Happy May Day to you! It's been a lovely one so far for me, with the fund topping £1200 this morning while I was sculling in bright sunshine along one of the most famous stretches of the Thames, through central Oxford between Osney and Iffley locks. I was ready for busy traffic but encountered only one of Salter's mighty steamers, which loomed above Clemmy like a latterday Titanic, along with a handful of sculling boats, narrowboats, cabin cruisers and this lovely skiff, pictured top, below.

It was excellent practice in terms of other obstacles, with Folly Bridge to negotiate on a bend with a strong stream flowing. I nipped through happily going upstream but prudently went downstream backwards, so that I could see exactly where I was bound. You lose some control in this position but can always revert to sculling back from whence you have come if it looks as though you are going to be swept into something unwelcoming.

I should add for clarity, that these excursions are part of a long reconnaissance for the actual voyage, which will take place during the third week in September, stopping only at night. But the Treehouse Project ideally needs its money by July, so I am extremely grateful to all who have backed me or are thinking of doing so.