The Last Day!

It's Tuesday and we have 14 miles to travel to reach Teddington.   We are all very tired this morning .... I fortunately get to sleep in the bottom of the boat!  The forcast is for 30 degrees later .... fortunately these is some cloud cover.  
The scenery at this end of the river is not very facinating ... the most interesting bit is the floating homes some of which look like 2/3 story luxury houses. One or two are very individual... the ark deco, one which looked like a submarine and one which could have come from a sci fi set.  So Ian and mum started to look for a suitable boat for Ian to buy (an idea he had yesterday!) ... one which was in the D-day landing seemed to be the favourite.

Lunch today also had a royal outlook ..... Hampton Court.   After a 20 min snooze in the shade we paddled off .... Teddington still seemed a long way off.     The phone rang about 4pm ... Ian's friend who was picking us up at teddington had broken down on the motorway .... so Ian's brother was called as backup.    Eventually Teddington Lock came into view .... no flags, no fanfair, not even a car to pick us up.... oh well we found a great pub garden, some beer and steak to pass the time.    The grand final of the backgammon championship was played (it was 4 games all at this point, mum having won the last 4 games).  It looked like Ian would wipe the board swiftly ... then mum hit back.... it was touch and go and all down to the last throw of the dice could have gone either way.... mum won ... a great final game.  just then Ian's brother turned up and we (well I supervised from the safety of inside the boot!) packed the car. 

We did it .... Thames head to Teddington complete and lots of money raised for Jessica's education.... A GREAT RESULT!

Thank you to all those that have supported us with kind words, donations and especially to those who put themselves out to get us to the start, visit us on route  and collect us at the end.  

Until the next adventure..... goodbye

Jovi  xx

ps mum says if you want to contact her email    damarie10@aol.com

The Longest Day!

Knowing we had about 19 miles to do today we were up at 5am and on the river just after 6am.  The first 3 hours were very peaceful ... no boats..... lots of ducks the odd kingfisher and some parakeets for company. 

Lunch was taken on the queens lawn at Windsor.. well in Windsor park.  Seemed a very grand thing to do!

After lunch I settled down to a long snooze, while mum tried sail power for a while. It was very hot so we stopped briefly for an icecream.   The last part of the day Ian and mum got very tired ... the wind was strong and in the wrong direction, the temperature near 30 degrees and lots of boats making going slow and choppy. With still a mile to go when we arrived at Penton Hook Lock Ian tried asking if we could camp there.... Lock keeper said we could and that there was a dog friendly pub nearby.... so here we stopped to the sound of a small flock of parakeets we set up camp. The pub locally called the wee and pee  (wheatsheaf and pidgeon) was a friendly corner street pub.  A relaxed end to a very long day mum says.

J

Sunday. Hambledon to Cookham

As we only had a very short section to do we all chilled on the island till 10am. Then slowly made our way to Marlow where we met up with Ian's sister and brother-in-law and his friend ... The friend bought us all a good picnic lunch.   The last leg of todays journey was a bit of a drag, there were lots of boats and I started to feel a bit sea sick with all the choppy water ... one boat went past so fast I got my nose splashed! the wind was strong and the wrong way but eventually we made it to Cookham and had an evening of backgammon in the local pub (mum started winning!)

Day 7: Three go to Magpie Island

 Today we didn't have too far to go so we could have a bit of fun. We stopped at a park in Henley and went for a coffee (well I didn't obviously!). Then Ian decided to buy another dog .... a stuffed thing with a fed up face ... why do we need another dog on board?     Had a great lunch in the park then we set off again .... we had a bit of fun racing the Henley Regatta race course ... with wind in wrong direction we managed a time of a little over 12 minutes (the rowers cover the 1 mile 550 yards in about 7 minutes so we didn't do badly at all!!)

After a couple more locks we scanned the banks for a place to camp .... found a great Island ... Magpie Island ... was fun to be on our own Island for the night.
J

Cleeve to Shiplake.. A long paddle

Hi All

Last night we camped on the lady's lawn we left the canoe at yesterday so we could make an early start... Ian woke me up at 5.30am (mum eventually woke up when her cup of tea was made!)
At just after 7am we set off .... quickly thro 2 locks (I like locks cos mum gets me out of the canoe and we watch Ian paddle!).  Best lock was Purley Lock where Ian and mum stopped for a bacon bap ... I managed to look starved enough to blag a bit!
A late lunch stop at Reading meant I got to play ball ... and we had very light rain shower. Then onwards to Shiplake.  In the midle of the river the phone rang ... Ian answered it .... turns out it was the Chippenham local paper who interviewed mum for a story (I did hear my name mentioned so maybe I will be famous?)

This eve we eventually arrived on someones front lawn in Shiplake ... after a little confusion it was decided we could stay the night.... very noisy spot right next to the main rail line and on Heathrow approach!

Hi All .... a quick update...

A couple of pictures taken on our adventures ... lots more to come along with the rest of the story .... so keep looking (mum says she will get some more on here tomorrow (has spent today washing!!)

Jov x

Wednesday ....

One last stretch to do before a day at home.
 We didnt have far to go so we had a very slow start and didn't put the canoe back in the water till nearly 11am.  Ian paddled off whilst mum and I walked round to an easier place to get in.... easier for me that is ... mum nearly fell in!!

The people in the locks are being very generous now .... and the canoe is quite a site .... having flowers on the front, a large flag and a dolphin towed along behind... so we get noticed quite a bit .... personally I've got used to this snoozing to the gentle rock of the canoe ... mum and Ian say they feel like they are rocking on dry land now... a very strange feeling apparently.   we stop for a coffee at Benson and talk to a few more very generous people and get a surprise when one of Ian's sister-in-law appears.

Onwards to wallingford where we are met by another sister-in-law who has popped over to support us. Here we are joined by another canoe ... a  friend of Ian's with his daughter are to join us for the afternoon stretch of water.    Quite pleasant paddling along with company for a while.
 Soon we arrive at our destination .... now for a well earned day off!.... mum and Ian are looking forward to a bath and soft bed (they better not think I'd like a bath too!!

catch you all next week with the second half of our adventures ..... Oh and someone please leave me a message.

woof for now
Jovi
x

Tuesday

Wow we are getting on ... Ian is very impressed with our progress.... so impressed we get up a bit later this morning. Mum took some photos of the sun coming up (hopefully will be able to up load one or two on here next week.)

We got going arriving in Abingdon where Ian headed to the shop for provisions (I did hear we had run out of dog food .... drastic action required!!!). Mum and I played in the park till he came back..  A bit further along the river we parked up for a long lunch break and a snooze on the river bank.  For some reason I was made to wear some rediculous glasses whilst mum took my picture!

The final stop of the day proved to be rather an adventure... we were camping at Days lock ... the camp site is on the island ... but there was nowhere to let me off the canoe or haul the canoe out, the main way in was via a high gantry and steep steps..... after a tour of the outside of the island mum was put ashore to tackle the nettles and brambles to find a way in!  Eventually we (well .....they!) managed to haul the canoe onto the island up a steep bank and macheteed our way to the strimmed spot which passed as a reasonable campsite.

This evening we were joined by some friends of Ians and a bottle was consumed. Mum enjoyed that!

Monday

Awoke to a beautiful misty morning with the sun shining brightly.    Today we met a Lady Lock keeper who was born near where Jessica lives (small world!). At Godstow mum put up the umbrella and we joined the Godstow sailing club. ... Ian's invention works very well for short distances, unfortunately the river very quickly changes direction so you lose the tail wind (tail wind? ... what is that?  I thought tails are for wagging )

Arriving in Oxford Ian decides the Thames is abit boring so heads down the river Cherwell (rather shallow in places) to join the punts and rowing boats at Magdelan Bridge.  We claimed a local Island for our selves and had lunch.   Back in the canoe we continued through a lovely peaceful wooded area full of birds... lots of 'vultures' , a buzzard, a kingfisher ... but no otters sadly.

We arrived early at our eve food stop ... the Kings Arms so mum and Ian played backgammon over a cider (Ian won again apparently) before eating tea.

Tonights stop was a lovely secluded stop under 2 willow trees on the river bank with a great view.  We watched the sun going down whilst the Canada Geese swooped over the river.

Sunday. Mum saves a sheep.

Sunday morning ... we set off down river by 7.30am.  Lovely and quiet.  We bump into 'canoe Joe' (as mum had nick named a lone canoeist  we had spoken too yesterday) and passed the time of day.  Then paddling onwards through a lock or two (great place to stretch the legs and find a good tree!).   We stopped for lunch on the bank in a very hot spot.  After lunch we were just taking off when Ian spotted a sheep in the water next to the other bank. Mum suggested we see if it could get out .... apparently not ..... so out of the canoe jumps mum, wades into the river and heaves the sheep back up the bank .... not so much as a thank you from the sheep, such dumb animal!

The river here was lovely and peaceful  with a few narrowboats dotted about .... Ian and mum started talking to people as we went through locks and several were very generous and gave us some money for Jessica  (Thank you to everyone )  a special Hi to those on the Jacaranda who we met on several occasions.

This eve we camped at Ensham Lock and had the camp site to ourselves... another great shower and a pub a field away, for a beer.

Will post some photos when we finish the trip

Jov
x

I'm sure that was grass I jumped on!

Hi all

First morning up before anyone else, packed up and canoe manouvered to side of river.... (I managed to persuade them not to make me pull it again!).  We all got in and set off heading towards a lot of tall grass... or at least thats what I thought it was.... time to jump out onto the grass....   SPLASH!!   opps what happened?  I'm swimming.   Mum grabs my harness, Ian paddles to the bank and I'm hauled back in... well may have to be a bit more careful where I jump out in future!

Mum and Ian enjoyed the next 2 hours ... battling through reeds, avoiding trees .... 'which way does the river go?'   .... a bridge ahead .... Oh that looks a bit shallow.... Ian and mum get out and get their feet wet whilst I stay in the canoe bumping along the bottom.

Eventually the river opened out and Lechlade spire appeared in the distance. Now the challenge became avoiding other boats and those dratted large white birds that keep hissing at me... mum is not keen on me growling back ... cant quite understand why.

Getting hungry mum and Ian aim for a pub for lunch .... surprise ..... lots of bangs and shouting ......we were surrounded by  marauding pirates all dressed in their best Johnny Depp outfits... and some female versions which Ian surrounded himself with!   One pirate suggested we walked the plank ... mum declined ... something to do with not getting wet I gather.


Lunch  and rest over we ( they!) dragged the canoe back into the river and away we went again.   The river snaked across some lovely countryside .... Ian kept mentioning seeing vultures and pelicans ..... or some other large grey bird (?)  and there were lots more of those large white swimming birds.

Eventually we drew up at a lock where I was taken out of the canoe and it was dragged out of the water... Rushey Lock camp site ... our night's stopover. Appart from one other family we were the only ones there... a great quiet spot with a lovely new shower (I overheard Ian and mum say) .

Half way!!!

Yes we have made it to half way ..... stopping at Cholsey tonight and day off tomorrow so will have time to write a blog or two about our adventures  .... including pirates, nettle islands, and vultures...    Now off for well earned rest. 

Jov.
xx

Time to Go?

Getting bit twitchy here .... lots bags n stuff been loaded into Landy .... me still out here though .... keep getting told to go and lie down but what if they forget to pack my ball or worse still ME!

Looks like tenting tonight (wonder if I can sneak into that new sleeping bag mum bought last week?)... then an early start so I'm told....  keep up with me and  what about someone adding a comment ... beginning to wonder if anyone is reading this?

Bon voyage!

Jovi x

Itinerary

Hi to all 

.... mum says you might like to see where we will be when...... me thinks it could all go to pot by day 2 but guess you have to humour these humans if you want your dinner!!

There is a couple of places where we haven't managed to find somewhere to pitch our tent ( mum seems to be a bit worried about that!)  so if anyone knows someone with a lawn/ field in Sonning, Sandford or Hurley please contact Ian on 07501875102. 


Wish us good luck


Jovi  xx

Canoeing  Itinerary

Initial plan …. Subject to adjustment at any time!

      

Date	Section	Stay
Friday 22nd eve		Second Chance camp site, Castle Eton
Saturday 23rd	Castle Eton, via Lechlade to Rushey Lock	Rushey Lock
Sunday 24th	Rushey Lock to Ensham	Ensham Lock
Monday 25th	Ensham via Oxford to Sandford	HELP!
Tuesday 26th	Sandford to Clifton Hampden	Camp site
Wednesday 27th	Clifton Hampden to Goring	Home!
Thursday 28th	REST !!!!
Friday 29th	Goring to Sonning	HELP!
Saturday 30th	Sonning to Hurley	HELP!
Sunday 31st	Hurley to Cookham Lock	Cookham Lock
Monday 1st	Cookham via Windsor to Laleham	Laleham Park Camp site
Tuesday 2nd	Laleham to Teddington	HOME!!!

London or Bursitis!

 Thames Head .... The beginning.....

184 Miles!!!!!!!!

Away we go..

First sighting of water!

The bridge over the river ..why?

At last .... the first swim

Walking the plank over the Thames..

At last time for a beer ..... or maybe another swim?

Hi All.

Mum, Ian and their two friends Bern and Anna joined me to walk the first section of the River Thames. We started out from Thames Head (some old stone they got me to jump on....) about 9.30am.

I love these walks where everyone puts on very hot looking boots ... always good for a long day out.  I galloped along through fields of cows and flowers, occasionally they all stopped (can't work out why?)  but was usually good for a crumb or two!  There seemed to be much interest in a small puddle in a field .... just looked like a cow wee to me!

Walking under a bridge was quite interesting .... though why there was a bridge I just couldn't quite understand... was just stones under it.

At about 10.30 we came across some water .... at last i jumped in and it was even deep enough for a refreshing swim (mum thought it was a great idea but didn't seem to want to join me!).    She and Ian did however seem to find it fun to walk over a log across the water (pretty pointless if you ask me!)

We stopped at a pub for a drink in Ashton Keynes ... and got locked in!   Something about us being the last customers the current owners would serve. 

The walk was great (though much prefer the mountains and views in Scotland) ... but about 10 miles in mum was carrying a big stick which she wouldn't throw for me.... something about pain in her leg.  Another stop found me swimming again and this time everyone paddled with me.   The last 5 miles were much slower .... mum gripping her stick well... but eventually at 8.30pm we arrived in a garden where they all seemed to enjoy a drink (I got to drink a bit more river water!).      I overheard mum this morning telling someone she has bursitis (whatever that is!)   but says it wont stop her doing the canoeing in 10 days....   so watch this space.......

Jov

xx

 

       

A dry run?

Hi All

Mum and Ian dragged me into that green thing again last Monday (Ian said it was a special bank holiday ... a river bank holiday?.... hmmm not so sure about the sense of humour?).
I enjoyed a cosy snooze whilst mum and Ian paddled away down the river...... such fun watching the world go by.... a kingfisher, lots of Heron (though Ian suggested it was the same one following us), huge flocks of Canada Geese with goslings which parted just to let us paddle through (mum seemed to think she needed to hang on to me at the point... can't think why?).  One swan got a bit close so I thought I'd better protect mum and bark .... mum barked back at me rather loudly!

Once or twice we parked up for a leg stretch and a cuppa .... and for me and Ian to find the nearest tree! One stop I was just enjoying a bit of a run about when Ian grabbed me and threw me back in the canoe ... I just didnt see the stampede of cattle coming towards us...

Mum says we travelled about 13 miles ... didn't seem a great distance to me but mum  says her shoulders were killing.  Ian was very cool about the whole thing   (but I have overheard him since saying it may be more of a challenge than he first thought.... dont tell mum!). 

Huge Thanks to those that have already supported us ..... see you all on the river soon

Jovi xx

   

Sponsorship

Hi All
Amazing news we already have 2 people who have sponsored a km of Thames, each giving £20.  (enough for a lot of bones!... but mum says every penny goes to Jessica's education).  Mum got an email from Jessica today saying she is starting her end of first year exams today and is looking forward to starting the seond year in September.
Dont forget to send me some encouragement .... looks like I'm back afloat a week today for more practice!
Love to all
Jovi

Can you help?

Hi all my friends .... just back from R&R  and some great walking in somewhere called Scotland ....... I just loved the beaches and the views!  

Now it is down to some serious training for this canoe challenge... and time to ask all my friends if they would consider sponsoring a km of the Thames. Mum says all the sponsorship money will go to Jessica for her studies so please be generous.   

Sponsorship can be given to mum or  Ian .... or send me a message and I'll get back to you.

Bye for now

J

x 

A wet sunday!!

How I hate wet Sundays! ..... I can usually nag mum and Ian into a walk eventually but it takes quite a bit of persuasion on my behalf!  So whilst I'm waiting I'll jut let you know a bit more about Jessica....

Jessica lives in Tanzania and has a dream of becoming a social worker to help the local children.   Mum and Ian met Jessica and her Brother during their charity Building project with soapbox last summer. (www.soapboxtrust.com)

In Tanzania the cost of Secondary education is beyond most families.  To enable her younger brother to attend secondary school Jessica had to leave her primary school and work on the roads.

Jessica says..

“My story is that when I finish my primary school my Parent have no enough money to send me to school and hence I employed to Road construction company it was a difficult to me as I am a girl but I decided to do that in order to help my young brother Johnson who have pass well his primary school examination and he need to join the secondary school hence I decided to    continue working in order to help my brother.”

After her younger brother had completed his studies Jessica, by now 22 years old, paid for herself to go to secondary school by knitting jumpers in all her spare time.   Jessica got the grades she needed to go to University to study social work; ONE of only a few girls in rural Tanzania to achieve this.  

 she needs our help to enable her to achieve her dream to others in her country.

Jessica finishes her email to mum..

“I am thanks allot for the Good promise you give which have incourage me to study hard untill i finish my Social course. i have nothing to pay back but always i am Praying to my Lord Jesus to Bless you and your work.”

When mum told me all this I understood why she and Ian want to help Jessica ... and I am part of that plan!!!

bye for now .... I really have to go out now rain or no rain!

Jov. x