Brockwell Swimmers yet again took to the Thames on another wild water adventure on Thursday 3rd September (see earlier post). The event was organised by the regular swimmers from the Black Lion pub Chiswick as part of the month long Totally Thames celebrations.

We all dutifully met at Linden House on the banks of the Thames at the allotted time, checked in, signed our disclaimers (e.g. signed our lives away) and set off to our departure point at the river steps. The water was not as clear as our beloved Brockwell Lido (which was to be expected) and the current was surprisingly fast, but luckily going in the right direction, upstream. 

The instructions were for all one hundred of us to swim up the river and head to the right hand side of Chiswick Eyot. This done, the current would then change and help us swim downstream back to the steps. Assurances were given that boats would rescue any stragglers swept past the finish… both comforting and alarming at the same time!

Luckily for us all the current did change at the right time and on reaching the ‘Caution Swimmers’ post we found ourselves being swept gently downstream, along with all the other floating debris that had followed us on the way up.

All in all a murky, but enjoyable swim, and no weil’s disease reported… yet.