Vicky and Graham's River Thames Row

Well on paper it should have been.  But it wasn’t.  We set off at 10.30am, rowing 13miles, negotiating 4 locks and stopping for a short lunch break (and a cheeky swim in the river).  Even then, we only got to our destination at 6.30pm.  Today should have been quicker. Rowing has got easier as the river has got wider (although it’s still bendy) and we are rowing as a double scull, so we are moving faster.  But progress is slow and just plain hard work. However we are driven to keep on going thanks to the generous donations through our Just Giving page and our dogged determination to finish the row (unless it’s not safe to do so).  I think what I am trying to say we are both rather tired and not sure if we have set ourselves realistic targets.   We are getting better at following a good path down the river without getting tangled up in overhanging trees and reeds, mainly because I have inadvertently taken on the role of chief navigator.  (Graham her...

(Vicky here).  Gotta get to the pub on time… It’s been a long day. We have been looking forward to supper in the Trout Pub, 4 locks plus 10.5 miles from our starting point and we made it, just later than expected. We left Christchurch with our boat on the car roof at 9am and stopped at Swindon Station to pick up my Uncle who had kindly agreed to take Dad’s car to his home in Weybridge (thanks Doug).  We were on the water in Lechlade Marina at 3pm. It was a hard row. The river was quite narrow with continuous twists and turns, so navigating our way using mirrors was quite difficult. (we row facing backwards). We took turns in coxing the boat (sitting in the back, facing forward and giving the rower directions, but rowing a heavily loaded boat as a single was harder than we expected. When we rowed together as a double, we flew along but this made it difficult to avoid reeds and trees growing out into the river. We made it to the pub in the end.   The river was stunning, the...

April-May 2022 Vicky (Mum of 2 boys) and Graham (Vicky's Dad), are proposing to row 153 miles down the River Thames from Lechlade in Gloucestershire, through London and finishing at the Thames Barrier. We plan to start on Friday 29th April and to finish on Sunday 8th May 2022. Our plan could change, but at the moment is: Start   Friday 29 April   around 1pm, Lechlade Marina,    0 miles .   1st day   -    pm Fri 29 April .     10.5 miles . Tadpole Bridge.   4 locks.   2nd day   - Sat 30 April . Eynsham   24 miles   ( +13 miles),   3 locks . 3rd day   - Sun 1 May .    Abingdon,   39 miles   ( +15 miles),   7 locks . 4th day -   Mon 2 May .     Wallingford   53 miles   ( +14 miles),   4 locks . 5th day   - Tue 3 May .     Reading   69 miles   ( + 16 miles),   4 locks . 6th day   - Wed 4 May .   ...