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 is more settled at 128 m^3/s today (Down from the outrageous 181m^3/s on Christmas Eve) and a toasty 9ºC, according to Maidenhead Rowing Club (I'm not sure I believe that and after this week's forecast it is sure to be less by next 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 from Michael 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 Thames swims.

We'll jump / tip toe cautiously in to the river here:

http://goo.gl/maps/iCKhv

and swim about a 1km down to the railway bridge and exit on the right  past the railway bridge  immediately past a gate on the footpath - don't forget to butterfly under the bridge! - just here:

http://goo.gl/maps/LOJoK

Or, if we're feeling strong we can carry on another 0.5km 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 bridge footpath 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 from the festivities and a Big Thanks to Ann.

Looking forward to seeing everyone again with 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

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