[OSS Oxon] Proposed 'exploratory' swim on the River Thame
Edward Chipperfield
ed at wideworldmag.com
Sun Jul 11 16:44:50 BST 2010
Great swim yesterday, thanks for organising it James!
A brilliant way to spend a Saturday morning - though I needed to nap
most of the afternoon to get over the shock of a four-hour session!
On 1 Jul 2010, at 11:14, James Lowe wrote:
> Hello,
>
> OK it seems that the 10th is going to be the date - sorry for those
> that said they cannot make it then, but these seems the most popular
> date. If it proves fun we can do it again the end of the month for
> those that couldn't make it or maybe another part of the Thame -
> from Drayton St Leonard to the Thames proper at Dorchester?
>
> I'll take another look (as I said) this weekend, it looks like the
> swim will be in three, one kilometre sections - that's my guess from
> the map.
> We won't be swimming hard but hopefully letting the current take us.
>
> While there are three spots to get out (one after each section) I
> think the first 'out' at the Manor House will probably be awkward
> (see my previous email with the locations), so I expect that we
> either carry on down to the Pub on the Bridge and/or down on to
> Drayton St Leonard. So those that want to can get out there and the
> rest carry on.
>
> I'll let you all know once I go back and check on the water levels.
> I may even have a quick dip at the start to see what it is like.
>
> Thanks
>
> James
>
>
>
> On 30/06/2010 19:23, Bob Bradley wrote:
>> Hi James
>>
>> I'm very keen - you know I like such adventures!
>> Hopefully my leg will be sufficiently healed by 10th July to join you
>> sometime that weekend if you want.
>> B
>>
>> Bob Bradley
>> +44 (0) 1993 880 651
>> +44 (0) 7968 267 658
>>
>>
>>
>> On 30 June 2010 00:46, <davebowen47 at tiscali.co.uk
>> <mailto:davebowen47 at tiscali.co.uk>> wrote:
>>
>> Am keen to come along, never done anything like this but
>> confident.
>> 18th is better for me.
>> For future oxon events am able to provide a safety boat on the
>> thames.
>> Dave
>> Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: James Lowe <james.lowe at datacore.com
>> <mailto:james.lowe at datacore.com>>
>> Sender: ossoxon-bounces at earth.li <mailto:ossoxon-bounces at earth.li>
>> Date: Tue, 29 Jun 2010 21:50:04
>> To: <ossoxon at earth.li <mailto:ossoxon at earth.li>>
>> Subject: Re: [OSS Oxon] Proposed 'exploratory' swim on the River
>> Thame
>>
>> Hello,
>>
>> Ok let's try to nail this down in terms of dates.
>>
>> I'd like to do either 10th or the 18th July and then if no one can
>> make it 24th. Sooner than later (11th is Big Jump day and 17th is
>> another swim for me).
>>
>> Morning start (say 10am) after another recon this weekend I'll
>> firm up
>> where we start and finish.
>>
>> Probably start here
>>
>> I know Carl doesn't like it ;) but can we reply-all so those
>> that are
>> interested can see what dates the others are preferring?
>>
>> Remember this will be the first time for all of us so I have no
>> ideas
>> about in and out spots, how far/short/fast/deep/shallow/hazardy
>> this
>> river is, so if you are in any doubts give this one a miss until
>> 'next
>> time' as if it proves fun then no doubt we'll do it again or
>> we'll be
>> able to give hints and tips to those that want them.
>>
>> James
>>
>>
>> On 29 Jun 2010, at 20:34, Jaime Tinker wrote:
>>
>> > Hi there,
>> >
>> > Not new to outdoor swimming but am to swimming in
>> Oxfordshire. The
>> > exploratory swim sounds right up my alley and I've driven
>> past it
>> > numerous times and considered it. I'm central Oxford and can
>> provide
>> > transport for 3 others if needed.
>> >
>> > I have a fairly flexible few weekends except 17th/18th July.
>> Were
>> > you thinking of any dates in particular?
>> >
>> > Cheers,
>> > Jaime
>> >
>> > > Date: Mon, 28 Jun 2010 18:56:16 +0100
>> > > From: james.lowe at datacore.com
>> <mailto:james.lowe at datacore.com>
>> > > To: ossoxon at earth.li <mailto:ossoxon at earth.li>
>> > > Subject: [OSS Oxon] Proposed 'exploratory' swim on the
>> River Thame
>> > >
>> > > Hello,
>> > >
>> > > I have done some scouting about and around the Thame
>> between Great
>> > > Milton and where it eventually joins the Thames proper at
>> Dorchester
>> > > looking for a new and interesting swim.
>> > >
>> > > I have come up with a speculative route (it could be done
>> 'in one'
>> > or
>> > > split into two parts) which I'll list below, however I have
>> no
>> > idea if
>> > > the river in the proposed part is
>> > >
>> > > i. Deep enough to swim on all the way down
>> > > ii. What the hazards are (if any)
>> > >
>> > > There is no foot path that runs along side all the way like
>> the
>> > Thames,
>> > > but there are some parts where a foot path does come along
>> side.
>> > >
>> > > So this isn't really something I'd be comfortable doing
>> with 'new
>> > > comers' or those that don't know their own limits - so if
>> you need
>> > to
>> > > get out, how far you are from 'civilization' in case of
>> cold or if
>> > you
>> > > are nervous and would only want to swim part of it as there
>> are no
>> > foot
>> > > paths etc.
>> > >
>> > > It isn't that long in terms of distance (no longer say than
>> many
>> > of the
>> > > swims we have done in the past - Buscot - Kelmscott for
>> example)
>> > but as
>> > > I simply cannot walk this swim prior to attempting it, I just
>> am not
>> > > sure how long it will take.
>> > >
>> > > Hopefully I haven't scared you all off and wondered if any
>> of you
>> > would
>> > > be interested in having a go, with me on this. We would
>> need a
>> > couple of
>> > > cars (I have one) for the start/finish as walking back
>> would be
>> > along a
>> > > busy road and because of the lack of paths quite long.
>> > >
>> > > One spot does finish at the pub so it isn't all bleak.
>> > >
>> > > I wanted to try to get in the lesser known rivers of
>> Oxofordshire
>> > this
>> > > year and having done a big chunk of the River Windrush
>> already in
>> > stages
>> > > (which has been a 'hoot-an-a-half' so far) thought this
>> might be a
>> > good
>> > > one too.
>> > >
>> > > I didn't want to advertise this as an OSS Social because I
>> don't
>> > think
>> > > this is really one for those that want to get head down and
>> hammer
>> > along
>> > > nor for those that just want a gentle plod (at least not
>> until it
>> > has
>> > > been swam once and then we will all have a better idea).
>> > >
>> > > Here is are the proposed spots:
>> > >
>> > > Here is a good start point
>> > >
>> > > http://www.multimap.com/s/Mf9UyOf9
>> > >
>> > > You can park the car about 20 yards in a lay-by and get in
>> at the
>> > > bridge. Maybe two cars max, it is a bit remote.
>> > >
>> > > http://www.multimap.com/s/OZ5Q0JSB is a possible in/out point
>> > although
>> > > Parking here is awkward as the river is in the grounds of the
>> > manor and
>> > > although the foot path goes through it, there is a 'no
>> parking'
>> > rule in
>> > > force, it might be tricky to leave a car here, you could
>> leave it
>> > at the
>> > > end of the lane but even that is awkward and quite far away.
>> > >
>> > > So we could swim on then to here:
>> > >
>> > > http://www.multimap.com/s/Mf8cyBX9
>> > >
>> > > A nice easy pub-by-the-river in/out point.
>> > >
>> > > A bit further up is another easy in/out and park in lay-by
>> here:
>> > > http://www.multimap.com/s/Mb4T5CRC
>> > >
>> > > then finally get out at the bottom of a lane here:
>> > >
>> > > http://www.multimap.com/s/Na5f3JTD
>> > >
>> > > You can park the car easily here - maybe a 2 minute walk.
>> > >
>> > > The river is quite high at the moment, but it is a smallish
>> one
>> > (about
>> > > the size of the windrush at its largest) and I am not sure
>> about
>> > depth
>> > > all the way down, but it is a nice 'in the open and away
>> from it
>> > all' swim.
>> > >
>> > > There are a variety of paths that run alongside some of it
>> and
>> criss
>> > > cross in places, so at a push we can get out legally.
>> > >
>> > > Any one up for this?
>> > >
>> > > James (aka Adam Smith)
>> > >
>> > > _______________________________________________
>> > > OSS Oxon mailing list
>> > > OSSOxon at earth.li <mailto:OSSOxon at 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.
>> >
>> > Get a free e-mail account with Hotmail. Sign-up now.
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>>
>> 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
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>>
>> 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.
>>
>>
>
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>
> 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.
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