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 

On The Water

Hi all my friends....

I knew there was more to this than before .... my mum and Ian have just put me back in this green thing but this time it doesn't sit still!!

I'm not sure about this, but as mum insists we need to raise some money for our friend in Africa I guess I might as well give it a go..... check out my pictures...(I secretly quite enjoyed it but don't tell mum)

There was one funny moment when I thought I'd try to jump out near the bank.. mum went to catch me and we nearly went for a swim head first. Ian thought this very funny. Maybe worth trying again?

Next time I might just try to catch one of those ducks...