Bob Jones Angela Poulter Sefran Penrose Stanley Ulijaszek Pauline Ulijaszek Peter Ulijaszek Susan Login Claire Samwell Sharon Curtis Charles Bryant Jeremy Wellingham Karen Wellingham Lesley Ferguson Jim Garnett I'll send you all my bank details, if you could transfer £20.00 / head to secure the boat. Watch here for further details.

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