Dear Swimmers

Here are the details for swim 27 on Sunday 17th. The information is also on Facebook and on the OSS website.

Hope to see lots of you there

Pam

All right, you ‘orrible lot Stand to attention when I’m speaking to you especially the tall one at the back.

Scary Staff Sergeant Jones here, briefing you on the next yomp down the Thames on Sunday 17th June 2012. (Those of you who are actually awake will notice that this has been changed from Saturday 16th evening). This will be about a 3 mile swim (4.8 km in new money). There will be getting out places up to 1.5 miles and then at 2.7 miles.

Swim 27 Executive Summary:

We will meet at 10:15am at the very latest to change, team briefing will be at 10:35am and we will shuttle at 10:45am to a layby to walk to Days Lock hoping to be in the water by 11:15am. There will be a refreshment stop about half way. We will have iron rations at the hotel after the swim. Please let me know by email without fail if you do want lunch.

Meeting Point 10:15 at the very latest: Shillingford Bridge Hotel

http://goo.gl/maps/ypY9

We can park in the hotel car park, change and organise shuttle cars/personnel carriers. Leave all your dry clothes in a vehicle that is staying at the hotel. If you are late, we will have gone so please meet us at the layby or walk up stream to meet us.

Team briefing 10:35:

Safety talk and kit inspection by the Sergeant

Shuttle 10:45: to the lay-by on Henley Road, Dorchester

http://goo.gl/maps/iILO

Walk: to Days Lock (a little under 2 km)

http://goo.gl/maps/VbW0

Please wear appropriate foot protection for the walk. If you need these carried, please wear really light flip flops or some such (Army boots forbidden). There will be a couple of bank supporters to carry your (very light) footwear back.

Days Lock is the main gauging station for measuring the flow of water in the Thames. Overlooking the lock is Little Wittenham church. Twin hills rise above the church which are known locally as Mother Dunch’s Buttocks or locally as Berkshire Bubs (from I Never Knew That About The Thames by Christopher Winn).

Swim: Swims 37 and 38 and a little bit of Swim 39 from Michael Worthington's I ♥ the Thames

We will still have to be vigilant. There will be great deal of rain this week. The river may be fast-flowing and we will have to be sensible about safety. Please be prepared to stay in groups.

Possible pit stop and final getting out spot before Shillingford Bridge

http://goo.gl/maps/o0Xw

Here’s hoping that the NAAFI have baked cakes etc. Angelina Ballerina will not be with us as it is her Birthday. Happy Birthday, Angelina. However, we can celebrate Neil’s birthday which was earlier this week.

Getting out: at or after Shillingford Bridge

You can get out immediately after the bridge on the left (if you do you will be on a charge)

http://goo.gl/maps/tNq2

or swim the final 500 metres to the correct finishing spot at

http://goo.gl/maps/kS8C

and walk back to the cars for changing and lunch. Anyone not staying for lunch should leave their car at the hotel and not be a shuttle driver.

Lunch: PLEASE LET ME KNOW WITHOUT FAIL IF YOU WANT LUNCH AND FOR HOW MANY. Email me or facebook message me please

Lunch will be at the Shillingford Bridge Hotel. I have a menu if you would like me to email it to you.

http://www.shillingfordbridgehotel.com/ 01865 858 567

Shillingford Bridge, built in 1827, is exactly half way between Windsor and Lechlade and between Reading and Oxford ( from I Never Knew That About The Thames by Christopher Winn).

Aftermath:

After lunch, we will need to get the shuttle car drivers back to the layby. Marks will be awarded for standard of kit, attitude, fitness, response to instructions etc. Remember that the Sergeant is always right.

Pam, Sef & Jeremy and the Armoured Catfish of the Thames and Tarcoles river of Costa Rica.

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=responsib ility http://www.outdoorswimmingsociety.com/index.php?p=swimming_tips&s=respon... lity

All swimmers swim at their own risk. _______________________________________________ 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.