Dover Day - 30th September 2010

No swimming today; but was still soaking wet!!

Last night I took a call from Fiona to say that someone she vaguely knows has been given his 24 hr call to swim the channel; it’s his last chance before the season ends today and if he doesn’t take it then he misses it for another year. As it was such short notice and because it was about the third time he’s been given notice, only 1 out of his 7 crew were available, even his wife couldn’t go as their children were unwell! So he called Fiona to see if she could be a crew member and if she had anyone she could bring – so there we were driving to Dover last night at 10pm with bag packed full of very warm clothes and waterproofs, ham & cheese sandwiches, penguin biscuits and flasks of sweet tea; rather unexpected as I was planning an early night!

We got to Dover, after a 90 minute drive through torrential rain, and met them on the docks. Really nice chap, being supported by his best friend and only crew. The Pilot boat (not a CSA registered boat!) were just pulling in and were expecting us sharply so they could get going. Even though it was raining hard and sea conditions were sounding tough, the decision to go was taken and after loading the boat, introducing ourselves and waiting a short while we were off; it was 1.45am. The boat was basically a medium sized fishing boat, manned by the Pilot, his co-pilot and an “unofficial” official – I am so pleased I am going with an official CSA pilot! They didn’t even help him (us) carry all his provisions to the boat! It was almost amusing when the official came to complete his paperwork and not only kept calling Fiona “Jo”, but didn’t even check any bags in case there were untoward drugs in there or anything; really not encouraging.

We sailed out of the calmness of Dover Harbour and within seconds the boat was being thrown around like a rag doll in a washing machines; boxes literally sliding everywhere, his best friend throwing up and Fiona and I simply hanging on to the sides. After about half an hour we stopped moving right near the beach and Fiona applied the lanolin and grease to his body (I couldn’t see in the dark if she was enjoying that or not!) and then off the side he went and swam to shore. Watching him swim to shore in the dark we couldn’t really see how rough it was, but he must have felt it. As soon as he reach shore the Pilot honked the hooter and the game was on. He ran back into the sea; now it was about 2.45am I guess, and it was him verses a very troubled sea. With his friend still throwing up it was down to Fiona and Me to keep a very watchful eye out on him, with Fiona shouting for the first 20 minutes at him to watch out for the boat! After about another 20 minutes, with the conditions now absolutely dreadful, the boat being thrown everywhere, his friend sill throwing up and the Pilot getting concerned for both his boat and the swimmer the decision was made to call it off. So an hour into the swim he was back on the boat feeling really upset and we were heading back to Dover with every other wave lifting us up and simply dropping us back down. I have to say, and I say this as someone without previous experience, that letting the swim go ahead in those conditions was perhaps not the correct thing to do; even if was the last chance of the year!

The plus point to all this was that he came back safely; OK so he never managed to make it due to the weather, but in those conditions just getting back onto the boat safely was a miracle. For me I learnt a lot; I experienced the highs and lows of a channel swimmer (albeit second hand), I got to see the process from Dover to boat and back again and I got to see the channel in complete darkness and in a storm. Oh and not forgetting, I got to understand the importance swimming under the official CSA banner.

Having got home at around 5am, I grabbed about 2 hours sleep and then headed to work; where I currently am and on my third coffee already.
An unusual but very interesting unexpected evening!

Swim4Smiles Interview - Rob and Fiona.mov

Day 106 - 29th September 2010

It’s getting darker in the mornings; even the Pier was still all lit up when I hit the seafront this morning.

Did another beach to beach to beach (twice around the pier) today; so that’s three in a row which is good. It was still very clear in the sea; in fact I saw literally thousands of tiny silver fish swimming in formation all around me for most of the swim today; really stunning. The air temperature wasn’t too bad, but the sea continues to get colder. Bob and I were joined by Simon this morning and on the way around we bumped into crazy Leo, Graham, Kevin and David and then in the Arches afterwards there were the usual suspects; Fiona, Midgie, Angus etc. Another jolly friendly start to the day.

The swim itself was about 49 minutes, which in this temperature was good going; although still trying to warm up now. Off to the Gym after work for an hour and then that is another day done!

Day 105 – 28th September 2010

Last night had about 3 hours sleep in total; been like that for about 2 weeks now, which is annoying. I only ever do around 4-5 hours a night on average anyway, which is all I’ve ever done, but 3 hours is a pain as it makes the night time so long and boring and it does make you a tad tired when you get up at 5.30am ish. Oh well never mind!

The sea was amazingly clear again today; you could actually see every single stone at the bottom, even as far out as the end of the pier. The air temperature was slightly warmer today, but the sea temperature continues to drop.

As it’s getting darker in the mornings now I decided to go at 7.15 instead of 7am and as such the Arches were busier; it was nice to see some faces again in the morning. Bob wasn’t there today, but Young Mike joined me. We swam twice around the pier, beach to beach to beach; it was Mikes first time doing that and you could see that the cold got to him; it was cold out there. We did a fantastic pace the whole way around; a great swim and an amazing way to start the day. Oh god am I dreading not being able to do this distance in the sea soon due to the temperature, which will mean the dreaded pool swims!

Day 104 – 27th September 2010

Monday morning and so much to say! A little numbering may help me focus and stop this being a jumbled mess of thoughts:

1) Would have been Dad’s 65th birthday today. Everyday I think of Dad, so today is no different and needs to feel no different; but I guess his birthday just focuses the mind a little more and makes me remember how lucky I was to have him as my Dad.

2) Walking was not easy today as my rheumatism was playing up, so it was a case of limping down the stones. However, the sea does wonders for it and even though it hurt walking out of the sea, the actual swim was completely pain free. Hopefully it’ll be gone by tomorrow; usually it only lasts a couple of days at a time. The sea was so clear that you could actually see all the way to the ocean floor, even out at the end of the pier. Swimming back around the pier we went over an old wreck, which was fantastic as you could see every little nodule on it. Now, around an hour since we came out, I am still cold in the hands and feet. I guess from now on each morning is likely to get colder and darker; something to look forward to!

3) Where were the Buoys! I didn’t realise but at the end of September they remove the bouys from the sea. Apparently it’s a safety thing as the sea can start to really rough up and they do not expect swimmers and boats to be stupid enough to be out there needing the buoys! Mmmm, will we be stupid enough to swim; yes I think we will! Shame though as the buoys give you the ability to spot distance and give you something to aim around.

4) This coming Friday we are planning a night swim around the pier. Pitch black at 7.30pm, so will be exciting and possibly somewhat spooky. Personally I’m really looking forward to it, however, some of the others I am trying to tempt to come with me are not so sure!

I am sure that there was more to say, but it’s now 9am and I think time for some work!

Day 103 - 25th September 2010 Saturday

Saturday we went to Dorset for the day; 14 of us from Brighton Swimming Club. It was organised by Big Mike; who hired a mini us and drove us there and back; he made the day so fantastic.

We swam around Lulworth cove to some amazing caves, then back to the beach and dressed for a pub lunch, then a 2 miles walk around the hillside to Durdle Door and another fantastic swim. What an incredible place. The sun was shining, the sky was blue, the water was a decent temperature, and the views were stunning. You really could have been anywhere in the Mediterranean. The day was made even better by being with such a fun and happy crowd of people; all there just to enjoy the swimming and the scenery.

It shows how beautiful England is. I am not saying I am all of a sudden going to be setting up camp in the coves around England, but I am certainly starting to appreciate what we have in our Country and who knows, maybe (just maybe) I might even be tempted one day to go camping and to stop being so precious about home comforts!!

Day 102 – 24th September 2010

After a day of shopping yesterday in Bluewater for Sharon’s birthday it was so nice to be back in the real Blue Water this morning (well kind of blueish!).

Bob and I swam at 7am to the West Pier and back and then onto the buoys and back; a decent strong swim of 80 minutes without rest to start the day. It took a whopping 46 minutes of constant swimming to reach the West Pier (previous longest to the WP was 30 minutes) and then a staggering 12 minutes back! Once again showing the power of the tides. Gotta hope that I have tides in my favour when I take on the channel next year! The temperature definitely has fallen again. We were warmish for about 40 minutes, but then the cold definitely set in; the hot shower at the arches afterwards was most welcome!

Tomorrow we are heading to Dorset for a day swimming in the lakes and coves; very exciting stuff.