After the rigours of the English Channel it is wonderful to be back in the peace and serenity of the mighty River Nene.
This morning I did 3 hours and was accompanied by a Heron and later on, 2 Red Kites that circled me for half an hour. Now I know that Kites feed on carrion and that I am very old, but I'm sure that I wasn't going that slowly! Perhaps I was. Anyway, they got bored and flew off.
Building up now to my aurigny ALDERNEY to FRANCE swim on the 21st of August.
This is a tough assignment as the infamous RACE of ALDERNEY will make this like swimming in a spin drier. I have swum the Hellespont with its 9 knot current so it won't be a totally new experience.
Had a mid life crisis this week and started jogging again. Nothing much mind you. I am talking 10 laps of the local cricket field. Talk about a sweat fest! Knees have survived so far but I am looking to up my fitness levels as I am now planning more testing and difficult swims for 2015.
Kate, Doug, Tabby and Phoebe are over from the USA next week. Can't wait. All breakables have been put on the top shelves. That because of the toddlers, not because Kate and Doug are clumsy, well not Doug anyway!
Listening to the Best of Rock in the car at the moment. Magic.
Lake Windermere
Friday, 25 July 2014
Friday, 18 July 2014
16 HOURS 6 MINUTES OF FUN!
I am home now after my swim with the ON PORPOISE DIABETES UK Channel swimming team.
The Channel crossing took 16 hours and 6 minutes in challenging conditions. The very high spring tide took the swimmers way north and at one point it was thought by the pilot that the landing would be in Holland! That would have been cool. Not many people have swum there!
Although the winds did not drop as predicted, the mighty currents eventually had all swimmers back on course and we all landed around the Calais/Sangette region. It was a great feeling to climb out on the rocks at the base of the cliff.
2 more stones down my swimmers for my collection. Hold on, that doesn't read well! You know what I mean.
I have had one day off, and now I am heading back to my beloved Nene today to swim out the shoulders for a couple of hours. Lovely smooth water.
Alderney to France is now 4 weeks away so upwards and onwards.
I listened to the golf and cricket on the way home from Dover yesterday and one commentator said that in a press conference in Liverpool that most of the American golfers couldn't name any of the Beatles.
Easy, Dung Beetle, VW Beetle, Beetlenut and Scarab Beetle.
The Channel crossing took 16 hours and 6 minutes in challenging conditions. The very high spring tide took the swimmers way north and at one point it was thought by the pilot that the landing would be in Holland! That would have been cool. Not many people have swum there!
Although the winds did not drop as predicted, the mighty currents eventually had all swimmers back on course and we all landed around the Calais/Sangette region. It was a great feeling to climb out on the rocks at the base of the cliff.
2 more stones down my swimmers for my collection. Hold on, that doesn't read well! You know what I mean.
I have had one day off, and now I am heading back to my beloved Nene today to swim out the shoulders for a couple of hours. Lovely smooth water.
Alderney to France is now 4 weeks away so upwards and onwards.
I listened to the golf and cricket on the way home from Dover yesterday and one commentator said that in a press conference in Liverpool that most of the American golfers couldn't name any of the Beatles.
Easy, Dung Beetle, VW Beetle, Beetlenut and Scarab Beetle.
Monday, 14 July 2014
THE CHANNEL IS ON!
Great news dear reader, the weather is starting to calm and I'm off to Dover to jump in the Channel tomorrow.
It may be a midnight start Tuesday so I expect all of you to stay awake all night tracking me. If it is not midnight it will be early Wednesday.
To follow the tracker the easiest way is to google Mike Oram CSPF and click on his tracker for GALLIVANT.
If the boat shows that it is still in Dover, then so am I! You will see the track once we are into the Channel.
Excited, and I still have the aurigny ALDERNEY to FRANCE SWIM to come in August.
Happy days. Keep rocking.
It may be a midnight start Tuesday so I expect all of you to stay awake all night tracking me. If it is not midnight it will be early Wednesday.
To follow the tracker the easiest way is to google Mike Oram CSPF and click on his tracker for GALLIVANT.
If the boat shows that it is still in Dover, then so am I! You will see the track once we are into the Channel.
Excited, and I still have the aurigny ALDERNEY to FRANCE SWIM to come in August.
Happy days. Keep rocking.
Friday, 11 July 2014
WIND PLAYING HAVOC AGAIN!
Well here I am sitting longingly at home waiting for the wind to drop.
I have reckoned that this is the third whole week of my life waiting for the wind to abate so I can get in the Channel.
The weather/wind forecast is for rubbish until Tuesday so my pilot has pencilled in Tuesday/Wednesday for the swim. I have fitted in 3 good swims in the river so I am the proverbial coiled spring.
Here's hoping!
If you have a spare 14 hours here is the tracking link.
www.cspf.co.uk/tracking.
You need to click onto GALLIVANT to follow the course.
More news as it happens! It really is a long way to the top.
I have reckoned that this is the third whole week of my life waiting for the wind to abate so I can get in the Channel.
The weather/wind forecast is for rubbish until Tuesday so my pilot has pencilled in Tuesday/Wednesday for the swim. I have fitted in 3 good swims in the river so I am the proverbial coiled spring.
Here's hoping!
If you have a spare 14 hours here is the tracking link.
www.cspf.co.uk/tracking.
You need to click onto GALLIVANT to follow the course.
More news as it happens! It really is a long way to the top.
Thursday, 3 July 2014
AURIGNY ALDERNEY TO FRANCE SWIM
I have pleasure in announcing that I will be swimming the English Channel from Alderney to France on the 21st of August. Exciting times!
This is in association with AURIGNY the local airline and will raise money for DIABETES UK.
This is a very challenging swim as the Channel at this point has the infamous Race of Alderney which has it's own site on You Tube. ( link to follow, I can't work out how to do it on my I pad!)
I will be the first person ever to swim to France from 2 different Channel Islands.
I will include more details as they develop.
Met a great bunch of people at the river today, so G'day to
Chris, Louise, Paul C, Paul B, Alan and Derek.
I hope you didn't get too much of a shock as the monster Kiwi boy emerged from the deep!
Don' forget that Rock and Roll will save us all!
This is in association with AURIGNY the local airline and will raise money for DIABETES UK.
This is a very challenging swim as the Channel at this point has the infamous Race of Alderney which has it's own site on You Tube. ( link to follow, I can't work out how to do it on my I pad!)
I will be the first person ever to swim to France from 2 different Channel Islands.
I will include more details as they develop.
Met a great bunch of people at the river today, so G'day to
Chris, Louise, Paul C, Paul B, Alan and Derek.
I hope you didn't get too much of a shock as the monster Kiwi boy emerged from the deep!
Don' forget that Rock and Roll will save us all!
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Setting off. 7am. Only 13 and a half hours to go!