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OSS Swim the Thames #47 SUNDAY 2nd June 1.30PM Boveney Lock - Romney Lock
by Sefryn Penrose 27 May '13

27 May '13

What ho chaps, Top hole old swim-swam to be had this weekend. Can't be doing with the hoi-polloi though - the rest of the Human Race<http://humanrace.co.uk/events/open-water-swimming/windsor-swim>(Windsor race begins in our patch at 8am) who insist on swimming in MY river - so meet a little later than planned at *1.30pm* so the little blighters can be fished out and sent packing. Jeeves says a tip-top tiffin of fois gras, quails eggs and truffles before a swim is just the thing so fill up fellows. *1.30pm* at the car park at *Boveney Lock *(same as last time - hopefully there'll be enough space for all the Rollers) http://goo.gl/maps/1zcEH (Green arrow marks the spot). Toddle over to the lock and plop in, swim down past school (jolly boating weather), watch out for the old boys' bathing place - Athens we called it doncha know - ladies, eyes right: http://www.hungouttodry.co.uk/page19.htm#.UaOnEutnAXw Stop for a sing song <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtXYB5cN-1k>. Carry on down to Romney Lock and don't forget to tip yer hat to the old girl if the flag's up. At Romney Lock - we'll scramble out and toddle back to the start (I know! In public - in those garments! Just like the Bullingdon Club all over again). The walk's about 3.5km, so make sure you've got suitable footwear or you'll be hopping about like a loon. Dash it all, parking in Windsor's a royal pain. Sefryn's not coming- squeamish I suppose; and Jeremy's gone Greek, so we're on our own chaps. Warm-down drinks at the Pineapple for afters. Try not to wreck the place. http://goo.gl/maps/qdiXS Toodle-pip, Tuppy Trunk-Wetblubber (of the Berkshire Trunk-Wetblubbers) and the seriphus politus of the Windsor Thames ------------------------------------------------- OSS Oxon mailing list: OSSOxon(a)earth.li http://www.earth.li/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/ossoxon By joining any jolly jaunt with (or without) 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 in this group or on 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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FW: Tell us what you think!
by Chris D 24 May '13

24 May '13

Hi All, I'd just like to add the some of the questions in the survey have been added at the request of the Canal and River Trust as part of their review into offering more access. So if you haven't done so, please fill in the survey! www.swimthethames.info/survey <http://swimthethames.info/survey/index.php/survey/index> Thanks! CD From: Outdoor Swimming Society [mailto:donotreply@outdoorswimmingsociety.com] Sent: 16 May 2013 14:02 To: Chris Dalton Subject: Tell us what you think! <http://www.outdoorswimmingsociety.com/images/bulkemail/big%20jump.bmp> 30 questions, 15,580 swimmers, and just as many opinions (probably)... The OSS has launched it's second-ever survey of wild swimmers, to find out more about what you do, and what you want. Please take 4 minutes NOW <http://swimthethames.info/survey/index.php/survey/index> (we've timed it) to tell us what you think - about swimming, what the OSS should do in 2013 and beyond, and everything else from inland access to kit and adventurous events. Just go to www.swimthethames.info/survey <http://swimthethames.info/survey/index.php/survey/index> and get clicking! We've come a long way since we launched in 2006 with no great plans, but a lot of enthusiasm. Where are we going to go next? When we've analysed the results, we'll let you know. We hope to be better able to improve your experience of free swimming in this country. A massive 20% of members filled in our last survey in 2010. Lets see if we can beat that this time... Many thanks and happy swimming Kate Rew Director, Outdoor Swimming Society

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FW: Little Marlow Sewage Treatment Update 24 May 2013
by Chris D 24 May '13

24 May '13

Latest info as of today.. CD From: WT Enquiries [mailto:WTenquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk] Sent: 24 May 2013 16:26 To: WT Enquiries Subject: Little Marlow Sewage Treatment Update 24 May 2013 Dear Sir/Madam Yesterday we received calls from members of the public concerned about further sewer debris on the river downstream of Little Marlow sewage treatment works. Our own monitoring equipment also detected abnormal levels of solids in the final treated effluent. My officers attended the site last night and are there again today to establish what is happening and to collect evidence. At this stage, we believe the debris was released in to the river as a consequence of Thames Water cleaning out one of the settlement tanks on site. Thames Water's managers have instructed the cleaning work to stop and have employed contractors to clean up debris from the river. We appreciate the public's frustration with the ongoing problems at the sewage treatment works. We are scrutinising Thames Water very closely and putting pressure on them to restore normal operation of the STW. We have opened our incident room today to manage our response and have extra staff on duty to respond to any further problems 24 hours a day. We will continue to send updates when we have more information or the situation changes. Regards, Helen Page Environment Management Team Leader Land & Water, Thame & Upper Thames Valley West Thames Area Information in this message may be confidential and may be legally privileged. If you have received this message by mistake, please notify the sender immediately, delete it and do not copy it to anyone else. We have checked this email and its attachments for viruses. But you should still check any attachment before opening it. We may have to make this message and any reply to it public if asked to under the Freedom of Information Act, Data Protection Act or for litigation. Email messages and attachments sent to or from any Environment Agency address may also be accessed by someone other than the sender or recipient, for business purposes.

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OSS Swim the Thames #46 - Monkey Island to Boveney Lock - 10:30am Sunday 12 May 2013
by Jeremy Wellingham 10 May '13

10 May '13

Lepomis cyanellus of the warm water streams of the Thames, OK, this is a Canadian resident of our namesake river but here's hoping it applies to us as well this Sunday. (Don't think we'll be able to match Sharon's spectacular choice of Bank Holiday weather that Jo organised but if you're watching Jo -- pretty please?) We'll meet at the finish (that's the end not the country) Car Park at 10:30am on Sunday 12th May 2013 near to Boveney (I thinks it's free but if any locals know better please add a clarification comment): http://goo.gl/maps/1zcEH (Green arrow marks the spot) and shuttle up to Start (where we finished Swim #45) Park here at the small but free Car park (Assuming we can find it this time by approaching from the other end) or if feeling spritely we could walk up instead.) http://goo.gl/maps/cpk7T <http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fgoo.gl%2Fmaps%2Fcpk7T&h=eAQGux…> Cross the Summerlease foot bridge and enter water here where there is a nice beach (No need to scrabble around in the undergrowth on the other bank!): http://goo.gl/maps/kmFKr <http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fgoo.gl%2Fmaps%2FkmFKr&h=uAQG1-…> Swim down to Boveney Lock 3.81 k http://goo.gl/maps/MPz5C <http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fgoo.gl%2Fmaps%2FMPz5C&h=FAQGj2…> and return to finish car park where we met up and check out the abandoned church of St Mary Magdalene once used by the river folk on our way back from the lock to the car park: http://goo.gl/maps/1zcEH <http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fgoo.gl%2Fmaps%2F1zcEH&h=sAQErA…> And this swim brings up to Windsor Race Course. And we'll be eating at The Pineapple at Dorney: http://goo.gl/maps/qdiXS <http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fgoo.gl%2Fmaps%2FqdiXS&h=_AQFTz…> ------------------------------------------------- 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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Swim #45 Boulter’s Lock to Monkey Island
by Sefryn Penrose 24 Apr '13

24 Apr '13

Swim #45 Boulter’s Lock to Monkey Island 28th April 10.30am The Trolls of Monkey Island (one for the gamers) Scenario: You are a youth named Swimbrush Neoweed. You arrive in the fictional land of Maidenhead with the desire to become a pirate in order to swim 4.73km to Monkey Island to rescue the beautiful Blackwitch Rubberfest who has been kidnapped by swan-riding trolls and bound to a footbridge with rejected willow fronds. You must seek out Maidenhead’s pirate leaders, who will set you three trials that must be completed before they will become your crew and help you in your quest. Start your adventure at Boulter's Lock car park (you have been here before). http://goo.gl/maps/ZBLi Find pirate crew (they are wearing wetsuits). Pull the alligator’s tongue and talk to the voodoo lady until she has nothing new to say. Take £1.00 from your inventory and use to buy ticket. Congratulations! You have completed the three tasks. Some pirates shuttle a few cars with ALL DRY KIT to Puerto Frondo (aka small free car park) at the swim end and come back: http://goo.gl/maps/cpk7T Avoid swamps and snakes. Travel by foot with pirate crew (who are now bound to you by the unbreakable pirate code) to Boulter's Lock. Admire mysterious flowers. Talk to everyone about everything you can. http://goo.gl/maps/4rsVJ Enter water. Swim or bob to A4 bridge and butterfly underneath it. Onwards past eyot. Salute Brunel’s Grade I Maidenhead railway bridge and butterfly under it. Swim on to Bray lock. Find mysterious stranger. Accept flask of hot sweet liquid and ambrosian biscuits. This will give you strength to continue. Re-enter water (if you are warm enough) and continue on to butterfly under M4 bridge, and stay right to new footbridge beyond. Butterfly underneath. All butterflying must be completed successfully or trolls will sacrifice Blackwitch Rubberfest to Old Father Thames. Butterflying appeases angry fronds who release Blackwitch. http://goo.gl/maps/hYFFj Cross over bridge on frozen foot stumps to Thames path. Account for rest of pirate crew and defeat trolls in single combat with neoprene gloves and silicone hats. Arrive Puerto Frondo (aka free car park) where Blackwitch Rubberfest has your dry clothes. Return to fictional Maidenhead and eat heartily. Yours, Captain Banjo and First Mate LeSnee and the Silver Arowanas of Monkey Island ------------- 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. 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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½ birthday swim party!
by Sharon Curtis 23 Apr '13

23 Apr '13

November is when my birthday falls, but the water is too cold then for us non-wetsuiters. So instead you are all hereby invited to my 42½ birthday party, to be held at 4pm on Mon 6th May. There will be cake. The plan: meet at 4pm Newbridge, then swim downwards towards Northmoor Lock (distance according to preference and water tembrrrrrrrature). The late afternoon swim should dodge most of the bank holiday vehicular traffic on the roads and boat traffic on the river. Then back to the pub (Rose Revived) for grub. Please let me know if you're planning to come so I can book an appropriately-sized table. Now where do I book the sunshine? Sharon

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OSS Swim the Thames #44 SUNDAY 14th APRIL 10.30am Cookham Lock - Cliveden - Boulter's Lock
by Sefryn Penrose 16 Apr '13

16 Apr '13

Now come a little closer darlink, milaya moya, yes yes rest your head on my pillow, we have little talk, yes? Little pillow talk - you, me, Mandy and Christine too? You come to Thames swim party *#44 on SUNDAY 14th APRIL at 10.30am.* You meet me in car park near Boulter's lock (only £1 for the day) at 10.30am: http://goo.gl/maps/Z9BLi Maybe we take our clothes off yes? Maybe put on some rubber? My friend osteopath take care of you. Maybe we get in friend's car - he big man in mac - work for Government - shuttle up to Cookham unisex outdoor changing rooms here (easy drive straight up Lower Cookham Road / Sutton Road (A4094): http://goo.gl/maps/8Pxjf We have brisk walk to Cookham lock across Odney Common. We maybe have a little fun with birch twig. We enter water here at Cookham lock: http://goo.gl/maps/FmqV6 Lord Astor have swimming pool but much nicer in river no? Maybe we have little splash-splash past Lord Astor's house, Cliveden, maybe look at who else is in the pool but saying nothing shhh. We want to have good long swim, no? so you can tell me everything that man in mac said about British naval movements down CLIVEDEN DEEP (very deep). You think this too cold for swim party? Back home in Soviet Union, me and other naval attaches, we have swim parties in freezing Baltic. My babicka, she have swim party for hours in -20 degrees. Maybe we swim for 3.3km. If precious darling get cold, we get out early, or get in a little later - plenty places for bit of nooky on bank. My friend osteopath sort you out. He bring hot flask and biscuit. Naughty friend. Hywel Rice-Davies, he already been to swim party here, he say you stay close to me to RIGHT as we get to lock as current very strong, and I very strong too, and then we swim very hard up final stretch up lock cut. He say Thames path is on right and we can get out early if have to. He also say can do extreme wading. Then, we get out here at Boulter's lock: http://goo.gl/maps/EHVVe If you good girl, we take off rubber and I take you for lunch. At lock is Boulter Restaurant with Terrace Bar. We get binoculars out and see what other naval attaches are doing. Maybe you go tell British Government man what Soviet ships are doing in Cliveden Deep. http://www.boultersrestaurant.co.uk/boulters-terrace-bar/menus/ You sit on chair anyway you like. You want keep clothes off? Is fine. My friend, osteopath he give you massage. Afterwards, we run you back pick up car from Cookham. Very hush hush secret swim party. You tell everyone yes? Bring friends? Yours, Scandalous Naval Attache and the profumo di mare of the Cliveden Deep 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 OSSswim 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. 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 #43 - Cock Marsh to Cookham Lock - 11:00am Saturday 16 March 2013
by Jeremy Wellingham 10 Mar '13

10 Mar '13

Water-babies of the Thames, Welcome to the last of the Thames winter swims which also marks our entry to the Lower Thames. This month we have the special appearance of Mrs Jo from the Emerald Isle. Jet Setter that she is, we've changed our swim to Saturday so that she can join us. This month's swim is the last part of Swim 61 from Michael Worthington's /I/?/the Thames/and is 1.4km long.//Only another 14 to go to Teddington and the end of the non tidal Thames./ / We will meet at 11:00am on *SATURDAY* 16th March at the National Trust The Pound car park at Cookham (that's its name - parking is free!), here: http://goo.gl/maps/lO6E0(Green arrow marks the spot) (Same place as the last swim) A brisk walk to the edge of the National Trust Cock Marsh (that's its name, so I'll use it if want to . . .) and slide in to the river at the tree where we exited last time, here or hereabouts: http://goo.gl/maps/tAQu4 We will swim down towards Cookham Lock and here's where it gets tricky, so listen carefully: * **IMPORTANT NAVIGATION NOTE* Go under the bridge at Cookham using the 2nd arch from the right. There is a choice of three visible channels - take the middle narrow one thatleads to the lock. The other two lead to weirs and are not recommended. (There is also a fourth channel to the far right butthat will not be immediately apparent- you don't want to go down that one either.) *I recommend that you check this out for your self before the swim from foot path over Cookham bridge on your way to the meeting point.* Swim down the long lock cut - around 0.6km with out the current assist we have become use to over the winter, where we will exit at the lock, here: http://goo.gl/maps/8MMEs Lunch is booked at The Ferry at Cookham bridge for 2pm, where we ate last time. (Hoping the service will be prompterthan last time - but the food was good once it arrived.): www.theferry.co.uk Mistress S and Master J of the STT Odyssey ---------------------------------------------------- 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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Swim 40/41 Catchup
by Chris D 21 Feb '13

21 Feb '13

Hi All, Weather permitting I'd like to do a catchup of swim 40, 41 or both on Sunday. Anyone interested? CD

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OSS Swim the Thames #42 - Bourne End towards Cookham - 11:00am Sunday 17 February 2013
by Jeremy Wellingham 10 Feb '13

10 Feb '13

Beavers of the Thames welcome to the depth of winter, We open the wardrobe door to the land of Narnia and the dive headlong into the Great River at the Fords of Beruna in pursuit of Jadis with the prize of Cair Paravel at the end of our journey to the Great Eastern Ocean. We will ultimately be rewarded with the end of a hundred years of winter but until then Aslan will be our guide but be cautioned about offers of Magical Turkish Delight on our journey. We will meet in the wardrobe, here, at 11:00am: http://goo.gl/maps/lO6E0 And emerge into Narnia and walk to The Great River, to inspect our exit point here: (We can recce for additional points on the day.) http://goo.gl/maps/SoRpo We will then walk up to the entry point here (Get in at the Bourne End railway bridge, where we got out last time): http://goo.gl/maps/69otL And swim a 1k or so the exit we identified on the walkuphere: http://goo.gl/maps/SoRpo It's a short hop, skip and jump to the cars where having donned our winter suits we will be transported in sleighs by the white witch tothe Ferry Inn at Cookham, here: www.theferry.co.uk/ <http://www.theferry.co.uk/> Queen Lucy the Valiant and King Peter the Magnificent of the Fords of the Thames ------------------------------------------------- OSSOxon 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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