Working outline:
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Lechlade
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1. Trail head: Oxford, June 2020
- Thames launch: Lechlade, farther up the Thames and to the west towards the Cotswolds.
- Route to London: Lechlade to Oxford, to Reading, to Windsor, to Kingston(Wimbledon).
2. Central London via the tidal Thames:
The Teddington Locks are designated as the top of the tidal Thames.
From that point onwards, towards the sea, the river's banks will be effected by the rising and lowering of the tides. That will mean either mud or fortified walls will replace the natural river banks. And, a tide chart will be necessary to take advantage of the current.
There are a number of kayak clubs that serve this part of the Thames and I will definitely pre arrange some interaction with them. As well as having experience with the river, I bet they know where the best pubs are.
From that point onwards, towards the sea, the river's banks will be effected by the rising and lowering of the tides. That will mean either mud or fortified walls will replace the natural river banks. And, a tide chart will be necessary to take advantage of the current.
There are a number of kayak clubs that serve this part of the Thames and I will definitely pre arrange some interaction with them. As well as having experience with the river, I bet they know where the best pubs are.
I will paddle through London and down the Thames, into and past Canary Warf, and up to the Tidal Barrier. At that point, which will be the end of my Thames paddling, I will attach my Kruisefit, with the help of the inflatable roof rack I carry, to the top of my rental car and set off for the Chunnel that will take me to Calais in France. It's illegal to paddle across the English Channel without accompaniment of a boat and crew...very expensive. 