Hi Claire,
I think you meant to send this to the list, so I'll follow up to the list.
I've kayaked and punted on the Cherwell past Hildas so I don't see why one shouldn't swim there - as far as I know it's perfectly standard navigable water. We've swum from the Vicky Arms in Marston down to the Marston cycle path past the Parks, which was gorgeous, and you can do with bank access to public footpaths both ends. I think it's very much in a landowner's power to forbid swimming *from* the bank but if you're already in the water and access it from public footpaths I'm not sure what the laws say. Generally nobody seems to mind.
After regular swimming in previous years I've been scarce in the water in 2010 (due to combination of various projects plus moving house) and just done a few spur-of-the-moment swims with my girlfriend. Got back this week from a great expedition to China and hoping to swim more in 2011 as there's still lots of Thames I've not seen.
The Thames is a bit chilly in the winter (definitely wetsuit territory for me, though some tough it out in a cossie) and there are some lovely stretches with good access to the footpath most of the way along. Port Meadow is one of my favourites, James is a treasure trove of other good site info in the area :-)
As ever the trick seems to be to get enough experience on easy sections that you can assess new swims for yourself and figure out your own safety levels - all about personal responsibility, really, though lots of good advice on this list :-)
Weekend weather looks potentially fun - some good opportunities for wild-weather swimming if the river isn't bursting its banks.
Tim
Claire Robertson wrote:
Hello everyone :)
I started Oxford Uni last term as a fresher and I'm definately thinking this term about doing some swimming! I did some rowing last term but I'm looking forward to getting in the water and not just on it. I go to St Hilda's college and we have the Cherwell running through the grounds - it's very tempting (not at the moment because it's so flooded) but of course we're forbidden from swimming.
Do you often swim in Oxford? I've swum year-round before in the sea off the sussex coast, so I have experience of outdoor swimming but I haven't often swum in rivers. It would be good to go with a group so I know where is safe and where isn't.
Best Claire
On Wed, Jan 12, 2011 at 11:30 AM, Tim Bond tim.bond@keble.oxon.org wrote:
Those few months have been quite quite swim-wise for the last few years too!
I'm now settling in to the new house, finished various projects that took up my time last year, and starting to think about getting myself down to the river more. I'll sit down and work through my diary tonight and might see about going for a swim this weekend somewhere if time allows.
I hear the Eight Bells at Eaton has a particularly good log fire going at the moment :-)
Tim
James Lowe wrote:
Pam,
No I don't think so. There might have been one from Sefryn about a mid-winter solstice swim, but otherwise after October it's been
relatively
quiet.
James
-----Original Message----- From: Pam pamjones@btinternet.com Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2011 17:40:21 +0000 To: OSS Oxon ossoxon@earth.li Subject: [OSS Oxon] Re OSSoxon events
Dear all
Have I missed any messages? The last I had was in September from James.
Happy swimming and hope to see some of you soon.
Pam
OSS Oxon mailing list OSSOxon@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.
OSS Oxon mailing list OSSOxon@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.
OSS Oxon mailing list OSSOxon@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.