Back Again

I know its been a while since I updated my blog but I was in quite a depression following last years attempt! Silly I know - its only a swim!!

Anyway as an update - I tried again!! Well this time as a relay but that didn't go as planned either! I started the year with 4 of us but slowly over the firth coming months people dropped out and then others joined and then dropped out! It culminated in just the 2 of us swimming week commencing 3-5th August - Fred Mardle our pilot.

Dave Fawkner was my other fellow swimmer - thats him above. Dave is lovely and very lean and fit - I don't think he would mind me saying that he didn't have a lot of fat on him and did struggle with the cold!

Anyway we set off at 0403hrs on the 5th August in the dark - I started first and we took it in turns - 1hr each. It was amazing! the water was warm and calm and we made excellent progress. 9 other boats were out in front of us and we began to catch them!

At the 6th hour I spotted something in the water and realised I was swimming with jelly fish - in fact I spent that hour swimming through them and getting stung!

At the 8th hour I swopped sides as the wind had got up and so I swam in the lea of the boat! Unfortunately I nearly ended up under the boat a couple of times and the weather got worse! I looked up at the boat and asked how far there was to go! Fred said we were standing still and had another 6 miles to go! We had covered 20 miles and could see the lighthouse at Cap Gris Nez! We were almost there but it was just too rough to continue!

We stopped the swim at 8hrs 34mins! Foiled again!!

Messages of Support!!

Well I have been battling with feeling so disappointed following the swim but today is the first time I have felt a little better - Why? Well this came through the post today...

Its from Johns nephew Joseph - I think its fab!!!

I have also received a massive bunch of roses and lilys from my brother and people are still giving me sponsorship! I need to have another go in the next few years just prove I can do it - I know I can!!!

Big THANK YOU to everyone supporting me - it means a lot!!

Hi everyone!

Gosh I can't believe how upset and bitterly disappointed I feel. In training I have swum over 600miles and couldn't even managed 21miles!!
I started out in glorious sunshine and even though there was a swell I made good progress with the Folkestone Angler (and my support crew) keeping an eye on me! Ann Sloan was my observer from the CSA. I was loving it and felt sure I could do it - I felt strong and fresh but at 4 hours the waves started to get higher and rougher and the wind blew up from no where! I was trying to think how best to swim but my lack of experience in these conditions my stroke rate dropped and I was being blown off course! We made it past the Varne bouy but were in the ferry seperation lane (boy they are big!). At 5 hours I fed and told the crew I was struggling! I continued but then took 2 big waves and inhaled a lot of seawater! I looked over to the boat and suddenly felt despair - I could see the look on Johns face - it had to end!! I managed 13 miles (be it some off course) and before the weather change I was on for a 16hr crossing!!

So what's next.....?

Well the channel will still be there next year so I am going to do a relay with John, Helen (an old friend) and Oliver (a 14 yr old - don't worry we are friends with his parents!!). We are going to go in september so watch this space. I will keep the blog going as I think it will be an interesting year training - John can't do the front crawl!!!!!!

Attempt adandoned -weather turned and wind got up! I was going nowhere and being thrown around like a washing machine!!

It now looks like Sunday!! The wind is in the wrong direction! God I am frustrated!!!

It looks like Saturday!

Well speaking with Kevin today it looks like I will be off on sat at 0600hrs ish!! I have been keeping busy by swimming in the harbour even though it's windy as hell!! John is still playing with his iPhone!!! We were stopped in Sainsburys this aft by a gentleman who thrust £20 in Johns hand saying GOOD LUCK!!! What a really kind and generous gesture!! I will confirm sat when I know for certain!!

Its nearly here!!

Well the big day is nearly here and I am beginning to get a little nervous! Good news is my wrist is great! It feels a little sore but certainly not as bad as it was and I have been swimming without any problems! Today John and I are finishing off packing everything and the kitchen looks like a bomb site!

(See left)

We have just spoken to Kevin our pilot on the Folkstone Angler and the weather isn't great but he is hoping I can go on the tide window on saturday which will be excellent as its Yorkshire Day on sat!!

John is relaxing by constantly playing Harbour Master on his iPhone - its just not irritating enough!

I have downloaded the Dan Brown Angels and Demons audiobook so that should keep me entertained!

We are off to Dover tomorrow morning and we are staying in a studio appartment at Varne Ridge Holiday Park

Lets pray that the weather clears?