Best Laid Plans.

As many may already know, my swim came off the rails around the 10 hour mark. Having swam through the separation zone, I was lined up to land just north of the Cap. However, my old bones had better ideas and I was pulled from the water by my pilot (Ali) on safety grounds, a decision I didn't agree with at the time but as it turns out was, without doubt, the best one. This is why the pilots deserve every penny they are paid and why I have the upmost respect for what they do.

Thank-you to everyone who sent such wonderful words of encouragement before, during and after my swim. It is great to know that so many were willing me on, and I'm sorry I couldn't deliver, but over the next few days I will attempt to contact you all in some form to say thanks.

I will at some point put a more detailed acconut on the blogimebob, but for now thankyou all for believing in me and sorry.

Andy

The journey continues

Well Ali does not need AIS as spotters in Shropshire are telling me where we are all the time! The sun is shining, the music is great Ali has provided a great soundtrack for the crossing and we are all singing along. OOOh oh yes the swimmer well he continues to do really well and has fed brilliantly he now comes to the whistle and takes his bottle!!

From Andy's viewpoint its water water all the way. We have overtaken Steven Black on Suva. Keeping everything crossed!xxx

South West Shipping Lane

Well he's been going almost three hours and we are about to enter the South West shipping lane, it is a tad foggy at the moment. Andy is looking good, his swimhat appears to be giving him some grievance I will check at next feed. Ali is well impressed with his feeding it is spot on!!!

Swimbitch 1 out!

We're off!!

Well we are off well when I say we I mean Andy he has had two feeds and is going well, looking strong. the weather conditions are according to Ali a normal channel day and not one of these mirror smooth lake type channel swims. The boat ride is as they say a little cheeky. We have Irene as observer so all Andy's lucky charms are in place. I wll try and update as we go but his feeds are my priority. Rob will be going in on three hours as support swimmer. Will uate again as soons as am able!!

Signing off over over Swimbitch 1

Twas The Night Before The Big Swim!!

Guess who's going to France tomorrow Morning (wednesday)?

Meeeeee.

Ali sent me a text comfirming an 06:30 start, so Rob my support swimmer is on his was and I'm busy mixing maxim. I'm all excited and nervous at the same time, but I really want to go now!!

I had a short dip in the harbour this afternoon and felt really good, so all the training, all the prep will come to fruition very soon.

Andy

Monday - The Swimmers are Off

Today saw many of the boats and swimmers out in the Channel. Early indications are that many swims were successful, including Liam Maher in 13 hrs 11 min. Well done Liam.

I've had no further updates from Ali, but the weather looks set fine for the number 2 swimmers tomorrow, and if the weather continues to hold, I may well be off on Wednesday.

Fingers crossed.

If anyone wants to track my swim the AIS tracker for Roco is on the link below.

http://www.shipais.com/showship.php?mmsi=235062006

Sunday 18 July.

Had another 2 hour dip in Dover harbour this morning, followed by a leisurely lunch in the new watersports centre. After lunch I sat on the beach in the sunshine, and watched many of the other swimmers pound out a 6 hour, (the one advantage to an early season swim).

Still no futher updates on my swim, though talk on the beach is that some swims will hopefully get underway early tomorrow morning. The weather forcast is all over the place and constantly changing, so watch this space!

Weather Delay.

Well we have the first weather delay. I've had an update from Ali and I will not swim until Wednesday at the earliest. Having looked at the forcast, I think that this will be put back even further. This is the joy of Channel swimming!! not to worry I will sit back read a book or two and chill.

Thanks to everyone who has sent me good luck wishes over the last few days. These are really apprieciated and will spur me on to success. I will try and respond to you all over the coming days.

Arrived In Dover

We have arrived in Dover ready for my big swim. having said hello to everyone it was into the water for a gentle 2 hour swim to loosen off. The eastern dock wall was choppy but good practice and the swim was soon over.

I've had a text from Ali Streeter, my pilot, who has indicated that I will provisionally swimming on Tuesday, and to meet her at the marina for 05:00. Let's kkep our fingers crossed for the wind to drop over the next couple of days.

More tomorrow.

The Last Big Training Weekend.

Up again at 02:30 for the drive down to Dover, but this time I know it's the last big weekend before I taper for the main event. Freda asks me what I want to do, and I say whatever she thinks best, so I'm given a 7 hour, which I was dreading, but hoping for at the same time. Everyone else on my tide gets a 4 hour as they are already tapering. I know she's right to push me at this point, so I decide to give it some beans for the whole 7 hours. We hop into the water on the stroke of 9, and after a warm up down to the wall, I wind the pace up keeping with some of the faster swimmers and passing a few along the way. The conditions are flat calm and as I motor along, I wish I was in the Channel as everything is perfect. I feed quckly and easily, I'm not sick and I'm not cold. The 7 hours soon pass and although I'm very tired and my arms are aching I feel great with no pain.

Sunday dawns with another gloriously sunny day and I'm aching all over but ready for a 6 hour, which Freda duly hands me. Off we go again and I think that I should take it a little steadier today. However, the wind soon picked up and the swim from the East Wall to the Clocktower became "challenging". I decided to work hard into the wind and surf back down, stopping for a feed on the way back. This seemed to work well and, once again the time passed quickly. Despite swallowing a goodly amount of water, my tummy retained it's contents which was the most rewarding part of the weekend!!!

I do hope that's a cadbury's mini roll!!

Freda, Irene and Ruth in the sun.

Budgie smuggling on Dover beach!!

Warm up before my Sunday 6 hour!!

Now it's time to back off, with some shorter sessions at Criccieth next weekend and then we're off to Dover, to await the call from Ali Streeter.