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OSS Swim the Thames #48 & #49 - Windsor Romney Lock to Runnymede Bell Weir Lock via Old Windsor Lock - Saturday 6 July 2013 2:00pm / Sunday 7 July 10:00am
by Jeremy Wellingham 30 Jun '13

30 Jun '13

Pagans of the Thames, for the second time of asking, We've missed theLessor Sabbat of Litha and the Solstice weekend due to last weekend's oil spillage at Windsor. We hope you been able to make good use of the time for plenty of catch ups, in lieu of the schedule swim. *CAMPING SATURDAY 6 JULY 2013* This weekend we have a Saturday #48 and a Sunday #49 swim, with a camping option on the night of Saturday 6 July at Runnymede in a Thames side garden, courtesy of http://campinmygarden.com/ at £20 per person. Not used this before but as we push ever deeper in to the unfamiliar territory of Thames suburbia it might be a useful option for more camps, as sites are either scarce or very regimented and commercial - not like us at all! *Please let me know if you would like to camp ASAP, so I can firm up the booking.* **Swim #48 *SATURDAY 6 JULY 2013 2:00pm Windsor Romney Lock to Old Windsor Lock* Before the swim there is a test of your navigation skills to find the meeting place. We'll will meet on the single track Ham Lane, just as it crosses the river a short way upstream of the finish at Old Windsor Lock: http://goo.gl/maps/g77B1 You can park on the verge at the edge of the road. (At least that's how it looks from Street View.) *We'll meet at 14:00pm on Saturday 6 July 2013. *Get changed, walk up to Romney Lock crossing the Albert and Victoria bridges with a brief excursion into Datchet along the way. (We can, optionally, shuttle cars up to: Windsor Home Park car park (Free at weekends but only available if no events on. (Checking with RBWM): http://goo.gl/maps/LYo0V ) or Romney Lock Car Park http://goo.gl/maps/ofQVi (£5.00 All day) We'll jump in at Romney Lock http://goo.gl/maps/gHMc4 and swim down to Old Windsor Lock http://goo.gl/maps/ZLFyW - this is swim 66 in Michael Worthington's /*'I ? the Thames*' /and is about 4.8kor almost half a Dart. Haveelevenses half way down, at spot to be found on our walk up - around about Datchet. FromOld Windsor Lock it is brief walk back to the carsand then for campers, on to the Thames side garden-details to be sent out to individual campers. *Swim #49 SUNDAY 7 JULY 2013 10:00am Old Windsor Lock to Runnymede Bell Weir Lock* We'll meet again, same as Saturday (Swim #48), on the single track Ham Lane, just as it crosses the river a short way upstream of the finish at Old Windsor Lock:* * http://goo.gl/maps/g77B1 You can park on the verge at the edge of the road. (At least that's how it looks from Street View.) *We'll meet at 10:00am on Sunday 7 July 2013.* Get changed, walk the sort distance down stream to Old Windsor Lock http://goo.gl/maps/ZLFyW, jump in and swim down to Bell Weir Lock http://goo.gl/maps/969Cm , from where we'll have a magnificent view of the M25 in all it's 14 lanes of glory. This is swim 67 in Michael Worthington's /*'I ? the Thames*' /and is about 4.7kjust short of half a Dart. We can optionally shuttle some cars down to the Runnymede Pleasure Ground car park here, near the finish or walk back: http://goo.gl/maps/jKmD0 (£4.50 / 3 hours or £6.00 all day.) And the then off for lunch at the Jolly Gardners: http://www.jollygardeners.com/ Sef and Jeremy ------------------------------------------------- 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 #48 - Romney Lock to Old Windsor Lock - 10:30am Sunday 23 June 2013
by Jeremy Wellingham 22 Jun '13

22 Jun '13

Pagans of the Thames, Welcome to the Lessor Sabbat of Litha. It's Solstice weekend and mid summer is upon us - time to celebrate the wonders of the British Summer. Before the swim there is a test of your navigation skills to find the meeting place. To avoid paying for parking we will meet on the single track Ham Lane, just as it crosses the river a short way upstream of the finish at Old Windsor Lock: http://goo.gl/maps/g77B1 You can park on the verge at the edge of the road. (At least that's how it looks from Street View.) *We'll meet at 10:30am BST on Sunday 23 June 2013. *Get changed, walk up to Romney Lock crossing the Albert and Victoria bridges with a brief excursion into Datchet along the way. We'll jump in at Romney Lock and swim down to Old Windsor Lock - this is swim 66 in Michael Worthington's /*'I ? the Thames*' /and is about 4.8kor half a Dart. Haveelevenses half way down at spot to be found on our walk up - around Datchet. From Old Windsor Lock it is brief walk back to the cars. Then on to a pub for lunch - probably the Bells of Ouzeley - Have you been to a Harvester before? http://goo.gl/maps/MU95l http://www.harvester.co.uk/thebellsofouzeleyoldwindsor/ Sef and Jeremy PS Sorry about lack of camping this weekend - suitable camp sites all taken. We'll try again for weekend of 6/7th July. ------------------------------------------------- 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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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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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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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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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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OSS Swim the Thames #41 - Spade Oak to Bourne End - 11:00am Sunday 20 January 2013
by Jeremy Wellingham 14 Jan '13

14 Jan '13

Notropis rubellus of the Thames, for the second time of asking! Please join Sef and me in celebrating the start of 2013 with a token 1 km (or 1.5km) swim towards our target of the end of the Thames, where ever that may be. The Thames ismore settled at 128 m^3/s today (Down from the outrageous 181m^3/son Christmas Eve) and a toasty 9ºC, according to Maidenhead Rowing Club(I'm not sure I believe that and afterthis week's forecast it is sure to be less bynext Sunday.) There are Red Boards out on the Thames for this area today but a smattering of Yellows are beginning to appear up stream so hopefully all will be well on Sunday. * *This route has been reconnoitred under fast flow conditions by our intrepid Expeditionary Force 5 at the end of last year and although the stream was fast in the middle of the river the entry and exit points were found to be relatively sheltered - just mind the bridge piers at Bourne End. On the bright side, there aren't any weirs to be negotiated. This is part of Swim 60 fromMichael Worthington's /'*I ? the Thames*' / * We'll meet at **Bourne End station car park at 11:00am on Sunday 20th January 2013:** ** **http://goo.gl/maps/b3pnv* This will cost £2 for all day but is as near to our exit point as possible. We'll appreciate this when we get out. To warm up we'll walk down to the river and then along the Thames path to Spade Oak, where we got out last time. This will be familiar to those who have been on the two previous Thamesswims. We'll jump/ tip toe cautiously in to the riverhere: *http://goo.gl/maps/iCKhv* and swim about a 1km down to the railway bridge and exit on theright past therailway bridge immediately past a gate on the footpath - don't forget to butterflyunder the bridge! - just here: *http://goo.gl/maps/LOJoK* Or, if we're feeling strong we can carry on another0.5km to a wide beach on the right for an easy exit here: Your choice, depending on temperature. *http://goo.gl/maps/d7TZq* Next we'll cross over the river on the railway bridgefootpath and back to the station car park to get changed. To start off the swimming New year Ann Chance will generously be hosting refreshments at her house - directions handed out on the day. Please Bring Your Own Booze (BYOB)- hopefully there is still a little left over fromthe festivitiesand a Big Thanks to Ann. Looking forward to seeing everyone againwith a great start to 2013 when we should complete our non-tidal Thames journey. Any thoughts on what happens after that? Jeremy and Sef and the Percina shumardi of the Thames ------------------------------------------------- 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 #41 - Spade Oak to Bourne End - 11:00am Sunday 9 December 2012
by Jeremy Wellingham 07 Dec '12

07 Dec '12

Notropis rubellus of the Thames, We are near to mid winter and we will celebrate with a token 1 km swim towards our target of the end of the Thames, where ever that may be. The Thames is in full flood at 144 m^3/s today (Down from 168m^3/slast weekend) and a toasty 4ºC, according to Maidenhead Rowing Club. And the red boards are out for the whole length of the Thames! * **We will assess the conditionsat the weekend and may have to postpone the swim if conditionsarestill toowild. Keep an eye open for updates via OSSOxon, OSSRATS and the OSS Thames Facebook page.* * We'll meet at **Bourne End station car park at 11:00am on Sunday 9 December:** ** **http://goo.gl/maps/b3pnv* This will cost £2 for all day but is as near to our exit point as possible. We'll appreciate this when we get out. To warm up we'll walk down to the river and then along the Thames path to Spade Oak, where we got out last time. This will be familiar to those who have been on the two previous Thamesswims. We'll jump/ tip toe cautiously in to the riverhere: http://goo.gl/maps/iCKhv and swim about a 1km down to the railway bridge and exit on theright past therailway bridge immediately past a gate on the footpath - don't forget to butterflyunder the bridge! - just here: http://goo.gl/maps/LOJoK Next we'll cross over the river on the railway bridgefootpath and back to the station car park to get changed. Ann Chance will kindly be hosting refreshments at her house - directions handed out on the day. Big Thanks to Ann. Jeremy and Sef and the Percina shumardi of the Thames ------------------------------------------------- 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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Great swim yesterday
by Julia Hodkinson 19 Nov '12

19 Nov '12

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone at yesterday’s swim. The water might have been chilly, but the welcome was very warm! Thanks for all the cake and goodies, coffee, help and advice. I will come prepared with a box of baked goods next time – yes, expect to see me back in December. Best wishes, Julia

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OSS Swim the Thames #40 - Downstream from Marlow to Spade Oak (Bourne End) - 11:00am Sunday 18 November 2012
by Jeremy Wellingham 12 Nov '12

12 Nov '12

Cool Fish of the Thames, It's now well and truly winter and we enter our reduced swimming regime, both in frequency and distance and a *l**ater*start at *11:00am*. As it may be cool - Maidenhead RowingClubwater temperature is hovering around 8^o currently - we will be doing some walking to warm up! November's swim is a modest 1.8k picking up from where, some of us, left off at the end of the last swim. I know, I know, some of you did a bit more last time but a swims a swim and you'll be able to swim through that nice warm patch again! *We'll me**et at the car park at Spade **Oak* at *11:00am*, the same place as the last swim: http://goo.gl/maps/yQ3Iu and then we'll walk down to the getting in point whichhopefully will be identified by Adam here: http://goo.gl/maps/YA9bC We'll swim back to the car park, not forgetting to exit here: http://goo.gl/maps/iCKhv Get changed and a brisk jog down to The Bounty for lunch, where we have a table booked for around two. http://goo.gl/maps/jK7q3 Jeremy and Sef and the friendly Otters of the Thames ------------------------------------------------- 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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