Swimming in Colemere

Last night saw Rob Windsor and I back in Colemere for the first time this year. Having been restricted to swimming in Ellesmere all of this season, (awaiting aceptance of the Colemere risk assessment), it was good to be back in my favourite local lake.

The water seemed much colder than Dover, and this feeling did not change during our 2 lap curcuit of the lake, I suspect it was down around 12C. We both agreed to call it a day after an hour and retire to Rob's house for supper. Since I'm not down in Dover this weekend, the thought of a long swim in this temp water on Saturday, does not inspire, but it must be done.

Hope House Childrens Hospices

It takes over £3,000,000 to keep The Hope House Hospices open each year. That's around £8500 per day, or about £360 per hour, which is £6 per minute.

By swimming the English Channel as a solo swimmer in late July 2008 I hope to raise enough money in donations to keep Hope House running for a day, but a week would be even better!
It's a big request I know, but if you know anything about the work that Hope House does, you will be more than happy to help. If you have not heard of Hope House then please visit their web site, http://www.hopehouse.org.uk/, for more information.

Please help to keep Hope House open for a few more minutes, by donating what you can, and I'll attempt to swim upto 30 miles in just my speedo's, hat and goggles. All in water that might only reach 16C (60F) in July, whilst avoiding all the scary things that lurk in the Channel.

Donating through http://www.justgiving.com/andychannelswim is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Hope House Children's Hospices will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you. So please sponsor me by clicking on the button. Many thanks for your support.

Best wishes

Andy

2nd May Bank Holiday Weekend

Following a successful 1st Bank Holiday weekend at the start of the month, it was up at 3 am on Saturday morning and off on the 5 hour drive to Dover. The forecast isn't good but, "it's all good training"!!

We arrive in full sunshine, but the water is quite choppy, I'm hoping "The General" will give me a 3 hour swim. After paying homage to Freda, I meet up with all my new friends and fellow swimmers to gossip about life, well swimming! Freda calls us all together and says that we will be doing 5 lengths of the harbour, except for the privileged few, who get to do 8!! As she called out some names I tried to hide as best I could, but she caught my eye and suggested that I would do the longer swim. Quietly I was pleased, because that should take the 3 hours I hoped to do.

I enter the water with all the others and the water feels cold but bearable, (the early season Ellesmere swims are paying off). The choppy water is definitely noticeable one way as opposed to the other, but I try my best to relax and keep a steady rhythm, occasionally I see another swimmer and feel the sun on my back, I'm swimming well.

After 2 hours I head back to the beach for my Maxim feed, I feed as quick as I can and back into the water, but the feed doesn't sit well and as I take a mouthful of sea water it re-appears!! I finish the swim feeling sick with the nasty acid taste in my mouth, but 2 hours and 52 mins for the whole swim, overall a good start.

After a warm and something to eat, Ruth and I retire to our B&B for a well earned soak and a nap, ready for Sunday.

I look out of the window, it's 6 am and it's raining! Deep joy. Back under the duvet for an hour and pray for sunshine. There is a God, the sun is out and there is no wind. We arrive at the beach to see flat calm water, Freda tells us to do the same swim as yesterday. I intend to swim steadier today and work on stroke and relaxation, and hold down the maxim. It all goes to plan and I exit the water just short of 3 hours, feeling strong and able to do more, though my neck is chaffed and sore.

Oh Monday, I've used all my favours with that weather God. The wind is howling and the rain is horizontal. Even Freda looks dubious about swimming, and the 30-40 swimmers on the beach has dwindled to about a dozen hard or daft nutters who clearly have no home to go to!! Freda then suggests that we all swim to the East Dock Wall and back, twice! About an hour she says. Of we go, it's a fight just to get into the water as the waves batter us on the beach. I couldn't stop taking in water as I headed out to the wall, but I managed to control the urge to turn back as everyone else seemed ok. I soon discovered breathing to the left limited the intake of water and progress could be made, I was even starting to enjoy the experience of being thrown about. The swim back from the wall was great, body surfing all the way, and even the 2nd lap back was ok.

All in all, a successful weekend, with 2 x 3 hour swims and a rough 1 hour swim.