[OSS Oxon] Proposed 'exploratory' swim on the River Thame

[James Lowe]

Hello to those that have replied (remember to hit 'reply-all' so that 
the whole list gets your response which saves people asking the same 
question).

Distance is tricky as it is more about 'time' in the water, it will be a 
head-up breast stroke (of which I am *really* slow) but I reckon that it 
would be about one hour to hour and half (two hours tops).

Now as I have said, we may swim for 20 metres and then find the water is 
2 feet deep and have to walk along the river until we find deep water 
again - this was part of the charm of the windrush - so make sure you 
have decent footwear in case we have scrambling to do.

As to Dates - weekends are best it seems. I'd also prefer a morning 
(10am start) or late evening swim than middle of the day, but can be 
flexible on those travelling.

July 10/11 (any time)
July 18 (any time)
July 24/25 (any time)
July 31/Aug1 (any time)

I have nothing booked on those weekends, but would rather sooner than 
later.

I will (if I remember) take another look this weekend in the evening to 
see the state of the water (in case the water has gone down) and let you 
know.

So of those interested can suggest one or two of these weekends to the 
group email, then I am sure we can easily narrow it down.

James

On 28/06/2010 18:56, James Lowe wrote:
> 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
> 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.
>