Thames Source to Sea – Ed Pratt

Thames Source to Sea – Ed Pratt

Adventurer Ed Pratt has completed a solo mission to travel the length of the River Thames from source to sea. He recorded a daily video about his trek on Youtube and raised about £22,000 in funds and awareness for The Rivers Trust. The Trust’s mission is to improve the health of our precious rivers which as we know are not in good health.

The social media star set himself one rule, to follow the course of the river exactly. Ed started his journey at Thames Head, in Gloucestershire, in June, and finished at Sheerness on 18 July. For the first few days he had to wade through muddy, vegetation-rich water, while stooping under the arches of small bridges. He picked his kayak up in Cricklade, Wiltshire, on day four, once the river became more navigable.

Ed Pratt on YouTube
Ed recorded a daily video about his journey. Ed stuck to his mission and continued along the Thames, even going through the many locks instead of around them. During the grueling miles, he fell in, came across sunken boats and wild camped most nights… unless there was a kind offer of a bed for the night. He came across plastic pollution which, as any Big Paddle Clean-up volunteer will explain, is a major problem in our rivers.
The adventurer paddled through Oxford, Maidenhead, Henley, Windsor, Shepperton before reaching the busy London section. He was even invited to stay in the captain’s cabin of HMS Wellington. Finally, he arrived at Sheerness, nineteen days after setting off.
He said on his Youtube channel: “I sent off from a dry field in Gloucestershire, to try and cover the full length of the Thames, source to sea, without leaving the river. We made it. Honestly, I’m so relieved to have landed. It was tough the last five miles because I could see this beach. It just didn’t seem to be getting any nearer… Thank you if you have donated to the Rivers Trust. I’m going to get some sleep!”

You can still donate following Ed’s challenge here.