After the stormy weather last weekend, it is teeth grinding to see perfect calm and warm weather this weekend. Hey ho, such is the trevails of open water swimming. In fact the wind speed topped 50 knots last weekend, much worse than forecasted.
I have rescheduled the Jersey swim for the week of July 15 to 20. It will be a different tide so I will be swimming Jersey to France, which to be honest is my number one choice.
My Dover/France swim is at the end of August so a rare, if not first, opportunity to swim the channel from 2 different places in the same calendar year.
The British Red Cross still needs you help. Please be generous.
www.virginmoneygiving.com/DavidColeman8
Pop is dead. Rock lives.
Lake Windermere
Sunday, 30 June 2013
Thursday, 20 June 2013
JERSEY BLOWN OUT!
As predicted, my Jersey swim has fallen foul of the weather and will not take place this weekend. The forecast is for heavy duty winds so she no go bro.
Don't despair dear reader as I have moved the swim to the week beginning 15 July.
Hopefully by then summer will have started!
Don't forget this suffering is all for a good cause. The British Red Cross needs you.
Please donate at:
www.virginmoneygiving.com/DavidColeman8
Don't worry, the heart of rock and roll still's beating
Don't despair dear reader as I have moved the swim to the week beginning 15 July.
Hopefully by then summer will have started!
Don't forget this suffering is all for a good cause. The British Red Cross needs you.
Please donate at:
www.virginmoneygiving.com/DavidColeman8
Don't worry, the heart of rock and roll still's beating
Monday, 17 June 2013
GALES IN JERSEY
It seems incredible that the weekend has arrived for my swim around the island of Jersey.
Guess what? The weather forecast is for Force 4 winds and above. That is baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad news as the swim can't take place in anything above Force 3. There are many safety reasons for this as I have to consider not only my own safety but the safety and comfprt of everyone on the pilot and support boat.
Unless the forecast radically changes it ain't gonna happen this week baby! Good ol' British Summer.
So what to do? I am already looking at other dates in July but I need to be mindful of my Channel swim in August and not get too close to that as it is impossible to do 2 huge back to back swims. If I can't fit a date in, as these are booked up years in advance, I will look at dates for next year.
All disappointing BUT I still have my Channel swim to come for this year so all to play for. I will keep you in the loop.
The British Red Cross still needs YOUR help. PLease donate at:
www.virginmoneygiving.com/DavidColeman8
Keep rocking. I will be!
Guess what? The weather forecast is for Force 4 winds and above. That is baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad news as the swim can't take place in anything above Force 3. There are many safety reasons for this as I have to consider not only my own safety but the safety and comfprt of everyone on the pilot and support boat.
Unless the forecast radically changes it ain't gonna happen this week baby! Good ol' British Summer.
So what to do? I am already looking at other dates in July but I need to be mindful of my Channel swim in August and not get too close to that as it is impossible to do 2 huge back to back swims. If I can't fit a date in, as these are booked up years in advance, I will look at dates for next year.
All disappointing BUT I still have my Channel swim to come for this year so all to play for. I will keep you in the loop.
The British Red Cross still needs YOUR help. PLease donate at:
www.virginmoneygiving.com/DavidColeman8
Keep rocking. I will be!
Sunday, 9 June 2013
NORTH SEA SPA BATH
You will be very pleased to know dear readers that Lizzie and I ventured over to Aldeburgh for the day so that I could have a splash in the wonderful blue, warm, clear and calm North Sea.
Except it was anything but! The northerly wind was howling at its cold best, the waves were 6 foot plus going north to south along the beach, the water had the visibility of exactly 1/2 an arm distance (yes I did measure it!) and the water was a balmy 11C.
Not surprisingly I swam from the north to the south and I loved it as I was swimming at an olympic swimmer's speed. It was cold but once you get over the first 10 minutes you are fine as everything is numb. Poor Lizzie who was crewing for me on the beach was frit ( local dialect, look it up) to death as one minute I was 10 feet above her and the next minute I had disappeared under giant waves. She wanted me to bale out and come ashore as she was really worried about my safety. I thought that she was being friendly and waving at me. Polite bloke that I am, I waved back.
2 weeks now to Jersey. The long range forecast is terrible for that weekend, but here's hoping.
Many thanks to the people that continue to support the British Red Cross. You can donate at:
www.virginmoneygiving.com/DavidColeman8
Pop is dead. Rock lives
Except it was anything but! The northerly wind was howling at its cold best, the waves were 6 foot plus going north to south along the beach, the water had the visibility of exactly 1/2 an arm distance (yes I did measure it!) and the water was a balmy 11C.
Not surprisingly I swam from the north to the south and I loved it as I was swimming at an olympic swimmer's speed. It was cold but once you get over the first 10 minutes you are fine as everything is numb. Poor Lizzie who was crewing for me on the beach was frit ( local dialect, look it up) to death as one minute I was 10 feet above her and the next minute I had disappeared under giant waves. She wanted me to bale out and come ashore as she was really worried about my safety. I thought that she was being friendly and waving at me. Polite bloke that I am, I waved back.
2 weeks now to Jersey. The long range forecast is terrible for that weekend, but here's hoping.
Many thanks to the people that continue to support the British Red Cross. You can donate at:
www.virginmoneygiving.com/DavidColeman8
Pop is dead. Rock lives
Thursday, 30 May 2013
8C HEAVEN!
I often get asked how I swim in water that is only 8C. Well dear readers, many people swim in water that is much colder, but let me give you an idea of how YOU can experience this wonderful feeling.
First, fill you bath up with cold water. You will need to throw in 3 or 4 bags of ice as your tap water is probably about 11 or 12C. Then, turn on a cold fan to replicate the northly wind and then finally turn on the cold shower to produce cold rain. You are now ready, jump in. Enjoy!
These are exactly the conditions that I experienced this week in Aldeburgh. The North Sea was at its best. Cold, lumpy and cloudy. Not to mention a cold wind and rain! It has to be done as Jersey looms. My pilot is worried about the water temperatures over there but I don't have any flexability regarding dates so I will press on.
Lizzie and I had a great time in Aldeburgh. It is one of our favourite places. We met a lovely family at Ocean House. Ed Hodge (Edward according to mother!), Caroline, Rosie, Murray ( great name for a bloke) and mum Sarah. They had lived in Jersey and it was amazing that we knew people in common.
I will tell you about my flight in the Russian Yak once I get the pictures loaded and my insides become untwisted.
Continued thanks for the people that have logged on and donated to the British Red Cross. YOU can do so at:
www.virginmoneygiving.com/DavidColeman8
The Heart of Rock and Roll is still beating.
First, fill you bath up with cold water. You will need to throw in 3 or 4 bags of ice as your tap water is probably about 11 or 12C. Then, turn on a cold fan to replicate the northly wind and then finally turn on the cold shower to produce cold rain. You are now ready, jump in. Enjoy!
These are exactly the conditions that I experienced this week in Aldeburgh. The North Sea was at its best. Cold, lumpy and cloudy. Not to mention a cold wind and rain! It has to be done as Jersey looms. My pilot is worried about the water temperatures over there but I don't have any flexability regarding dates so I will press on.
Lizzie and I had a great time in Aldeburgh. It is one of our favourite places. We met a lovely family at Ocean House. Ed Hodge (Edward according to mother!), Caroline, Rosie, Murray ( great name for a bloke) and mum Sarah. They had lived in Jersey and it was amazing that we knew people in common.
I will tell you about my flight in the Russian Yak once I get the pictures loaded and my insides become untwisted.
Continued thanks for the people that have logged on and donated to the British Red Cross. YOU can do so at:
www.virginmoneygiving.com/DavidColeman8
The Heart of Rock and Roll is still beating.
Monday, 27 May 2013
FINAL MISERY
Let's face it. I hate losing to those stripy people from up north. So you can imagine my misery on Saturday after the Premiership rugby final.
In fact it was a totally frustrating day all round. Having to go to school in the morning was an impediment as we left too late to avoid the traffic that just choked the whole of Twickenham. Over 80,000 people coming from the East Midlands all arrived at the same point. Every roundabout was solid with nowhere to go in any direction. London. You can keep it.
Lizzie and I took Phillipa Cox and her sister George so we had entertaining company. Shame about the plastic pom getting sent off. Shame about the prices at the ground. Shame about the result.
Anyway onto happy thoughts. I am having the thrill of my life today as I am having a flight in a WWII warbird, a Russian Yak. Can't wait.
Half term this week so plenty of cold water coming up. The sea is only 11C at the moment. Seriously cold but it has to be done as Jersey is looming.
Many thanks to the people that have generosly supported my Red Cross appeal. You can donate here:
www.virginmoneygiving.com/DavidColeman8
Red Hot Chillies Califorinication on Planet Rock as I sit here writing this. Rock on!
In fact it was a totally frustrating day all round. Having to go to school in the morning was an impediment as we left too late to avoid the traffic that just choked the whole of Twickenham. Over 80,000 people coming from the East Midlands all arrived at the same point. Every roundabout was solid with nowhere to go in any direction. London. You can keep it.
Lizzie and I took Phillipa Cox and her sister George so we had entertaining company. Shame about the plastic pom getting sent off. Shame about the prices at the ground. Shame about the result.
Anyway onto happy thoughts. I am having the thrill of my life today as I am having a flight in a WWII warbird, a Russian Yak. Can't wait.
Half term this week so plenty of cold water coming up. The sea is only 11C at the moment. Seriously cold but it has to be done as Jersey is looming.
Many thanks to the people that have generosly supported my Red Cross appeal. You can donate here:
www.virginmoneygiving.com/DavidColeman8
Red Hot Chillies Califorinication on Planet Rock as I sit here writing this. Rock on!
Saturday, 18 May 2013
MEGA WEEK!
Privyet to all my Russian friends who continue to follow me in record numbers. No, I won't defect as your winters are too cold and your summers are too hot. I will gladly look at your photos.
I have had a big 9 days spending over 20 hours in the water. I have increased my pace to 3.33kph, up from 3.15 earlier in the year. The water temperatures continue to worry everyone. My Jersey pilot informs me that the water is still only 11C which is way down on normal. Come on the sun!
Thank you for your support for the British Red Cross in Northamptonshire. The Beach Party raised over £1000, with another £1000 pounds pledged in sponsorship. We need over £30,000 so please be generous!
Please click on the link to donate.
Who would have thought that Rock and Roll could save us all.
I have had a big 9 days spending over 20 hours in the water. I have increased my pace to 3.33kph, up from 3.15 earlier in the year. The water temperatures continue to worry everyone. My Jersey pilot informs me that the water is still only 11C which is way down on normal. Come on the sun!
Thank you for your support for the British Red Cross in Northamptonshire. The Beach Party raised over £1000, with another £1000 pounds pledged in sponsorship. We need over £30,000 so please be generous!
Please click on the link to donate.
Who would have thought that Rock and Roll could save us all.
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Setting off. 7am. Only 13 and a half hours to go!