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Swim the Thames #2 - catchup for those that missed it Water Eaton to Castle Eaton (Red Lion)
by Jeremy Wellingham 18 Jun '11

18 Jun '11

Details of Swim #2 (Catch up for those that missed it the first time around) 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 and some of swim 5 from Michael Worthington's book - 'I Love the Thames' - and will cover about 4km. We will be meeting at 10:30 on Sat 25 June 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 <http://tinyurl.com/CastleEatonRL> The swim will be from Water Eaton footbridge (marked by green arrow) http://tinyurl.com/WaterEatonFoB <http://tinyurl.com/WaterEatonFoB> to the Red Lion. We will walk up stream to the Water Eaton footbridge along the Thames path to familarise ourselves with the river. Then swim 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.… <http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=55781602829&topic=17110> ). 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…> See you there! Jeremy & Sef Oxford(a)outdoorswimmingsociety.com

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Swim 4 & 5 of Swim the Thames Hannington Bridge to Buscott Lock
by Sefryn Penrose 14 Jun '11

14 Jun '11

Herewith, deets for this weekend at Lechlade. Let me or Jeremy know if you have questions, and please let me know as soon as pos if you are intending to camp. Swim #4 and Swim #5 of OSS Swim the Thames Weekend of 11/12 June If you are intending to camp - meet at 10.30am on Saturday 11th at the Trout, Lechlade, for to pitch the tents: http://thetroutinn.com/ *http://tinyurl.com/6b3et96* If you are intending just to swim on Saturday, meet at: Meet 12pm at Riverside Park carpark, Lechlade. *http://tinyurl.com/69etyzy* We will then shuttle to Hannington Bridge where we left off at the end of Swim #3 and swim downriver to Inglesham, via an extended stop on the way for lunch/warm up drinks/a rest (yet to be determined due to a lack of obvious access points). This is a distance of 5.7km, equivalent to swim 8 in Michael Worthington's book *I Love the Thames. *The Thames path does not follow the river for the duration of this swim so if you want to get out before the end, this may require a bit of field hopping and navigation. Don't forget to bring lunch for the pit(beach?)-stop. We expect to finish by 4pm. We will then pick up cars and go to the campsite at the Trout, by St John's Bridge, Lechlade. Handily there is a pub on site for anyone requiring warm up snifters, and weather permitting we will put up the barbecue and refuel for an evening (unnumbered) swim for those that want it. Bring food and drink for yourself/and/or to share. On Sunday, we will shuttle back to Riverside Park (if you're just coming to this one, meet at 10.30am at Riverside Park), having left a couple of cars at the finish point, to restart for Swim #5 and swim past Lechlade, over the lock, into the navigable Thames and around to Buscott Lock, a distance of 3.9km, equivalent to swims 9 & 10 from *I Love the Thames*. We will then return to the Trout for a well-earned pub lunch. Both these swims are reasonably long and we expect more swimming than wading, so bring wetsuits and rubber feet (and socks and gloves if you get cold). There will be breaks at predetermined points. *If you would like to camp, please let me (Sef) know by reply asap so that I can tell the Trout how many of us to expect. The cost will be £10 per tent/van/etc, with up to 6 people in each, so buddy up and get cosy!* ** *If you are not keen on the camping bit but would like to come overnight, there is more accommodation a short walk away in Lechlade. There is also space for caravans there, or a more equipped touring park next to Riverside Park, Bridge House, also walkable:* ** http://www.caravancampingsites.co.uk/gloucestershire/bridgehouse.htm If you have not yet managed to make any of the Thames swims, please come along anyway if you fancy it - the more the merrier. 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… Jeremy & Sef and the ticklable trouts of Team Thames

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Swim 5 Catch up
by colin.palmer＠talktalk.net 14 Jun '11

14 Jun '11

Hi all Adam and I are catching up on swim five at 10.30 this Sunday 19th June, meeting at the National Trust visitors' car park in Buscot (SU 231 977), this is about 400m from the exit point at Buscot Lock. Except on fine afternoons there is normally no problem with finding space to park here. Parking is not available anywhere nearer the lock. Colin

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Swim 5
by colin.palmer＠talktalk.net 13 Jun '11

13 Jun '11

Hi all Looks like a fun evening and swim on Sunday, I pondered my mortality whilst swimming across Malham Tarn, an easy swim according to Daniel Start in Wild Swimming but fairly difficult into the teeth of a gale. Never has a cup of coffee and tiffin tasted as good as in the Malham Tea Rooms. Reason for post is to get info on swim 5. 1. Does the Thames Path follow the river along this stretch? 2. Is the exit point accesible by car? 3. Anyone interested in doing this stretch this Saturday 18th June? Colin

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Re: [OSS Oxon] OSSOxon Digest, Vol 13, Issue 4
by Michel & Janetta 06 Jun '11

06 Jun '11

I've done a few Swimtreks & highly recommend them for reasons given here by others. Egypt has been my favourite, we've done it twice, sea life is amazing which makes it a great trip to take your time swimming on, so no need to worry if you're slow - hubby & I were both at the back the whole time first trip and loved it! A word on Strel's co, he's aping much of Swimtrek, & I'd always go with the originator & most experienced if you catch my drift J Janetta ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Sun, 5 Jun 2011 17:56:31 +0100 From: "Liz Holliss" <lizholliss(a)btconnect.com> To: "James Lowe" <James.Lowe(a)datacore.com>, "Ben Waters" <ben.waters2(a)gmail.com>, <OSSOxon(a)earth.li> Subject: Re: [OSS Oxon] Swimming in warm places Message-ID: <070B7523EFAB734EA8EA8FCED18FF09D0579E19A(a)HEMV1DUKER.he.local> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Quite agree, also, if you go to Gozo/Egypt etc you might like to tag a bit on at the beginning or end, and do some diving? The sort of people who go on Swimtrek holidays are usually pretty sociable/mad types (you have to be, to do what we do). Finally got wet in the Thames this morning, and it wasn't nearly as cold as the sea in Cornwall last week. So no more excuses....! Cheers, Liz -----Original Message----- From: ossoxon-bounces(a)earth.li [mailto:ossoxon-bounces@earth.li] On Behalf Of James Lowe Sent: 02 June 2011 08:44 To: Ben Waters; OSSOxon(a)earth.li Subject: Re: [OSS Oxon] Swimming in warm places Ben, Give Swimtrek a go, I've been on half a dozen of their trips and they are a lot of fun. They are always well organized and having the guide boats with you the whole time means you are not obligated to swimming the whole day. The average swim length varies on each trip - you can find out more details on their website for each one - but I've been on trips where relative beginners (only ever swam 500m in a pool types) to national champions (10Km in 2.5 hours) have all swam on the same trip and the way they organize the disparity of speeds means you are never on your own or struggling to keep up. I really enjoyed Croatia - calm seas, warm weather. Sardinia was fun to (a bit windy at times) but very varied in the type of swim - island to island, boat to boat, round the island. I haven't done greece - what put me off was the constant changing of hotels, some people like that, but I find that a chore. However that does mean you get a lot of variety. I have a freind who has done the British Virgin Islands 4 times now! That one is a bit pricey for me (and a lot of flying) but she says it is the best one. I'd also consider the one-off hellespont race and tag a long weekend in Istanbul. That;s a great experience (again you can do it if you can swim 2km) and as it is very hard to get invited into what is effectively a race - but also more of a gathering - Swimtrek is the only way to experience that. James PS I don't work for them ;) ________________________________________ From: ossoxon-bounces(a)earth.li [ossoxon-bounces(a)earth.li] on behalf of Ben Waters [ben.waters2(a)gmail.com] Sent: 31 May 2011 23:35 To: OSSOxon(a)earth.li Subject: [OSS Oxon] Swimming in warm places Dear swimmers, i am fairly new to this list and enjoy reading what you do here, swim all over places. I moved from NW Canada for work and would like to go around Europe while here in UK. I've seen you also do swimming trips to many EU destinations and i wonder if someone could recommend where to go (warm places). I am not a great swimmer but i can swim a km or two in one Go. I see firms swim trek and strels are offering trips down in croatia, italy, greece. Any advise on this would be greatly appreciated. Hope to join you in the water soon. Thank you, Ben _______________________________________________ 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. ------------------------------ Message: 2 Date: Sun, 5 Jun 2011 23:07:35 +0100 From: Sefryn Penrose <sefryn(a)gmail.com> To: OSSOxon(a)earth.li Subject: [OSS Oxon] Swim 4 & 5 of Swim the Thames Hannington Bridge to Buscott Lock Message-ID: <BANLkTimDJ63WyAwSYzA9--ovKXey721L2w(a)mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Herewith, deets for this weekend at Lechlade. Let me or Jeremy know if you have questions, and please let me know as soon as pos if you are intending to camp. Swim #4 and Swim #5 of OSS Swim the Thames Weekend of 11/12 June If you are intending to camp - meet at 10.30am on Saturday 11th at the Trout, Lechlade, for to pitch the tents: http://thetroutinn.com/ *http://tinyurl.com/6b3et96* If you are intending just to swim on Saturday, meet at: Meet 12pm at Riverside Park carpark, Lechlade. *http://tinyurl.com/69etyzy* We will then shuttle to Hannington Bridge where we left off at the end of Swim #3 and swim downriver to Inglesham, via an extended stop on the way for lunch/warm up drinks/a rest (yet to be determined due to a lack of obvious access points). This is a distance of 5.7km, equivalent to swim 8 in Michael Worthington's book *I Love the Thames. *The Thames path does not follow the river for the duration of this swim so if you want to get out before the end, this may require a bit of field hopping and navigation. Don't forget to bring lunch for the pit(beach?)-stop. We expect to finish by 4pm. We will then pick up cars and go to the campsite at the Trout, by St John's Bridge, Lechlade. Handily there is a pub on site for anyone requiring warm up snifters, and weather permitting we will put up the barbecue and refuel for an evening (unnumbered) swim for those that want it. Bring food and drink for yourself/and/or to share. On Sunday, we will shuttle back to Riverside Park (if you're just coming to this one, meet at 10.30am at Riverside Park), having left a couple of cars at the finish point, to restart for Swim #5 and swim past Lechlade, over the lock, into the navigable Thames and around to Buscott Lock, a distance of 3.9km, equivalent to swims 9 & 10 from *I Love the Thames*. We will then return to the Trout for a well-earned pub lunch. Both these swims are reasonably long and we expect more swimming than wading, so bring wetsuits and rubber feet (and socks and gloves if you get cold). There will be breaks at predetermined points. *If you would like to camp, please let me (Sef) know by reply asap so that I can tell the Trout how many of us to expect. The cost will be ?10 per tent/van/etc, with up to 6 people in each, so buddy up and get cosy!* ** *If you are not keen on the camping bit but would like to come overnight, there is more accommodation a short walk away in Lechlade. There is also space for caravans there, or a more equipped touring park next to Riverside Park, Bridge House, also walkable:* ** http://www.caravancampingsites.co.uk/gloucestershire/bridgehouse.htm If you have not yet managed to make any of the Thames swims, please come along anyway if you fancy it - the more the merrier. 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 <http://www.outdoorswimmingsociety.com/index.php?p=swimming_tips&s=responsib ility> &s=responsibility Jeremy & Sef and the ticklable trouts of Team Thames

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Swimming in warm places
by Ben Waters 05 Jun '11

05 Jun '11

Dear swimmers, i am fairly new to this list and enjoy reading what you do here, swim all over places. I moved from NW Canada for work and would like to go around Europe while here in UK. I've seen you also do swimming trips to many EU destinations and i wonder if someone could recommend where to go(warm places). I am not a great swimmer but i can swim a km or two in one Go. I see firms swim trek and strels are offering trips down in croatia, italy, greece. Any advise on this would be greatly appreciated. Hope to join you in the water soon. Thank you, Ben

3 2

OSS Swim the Thames #4 - #8 (and catchup) dates for your diaries
by Jeremy Wellingham 03 Jun '11

03 Jun '11

/For the folks who are Facebook refuseniks here are the dates for your diaries for the next set of OSS Swim the Thames events. We will send out individual updates for each event nearer the time when we have more details on the meeting places and exit points following a recce. We may adjust the start finish based on progress of previous swims but these are the days when we will be swimming so pencil them into your diaries and keep an eye open for final joining instructions! //Sat11Jun11 Swim #4 Hannington Bridge to Inglesham (5.7km) (camp overnight) (Swim 8 in MW book) Sun12Jun11 Swim #5 Inglesham to Buscott Lock (3.9km) (Swim 9 & 10 in MW book) Sun26Jun11 Swim #2 (Catchup for those who missed the original event) Water Eaton House to Castle Eaton (Red Lion) (4km) (Any other catch up swims could take place this weekend - notes available to budding co-ordinators) Sun10Jul11 Big Jump Oxford Sun17Jul11 Swim #6 Buscott to Grafton Lock (5.4km) (Swim 11 & 12 in MW book Sat30Jul11 Swim #7 Grafton Lock to Radcott Lock (4.0km) (Swim 13 & 14 in MW book) Sun14Aug11 Swim#8 Radcott Lock to Tadpole Bridge (5.5km) (Swim 15, 16 & 17 in MW book) Jeremy, Sef & the intrepid folk of Team Thames Oxford(a)OutdoorSwimmingSociety.com <http://ety.com/>/

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Swim the Thames #3 - BH Monday 30th May
by Sefryn Penrose 30 May '11

30 May '11

This swim is on Spring Bank Holiday Monday 30th May. ----------- Hello all, Here is the updated info for Swim 3 of the OSS Oxon & Reading Swim the Thames event series. This is the third swim of the OSS Swim the Thames series. The Thames is deep enough to swim along longer stretches, or the commando crawl (tm) is always an option - its originators will be happy to teach you - but there are still very shallow parts where wading is unavoidable (ajnd enjoyable for those of us in the Extreme Wading Society). This stretch will combine the end of swim 5, swim 6 and swim 7 from Michael Worthington's book - 'I Love the Thames' - and will cover a distance of 4.6km. This is longer than previously thought and equivalent in length to Sunday 14th's #swim 2. There are issues along this stretch with trespass-free exit points which is why we are going for the longer swim. The Thames Path now diverts from the river and the bank is private land. If the going gets too tough, exit points have been identified and we will have a drink and sugary eat break at approximately 3km for those who want an energy supplement, where the path meets the river. This and one other point have been identified for those who would like to get out before Hannington Bridge and will be indicated as we approach them. Because of the length of the swim and the fact that we'll still be river-walking, wetsuits and rubber feet are essentials. Meet at 10.30am at the Red Lion, Castle Eaton. We will return here after the swim for a pub lunch. Look forward to seeing you there! http://tinyurl.com/3bkncxh 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=responsibility Jeremy & Sef Oxford(a)outdoorswimmingsociety.com

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Swim the Thames #3
by Sefryn Penrose 22 May '11

22 May '11

Hello all, Here is the updated info for Swim 3 of the OSS Oxon & Reading Swim the Thames event series. This is the third swim of the OSS Swim the Thames series. The Thames is deep enough to swim along longer stretches, or the commando crawl (tm) is always an option - its originators will be happy to teach you - but there are still very shallow parts where wading is unavoidable (ajnd enjoyable for those of us in the Extreme Wading Society). This stretch will combine the end of swim 5, swim 6 and swim 7 from Michael Worthington's book - 'I Love the Thames' - and will cover a distance of 4.6km. This is longer than previously thought and equivalent in length to Sunday 14th's #swim 2. There are issues along this stretch with trespass-free exit points which is why we are going for the longer swim. The Thames Path now diverts from the river and the bank is private land. If the going gets too tough, exit points have been identified and we will have a drink and sugary eat break at approximately 3km for those who want an energy supplement, where the path meets the river. This and one other point have been identified for those who would like to get out before Hannington Bridge and will be indicated as we approach them. Because of the length of the swim and the fact that we'll still be river-walking, wetsuits and rubber feet are essentials. Meet at 10.30am at the Red Lion, Castle Eaton. We will return here after the swim for a pub lunch. Look forward to seeing you there! http://tinyurl.com/3bkncxh 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=responsibility Jeremy & Sef Oxford(a)outdoorswimmingsociety.com

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Re: [OSS Oxon] [OSS RATS] OSS Swim the Thames - Swim #2
by Chris Dalton 15 May '11

15 May '11

Hi All, GPS tracks for this weekend are here: Saturday http://connect.garmin.com/activity/85543970 Sunday http://connect.garmin.com/activity/85850399 As I expected the track for Sunday was a bit off in distance due to losing lock. Measured on an OS 25k map the total distance was a tad over 4km, which stacks up nicely time-wise with the previous section. Good times for me. See you all next time! CD

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