HURRAH MORE PHOTOS JERSEY TO FRANCE

On the way to the start. Pensive!                       



Starting beach, La Coupe Jersey.                        





French France, here I come baby.                      








Counting the strokes to the next feed!           







9 hours in. Wind against tide. How much fun can a man have?       


See last blog for the glorious site on the beach in France.

Don't forget the British Red Cross, many thanks.

www.virginmoneygiving.com/DavidColeman8


Don't rock without the roll.

WRINKLED KIWI BOY REACHES FRANCE

Here I am after managing to avoid the adoring French crowds that came to meet me as I landed on their shore.

Thanks to Alice Harvey for jumping in and taking this photo with her snazzy water proof camera.

Don't forget the British Red Cross. Many thanks.

www.virginmoneygiving.com/DavidColeman8

JERSEY TO FRANCE FACTOIDS!

I don't want to bore you all too much, but I am going to anyway!

07 12  set off from La Coupe, Jersey

16C   water temperature at the start

18C  water temperature after 4 hours swimming

19C  water temperature over the shell beds off the French coast

28C  air temperature at midday

3     Jelly fish spotted

0    Jelly fish stings! Hurrah, a miracle

0   swear words or shouted abuse at the crew, another miracle

10  quarters of peanut butter sandwiches eaten on route to France

8   bottles of carbo and gel drinks guzzled whilst trying to tread water. I will never master this!

1   right armpit sunburnt! Very weird and painful!

16 30  feet leave the water and step onto land in France

4   minutes on French sand as we needed to get the boat away from the shore and the waves

9 hours 18 minutes  total swim time

56  oldest swimmer to ever complete this swim.

21  21st swimmer ever to complete this swim

1   first New Zealander to complete this swim.

4  days rest and back into the Nene.

28k  swum in 4 swims this week. Bring on Dover to France in August

Don't forget the British Red Cross. Thanks again.

www.virginmoneygiving.com/DavidColeman8


The heart of rock and roll is still beating

SWIMMING FROM JERSEY TO FRANCE

My pilot sent this to JLDSC members. Hope you like it! His spellings, not mine!



The next morning came with far better visual conditions as we took New Zealander David Coleman out after a two year wait of being blown out on Round Jersey swims, he'd plumped for a Jersey to France outing. The day started well with 'Charlie' ran Sea Swimmer 2 aground at the start point, giving both David and Mick a chance to sample the sea temperature up to their O levels as they returned the good ship to a floating position and we set off. we could see France from the start today, which promised much. David left the Jersey shore at some speed as he strongly pulled his way to France. Once more initial conditions were perfect, a flat sea with no wind at all to worry the ensigns. Today we had had Alice Harvey aboard to look after David's dietary requirements. Alice a veteran of Round Island, Jersey to France, Channel relays and Derwent Water is a vastly experienced crew member and did a superb job looking after her 'client'. David swam well enjoying his experience. Water temperature was recorded at 17C and David looked very comfortable as he moved forward at a good pace. Strong sunlight again gave Mick and I a track to follow although we were now conversant with the on-board nav aids which of course include the ships radio set on Radio 2, much to young Alice's disapproval, although I did catch her doing 'the onboard wiggle' to a less aged track. An uneventful first few hours saw David working his way across the globe. The French coast came and went in fog banks, however undisturbed we all ploughed on even taking turns to sun ourselves out on deck. Sea temperature was still rising at the halfway stage we recorded 18C, Alice was pleased with David's progress and recorded his stroke rate at a powerful 59. David made a magnanimous gesture in bequeathing his entire stock of mini Jaffa cakes to the crew which earned him much praise. As if we needed it! Again as the Ecrehouse sailed by and we hit the wall, In terms of a change in conditions as a placid sea began to build. However the worse the sea conditions and wind strength only made David more resolute and determined. It was becoming impossible to keep the escort boat in a nice friendly position alongside as we had previously achieved. Sometimes fifty to eighty yards ahead David rode the waves in great style without a moan or whinge, instead a big grin, he was obviously enjoying himself out there. In condition in which I've seen better swimmers think twice about staying the course, he applied himself to the task ahead. He was still making good progress towards the beach but wind and tide was driving us north of our 'aim point'. Sea temperature was recorded now at 19C and Alice had spotted one jellie fish, some way down. David latter confirmed a sighting of three so not really enough to bother anyone. Alice joined David in amongst the waves for twenty minutes and together they ploughed on. Eventually we lined the boat up for a finish again north of 'the house' but who carers. David had become the first New Zealander and we believe the oldest to conquer La Manche Two in a time of nine hours eighteen. A very gutsy swim by a very fit and determined swimmer, thoroughly deserving his success.

Don't forget the British Red Cross. Continued thanks to those who have contributed.

www.virginmoneygiving.com/DavidColeman8

Back to normal. Rocking at full speed.



Photos still to follow but as there are no kids about it may take a day or 2!

BONJOUR FRENCH FRANCE

I went to French France yesterday for 4 minutes.

 It took me 9 hours and 18 minutes to get there!

Really tough swim, wind against tide for the last 3 hours. Now the oldest and first Kiwi to have ever have done this.

Full report and photos on my return.

The Red Cross need your support: Many thanks to those who have donated.

www.virginmoneygiving.com/DavidColeman8

I will rock a little more stiffly today!

JERSEY A GO GO

Good news. The weather looks fine and dandy for my Jersey to France swim on Wednesday.

I can't wait as I am like a coiled spring and more than ready to go. As I don't own a new fangled internet magic phone, I will have to rely on the kind B and B owners to allow me to update the site, so I will bring you the news as I can.

If you are sad and have plenty of time on your hand, you can follow my progress across the channel on some sort of space thing. Here is the link.

http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0KnEOCEhrh7qJE0rtxb5VybGgCKd9t0Tr

Many thanks for your support for the British Red Cross. Here is that link:

www.virginmoneygiving.com/DavidColeman8

Don't forget that God gave rock and roll to you. 

BERNIE'S GANG

Welcome to listeners of the Bernie Keith show on BBC Radio Northampton. Bernie is somewhat of a legend so what a privilage it was to be on his show!

The weather is looking good for next week so it looks like I will set off for France on either Wednesday or Thursday, depending on the best day for the tide. Everything crossed!

Here is the British Red Cross link. Many thanks for your support.

www.virginmoneygiving.com/DavidColeman8
Rock on kids.

FRANCE, HERE I COME!

Things are looking good for next week as the weather forecast is showing light winds and perfect swimming conditions.

There is a relay to go before me so hopefully they will get away early in the week and I can follow mid week.

See you in France baby!

The Red Cross still needs you.

www.virginmoneygiving.com/DavidColeman8
Rock, the music of life.

UPDATE!

It is lovely to see the sun and to feel the water temperature slowly rising. The Nene at Tansor is glorious at the moment, lovely temperature and crystal clear.

Although the weather in Jersey is lovely, the wind is not yet behaving and force 4 and above is forecast for every day next week. Hopefully by the following week they will have abated so I can get my swim away.

Keep everything crossed!

The Red Cross still needs you. Many thanks to the people that have generously donated.

www.virginmoneygiving.com/DavidColeman8

Who would have thought after all , that rock and roll will save us all.