Morning all,
Well - we knew it couldn't last - after 1 1/2 days of sunshine England has returned to normal and last night whilst 'perched' on our hill we were battered by the gusty winds and the rain was committing 'hurri kurri' against our window panes. The front they were expecting has arrived in full force. It will not be pleasant swimming today - it will be freezing and horrible. Meant to start clearing on Thursday so Friday is still looking good as our window of opportunity.
While we are playing the 'waiting game' I thought I would explain to you how we ended up in a caravan park instead of a hotel (apart from being cheap!) This place 'Varne Ridge Caravan Park' (google it if you are keen) is the 'place to stay' if you are a swimmer. It is reknown in the swimming world and embraces everything about the channel. They have big walls of plaques as you enter with everyone's name and country's flag who has stayed here and successfully crossed. Once you cross they also raise the flag of your country on the main flagpole to indicate your success to everyone else. Hence, yesterday morning when we awoke the Aussie flag was flying as Guy (the one I told you about yesterday who left at 3pm and swam mostly in the dark) made it in 11 hours and 35 minutes - amazing given the conditions. So that's the caravan story - and Duncan enlightened us yesterday by stating that we have the 'gold class' van! - Noice!
Channel stories abound on the Harbour foreshore and we met a lady who swam the channel in 1967 but 1/2 way through her boat broke down and she had to tread water for 3 hours in the night while they fixed the boat (these stories are really making me feel like a wimp!)
Anyway - Duncan is still in a good frame of mind and no nerves have set in yet. Will probably just do an hour this morning and get sorted on all logistics so we are all ready to go. May even do a day trip to Canterbury.
Morty (Dunc's buddy swimmer) is arriving tonight so will pick him up at the train station about 11pm.
signing off now - Jeanette (aka Duncan's ghost writer)
Monday, September 13, 2010
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Monday 13th September
This morning slept in a little longer to 6am - woken by a squirrel running across the roof of the 'van' - very cute - oh, that together with the 'not so cute' constant hum of the motorway.
When sitting at Dover Harbour, watching the ferries constantly shuffling in and out of the 10 terminals and the stream of lorries marching like ants going 2 by 2 into the chunnel you realise what a seething mass of movement Europe actually is. But for today we are not part of that movement - we will sit 'perched' on our hill top in the caravan surveying the channel from afar.
We caught up with the pilot Chris yesterday - checked out the boat - quite adequate with a nice inside area out of the weather. He said the first option looks like Thursday - therefore Duncan (being 2nd swimmer) will possibly go Friday. This, of course, is exactly what I predicted as Friday just so happens to be our anniversary - how romantic!!!!! (but just think of the 'browny-points' I am accruing - I am sure this must be worth at least one diamond!)
Anyway - back to the swimming - Guy the chap I told you about yesterday didn't set off in the morning - but actually had a window to leave at 3pm ! - we saw him just before he left - his head was a bit out of sorts knowing that he only had 3-4 hours of daylight to swim in and the rest in complete darkness - this is what the channel can offer - and you just have to take your chance when it comes. Will update today if he made it.
Whilst the weather yesterday was absolutely wonderful (not a cloud in the sky and 20-22 degrees), the tide was still a 'spring' tide ('spring' being very strong and 'neap' being weaker). Our pilot said he would not take anyone as they would have trouble landing in France. What actually happens is that just when you are about 3-5 km from the coast the tides change and push you (at 4-5 knots) north and away from the coast - this is when you hear all those stories about people being so close to the end and yet still swimming 4-5 hours just to battle the tide and get to the end - this is when you need your strength the most.... yeah - right - after 10-12 hours of swimming they tell you to go for it and swim a little harder??? Easily said!
Yesterday Duncan, Cameron and Helen (another Aussie girl here they trained with at home) all had a few hours swim in Dover Harbour in the morning - all three said it was really warm - just shows how mad - oops sorry I meant prepared they really are.
Today will be much the same - another few hours swim then perhaps we will make a road trip up to Deal which is supposed to be a nice quaint little village just up the road a bit - and bound to be a pub lunch in there somewhere......
When sitting at Dover Harbour, watching the ferries constantly shuffling in and out of the 10 terminals and the stream of lorries marching like ants going 2 by 2 into the chunnel you realise what a seething mass of movement Europe actually is. But for today we are not part of that movement - we will sit 'perched' on our hill top in the caravan surveying the channel from afar.
We caught up with the pilot Chris yesterday - checked out the boat - quite adequate with a nice inside area out of the weather. He said the first option looks like Thursday - therefore Duncan (being 2nd swimmer) will possibly go Friday. This, of course, is exactly what I predicted as Friday just so happens to be our anniversary - how romantic!!!!! (but just think of the 'browny-points' I am accruing - I am sure this must be worth at least one diamond!)
Anyway - back to the swimming - Guy the chap I told you about yesterday didn't set off in the morning - but actually had a window to leave at 3pm ! - we saw him just before he left - his head was a bit out of sorts knowing that he only had 3-4 hours of daylight to swim in and the rest in complete darkness - this is what the channel can offer - and you just have to take your chance when it comes. Will update today if he made it.
Whilst the weather yesterday was absolutely wonderful (not a cloud in the sky and 20-22 degrees), the tide was still a 'spring' tide ('spring' being very strong and 'neap' being weaker). Our pilot said he would not take anyone as they would have trouble landing in France. What actually happens is that just when you are about 3-5 km from the coast the tides change and push you (at 4-5 knots) north and away from the coast - this is when you hear all those stories about people being so close to the end and yet still swimming 4-5 hours just to battle the tide and get to the end - this is when you need your strength the most.... yeah - right - after 10-12 hours of swimming they tell you to go for it and swim a little harder??? Easily said!
Yesterday Duncan, Cameron and Helen (another Aussie girl here they trained with at home) all had a few hours swim in Dover Harbour in the morning - all three said it was really warm - just shows how mad - oops sorry I meant prepared they really are.
Today will be much the same - another few hours swim then perhaps we will make a road trip up to Deal which is supposed to be a nice quaint little village just up the road a bit - and bound to be a pub lunch in there somewhere......
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Sunday 12th Sept - after first sleep in England
Morning Folks (Jeanette taking over now - and will let Duncs stick to the swimming),
After a good flight (surprising for Qantas), we arrived in London at about 1.30pm yesterday afternoon. London was quite warm which was a good start - however, on our drive to Dover, the old Blighty did not disappoint and the heavens opened and the rain came down......
We found the salubrious Varne Ridge Caravan Park after not too much trouble and unpacked into our perfect 3 bedroom, 30 foot van (will have to post picks later today - it is something to be seen!) After the mandatory Sainsbury grocery shopping (do household chores never end...???) we unpacked and Duncs whipped up a great spag bol, watched a bit of tele and hit the hay at about 8.30pm - slept well till about 4am - got a text at 5am saying Hugh (first born) had just got 3rd at Nationals for skiing - so that was a great way to start the day.
Oh - ok,ok - back to the swimming (sorry Mother's pride got in the way) - its about 7am now and the day is breaking - it doesn't look too bad at the moment - most of the sky is blue with some dark lingering clouds on the horizon. We met a chap yesterday afternoon called Guy, who is an Aussie but living in London, and he was due to set out this morning early - so we will have to see if that eventuated. He did attempt the channel in late June but the temp was 14 degrees and after 8.5 hours he just couldn't bear it any longer - lets hope today is his day.
The water temp at the moment is about 17 degrees which is as good as it ever gets so that is terrific.
We plan to meet up with Cameron Spittle (Duncan's training mate who is due to swim this week also), at about 9am for approx a 2 hour swim in Dover harbour.. (I wonder if my drunk mate who was there last time will still be lingering in the bus shelter?) Then at lunchtime we will meet up with the 'pilot' (aka boat driver) and go through all the logistics and talk - obviously - about the weather and how the week is shaping up. Then we should be able to give you a bit more of a guidline as to when the swim looks like happening.
This afternoon - I think I can feel a pub lunch and a few pints coming on... after all - when in Rome........
After a good flight (surprising for Qantas), we arrived in London at about 1.30pm yesterday afternoon. London was quite warm which was a good start - however, on our drive to Dover, the old Blighty did not disappoint and the heavens opened and the rain came down......
We found the salubrious Varne Ridge Caravan Park after not too much trouble and unpacked into our perfect 3 bedroom, 30 foot van (will have to post picks later today - it is something to be seen!) After the mandatory Sainsbury grocery shopping (do household chores never end...???) we unpacked and Duncs whipped up a great spag bol, watched a bit of tele and hit the hay at about 8.30pm - slept well till about 4am - got a text at 5am saying Hugh (first born) had just got 3rd at Nationals for skiing - so that was a great way to start the day.
Oh - ok,ok - back to the swimming (sorry Mother's pride got in the way) - its about 7am now and the day is breaking - it doesn't look too bad at the moment - most of the sky is blue with some dark lingering clouds on the horizon. We met a chap yesterday afternoon called Guy, who is an Aussie but living in London, and he was due to set out this morning early - so we will have to see if that eventuated. He did attempt the channel in late June but the temp was 14 degrees and after 8.5 hours he just couldn't bear it any longer - lets hope today is his day.
The water temp at the moment is about 17 degrees which is as good as it ever gets so that is terrific.
We plan to meet up with Cameron Spittle (Duncan's training mate who is due to swim this week also), at about 9am for approx a 2 hour swim in Dover harbour.. (I wonder if my drunk mate who was there last time will still be lingering in the bus shelter?) Then at lunchtime we will meet up with the 'pilot' (aka boat driver) and go through all the logistics and talk - obviously - about the weather and how the week is shaping up. Then we should be able to give you a bit more of a guidline as to when the swim looks like happening.
This afternoon - I think I can feel a pub lunch and a few pints coming on... after all - when in Rome........
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Friday 10 Sept - Departure Day
The last week seems to have dragged a bit - I have been ready to go (mentally and physcially) since last Saturday. Perhaps a quiet week of reflection is important in the final stages of preparation.
Before I depart there are many people that I would like to thank for there support, encouragement and guidance. First and foremost my two coaches, Charm and Vlad. Charm has pushed me to new limits of endurance and has been my guiding light throughout this journey. Vlad has redesigned my stroke to be more efficient and faster.
The other people that I would like to thank are Jeanette, Hugh and Fraser (my family), Chris Mortensen, Paul Penna, Paul Doney, Michal, Millie, Anna T, Cameron, Margaret and all the people that have swum with during my training especially those from the Balmoral Beach Club, Cook & Phillip pool, Mosman Leisure Centre.
Stay tuned!!!
Before I depart there are many people that I would like to thank for there support, encouragement and guidance. First and foremost my two coaches, Charm and Vlad. Charm has pushed me to new limits of endurance and has been my guiding light throughout this journey. Vlad has redesigned my stroke to be more efficient and faster.
The other people that I would like to thank are Jeanette, Hugh and Fraser (my family), Chris Mortensen, Paul Penna, Paul Doney, Michal, Millie, Anna T, Cameron, Margaret and all the people that have swum with during my training especially those from the Balmoral Beach Club, Cook & Phillip pool, Mosman Leisure Centre.
Stay tuned!!!
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Thursday 9 Sept (T-1day)
I had my last swim at Balmoral this morning with Mike, Martin, Dick, Rod and Jenny and the rest of the B Team.
One more squad session tomorrow morning, then onto the plane in the evening. Flight out is 9.50pm via Hog Kong arriving at Heathrow at 1.30pm Saturday11 Sept. We will met caoch Charm at Heathrow, pick-up our hire car and drive striaght to Dover.
As my training is coming to an end I was reflecting on the training that I had done - 1,780km over the last 64 weeks (740km in the last 21 weeks) much of that has been in open (cold) water at Bondi, Coggee, Manly and Balmoral.
1 more sleep to go!!
One more squad session tomorrow morning, then onto the plane in the evening. Flight out is 9.50pm via Hog Kong arriving at Heathrow at 1.30pm Saturday11 Sept. We will met caoch Charm at Heathrow, pick-up our hire car and drive striaght to Dover.
As my training is coming to an end I was reflecting on the training that I had done - 1,780km over the last 64 weeks (740km in the last 21 weeks) much of that has been in open (cold) water at Bondi, Coggee, Manly and Balmoral.
1 more sleep to go!!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Saturday 4 September (T-6 days)
Had a good swim around Balmoral for 2 hours, about 15 of us swam to Chinaman's Beach - slow trip out, into a head wind but flew back to Balmoral.
Summer is just around the conrer - the sea life is coming back to the beach - I saw a sea turtle on Saturday just off Deadman's.
Summer is just around the conrer - the sea life is coming back to the beach - I saw a sea turtle on Saturday just off Deadman's.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Thursday 2 Sept (T- 7days)
6 swimmers made it across the Channel yesterday, the first swimmers in about 3 weeks.
I have had a good training week so far 6.9k Tuesday, 7.5k Wednesday, Thursday 1 hour and 15 minutes at Balmoral (water is warming up a bit 14.5-15).
Weights at lunch followed by Pilates tonight.
I have had a good training week so far 6.9k Tuesday, 7.5k Wednesday, Thursday 1 hour and 15 minutes at Balmoral (water is warming up a bit 14.5-15).
Weights at lunch followed by Pilates tonight.
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