I wanted to start this series of blogs with something profound. Since the Solent swim last summer, through my Dover trial and to to my recent medical clearance, a number of important websites have become very familiar to me. For the last hour I've enjoyed inspiring webpages featuring Matthew Webb, Gertrude Ederley, Diabetes UK, Open Water Swimming and of course....David Walliams. I'm just struggling to find the words to explain where my head's at with this at the moment. I know to expect some pain. I've done enough sea swimming now to understand that my tongue will swell, and my stubborn stubble will rub my neck raw as I turn to breath every few strokes. I have yet to face a two hour cold water test back in Dover Bay in 12 degree water. Shoulder aches, leg cramps and earaches. No profound words yet ...
The image that I simply can't shake from the forefront of my mind is a view that I first drank in in back in October when I went to Dover to try out for this challenge with Diabetes UK. On my way home after two big days of sea swimming, curiosity led me to seek out 'Shakespeare Beach' before I made the drive back home to Malmesbury.
It took a little finding too. First I had to find Aycliffe (a suburb of Dover). The beach is accessed via a footpath which goes through a subway under the A20 before it drops down onto the pebbly beach. This is where our channel bid will start.
I don't yet know if I'll swim first in my team of six. I don't yet know who the other five are! How seasick will I be? Will I get 'jellyfished'? How long will I have to tread water when a tanker passes? Unknown.....unknowns..... and more unknowns!
Please come on this journey with me. It'll help me heaps!
I'm sure that I'll find those profound words that are currently eluding me. The important subject of diabetes will give rise to a few I'm certain. For now though, may I leave you with a view. The photo below was taken from Shakespeare Beach near Dover. The swimmer is Roger Allsopp who I believe was about to embark on a solo challenge, looking out over the cold waters of the English Channel. It'll will be DARK when we start our swim at the end of August, but I wanted to share this with you anyway. Profound? Prolly not! Ruddy scary?...................................................... yep!
The image that I simply can't shake from the forefront of my mind is a view that I first drank in in back in October when I went to Dover to try out for this challenge with Diabetes UK. On my way home after two big days of sea swimming, curiosity led me to seek out 'Shakespeare Beach' before I made the drive back home to Malmesbury.
It took a little finding too. First I had to find Aycliffe (a suburb of Dover). The beach is accessed via a footpath which goes through a subway under the A20 before it drops down onto the pebbly beach. This is where our channel bid will start.
I don't yet know if I'll swim first in my team of six. I don't yet know who the other five are! How seasick will I be? Will I get 'jellyfished'? How long will I have to tread water when a tanker passes? Unknown.....unknowns..... and more unknowns!
Please come on this journey with me. It'll help me heaps!
I'm sure that I'll find those profound words that are currently eluding me. The important subject of diabetes will give rise to a few I'm certain. For now though, may I leave you with a view. The photo below was taken from Shakespeare Beach near Dover. The swimmer is Roger Allsopp who I believe was about to embark on a solo challenge, looking out over the cold waters of the English Channel. It'll will be DARK when we start our swim at the end of August, but I wanted to share this with you anyway. Profound? Prolly not! Ruddy scary?...................................................... yep!
RSS Feed