Taking on the Thames
“Swimmer in the water! Swimmer in the water!”
Fiona’s voice rang out from Midnight Rambler, our support boat. I didn’t hear her, it’s a silent world under the water. A sculler was less than five metres away, moving fast. Fiona hit the horn. Only then did he turn around to see me and swerve. In a contest between me and a rowing boat, I wouldn’t have stood a chance.
That close call was just one moment from my 33.3km swim down the Thames, four days from Oxford to Henley, raising money for Emily’s Garden. My sister Romily and our dad were paddleboarding 100 miles from Oxford to London over seven days. We were living on board the Midnight Rambler, with Fiona Gordon as our captain, support and guardian angel. She kept us safe, well fed, and motivated.
Before this challenge, my longest open-water swim had been just 2km. My training had been mostly in a pool. The Thames was certainly a contrast; murky, unpredictable, and home to a lot of hazards. As a swimmer, you’re invisible, with no sight and no hearing you are vulnerable to anything bigger or faster than you. The most notable hazard, apart from the scullers, was the diesel spill that Romily saved me from. About to swim through it, Romily rang Fiona and said, “Diesel in the water, get Mollie out!”
The first day surprised me. I covered a total of 8km, lulled by the rhythm of my stroke, barely thinking about the 25km still to go. Tired but positive was the general feeling of the team. After such a successful first day, I wasn’t expecting day two to his as hard as it did. My arms ached from the day before and the distance ahead felt daunting. Each morning, we rose at 6am to make breakfast, fold away beds, and get Midnight Rambler ship-shape before setting off at 7. I entered the river wherever the water quality was acceptable. People stared in disbelief as I helped Fiona and Midnight Rambler through the locks, they clearly were not accustomed to seeing someone in a wetsuit and goggles! The Thames is a river we’re so often warned about. Once they heard what we were doing and why, they we’re in awe. I was surprised by the generosity of complete strangers, people donated at the locks and all along the way. They gave us cash or scanned the t-shirts we had made which had a code to the fundraiser.
By the third day, the soreness had become normal. I swam my longest stretch yet, 6.7km and even shed my wetsuit for a while, feeling the freedom of the water against my skin. I drank coca cola after each swim, my most hated drink, trusting the myth it could kill off anything unpleasant I’d accidently swallowed.
Day four was truly magical. It was my last day, and Romily’s best friend joined the paddleboards. I swam with the paddleboards for the first time, they are usually a lot quicker than me, I was pleased to have company alongside me instead of the solitary quietness of the river. Somewhere along a beautiful stretch of the Thames, a dragonfly landed on my foot while I paused for a snack. They say dragonflies bring luck and remembrance, it felt like a sign Emily that was there with me.
33.3 kilometres over four days with so many acts of kindness along the way, showing how people can come together for something greater than themselves. I am so proud to have taken on such a challenge for an incredible cause and I hope I can inspire others to do the same.
Mollie
