Swim 19: Donnington bridge to Iffley lock. 16th january 2012

A glorious, sunny, and very cold january morning, saw the Thames group meet at the very same  Meadow lane car park off Donnington bridge road, as the previous swim. The changing conditions were crisp underfoot in the frozen mud and icy puddles, but we grinned away and got on with it as usual. We are a hardy bunch.

 

Fortunately for some of our swimmers, there were dressers on hand.

The group danced its way to the start point at the canoe club ramp where we had exited on the previous swim, looking like strange tellytubbies.

                              The temperature reader doesn't lie, a nice 4.1 degrees

The group photo, all looking a little sheepish at the thought of the cold.

and in we go.

The group stayed together for once at the start as it was too cold to put our faces in the water, but what a beautiful day.

Faces no longer numb the breakaway group steamed on ahead in an effort to keep warm, much to the annoyance of the rowers who were out in numbers today.

We approached the boat ramp at Iffley lock, swimming under the beautiful stone bridge.

Trudging through the mud soup underfoot, we emerged at Iffley lock into the warming sunshine.

                            Hot coffee provided by the wonderful bank support team.

                                      And finally a walk back along the route to Meadow lane car park.

Wonderful morning yet again, followed by lunch at the Isis farmhouse near Iffley lock.

Swim 19: Donnington Bridge to Iffley Lock

This swim is the final part of Swim 30 in Michael Worthington's I ♥ the Thames. It was a winter swim so was shorter than usual at a distance of about 850m.  We met at this car park:

http://g.co/maps/v2kdt

off Meadow Lane, Oxford, second-left after the canoe club. Meadow Lane is the last right turn off Donnington Bridge Road before the bridge from the town side, or the first left from the Hinksey side. The car park is an unkempt wee council number with plenty of bushes for changing in. It was free when we swam but bring a couple of quid in case.

We jumped into the Thames just next to the car park.  Note that the slipway where we exited is on private property and you should get the permission of the rowing club first. There is an alternate exit point a few metres further on at a public slipway.  We then swam to Iffley Lock. 

http://g.co/maps/66gyr

The exit point is a boat ramp which is muddy and slippery so take care.  It might be best to pop out as soon as you get to the start of the slope.

Be aware that this stretch of the river is used extensively by competitive rowers who are fast moving and have limited visibility. You should take appropriate precautions.

If done in the warmer months of the year, this swim can easily be combined with swims 18 and 20 for a total distance of 3.8km.

Afterwards, we had a pub lunch at the Isis Farmhouse, just before Iflley Lock - a must-visit on the pubs of the Thames tour that we are also engaged in.

Swim 19 Track - Donnington Bridge to Iffley Lock

Swim 19 Map - Donnington Bridge to Iffley Lock