OSS Swim the Thames spy at Wallingford reports that the flow is strong but the water is running smoothly. The river levels have dropped since yesterday, according to the EA measurements at Days, Cleeve and Goring locks. The weirs at the two locks we are swimming past are both down stream of the locks, so pose less of a threat. The bridge at Goring has wide spans so is also less of a threat than some of the older more constrained bridges we have been through. We have a reasonable wide beach to exit from (at least it looks so from Google earth). So on balance I think it is worth turning up for the swim. Worse case is we don't like the look of it tomorrow, we don't pass Go or collect ?200 and we head straight to the pub!

Don't forget the OSS Swim Responsibility statement and please make your own assessment of the river conditions - there, H&S lecture finished.

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.outdoorswimmingsociety.com/index.php?p=swimming_tips&s=respon...

All swimmers swim at their own risk.

Look forward to seeing you tomorrow. Jeremy Wellingham

Yo! Thames Surfers,

Hang Ten this Sunday and go with the rip. With the Thames in full spate we continue with our current assisted swims and have another 4.9km (feels like 3km!) swim from South Stoke almost to Gatehampton. (We need to pace ourselves for the next stretch which will finish in Pangbourne.) Swim number 30 -- is it really that many since we started at Easter last year? -- will be a momentous milestone as we will cross the half way mark shortly after starting on our non-tidal Thames journey from the Source to Teddington. Look out for performances of Thames Barrier and Falange of Boboons to mark the occasion. We will also be swimming through the famous Goring Gap via Cleeve Lock (keep to the right) and then Goring Lock (keep to the the left). Walkers will start along the Ridgeway at South Stoke on the left bank and will join the Thames path at Goring, which crosses the river to the left bank to meet the Ridgeway and the ancient Icknield Way. Goring was a major crossing point of the Thames in ancient times. This swim isswim 43,44 and some of 45 in the /I ♥ the Thames/ book.

*Sunday 15 July 2012 at 10:00am South Stoke*

We will meet at swim entry point at the end of Ferry Lane in South Stoke at, where there is limited parking (Green Arrow marks the spot):

http://goo.gl/maps/fx8N

Parking will also be available at the Perch and Pike, where we will be lunching afterwards, which is a 5-10 minute walk away from the start point at the end of Ferry Lane (Green Arrow marks the spot):

http://goo.gl/maps/OF23

We will swim down to just *before* Brunel's Great Western Gatehampton Viaduct (A bridge with several equally spaced arches for the less pretentious.) We will exit at the beach on the left(Green Arrow marks the spot):

http://goo.gl/maps/8x2q

and walk back along the Thames path and Ferry Lane in Goring to cars that we have shuttled down to the car park in Goring (Or we may be able to move a car down to the end of Ferry Lane)(Green Arrow marks the spot):

http://goo.gl/maps/T1GO

And shuttle back to the Perch and Pike for Lunch

*NB Please let me know if you would like to stay for lunch so I can confirm the numbers with the pub.*

Sef, Jeremy and the Falange of Bobboons of the Thames Barrier

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.outdoorswimmingsociety.com/index.php?p=swimming_tips&s=respon...

All swimmers swim at their own risk.