Hypothermia struck!

Sorry for the late update, just a short note:

Had to be pulled out of the water after 13 hours 40 min. after we had passed Cap Griz Nez and were already being swept by the counter-current back towards Calais, which would have meant about 5 hours more swimming. I looked a bit too blue, my speech got blurred and I had slowed down quite a bit. We had started at 9 p.m. (8 p.m. German time) and swum through the night with air temperature down to 15 °C and water around 17°C.

The swim was fine, I could have continued easily (no sore shoulders or muscles afterwards), , very peaceful atmosphere, waves mostly pushing us - but the cold got me, although I had managed two 7 hour swims and a 6 hour swim in Dover Harbour without problem.

Thanks to my crew and everyone who supported me and wished us well.

I am fine now, happy again (my helpers had already come to meet us in Calais with the van for the rest of the triathlon and everyone was extremely supportive and in good spirits anyway) and looking forward to finish my project maybe next year.

More to follow

Surprise

Surprise when I came out the water from my training swim today: we are going tonight at 8 p.m. Dover time.

My the Channel Gods be with us!

Maybe Friday AND Saturday!

We may start our swim on Friday night around 8 p.m. and swim into Saturday, if Alison's relay goes out tonight. Or we will start on Saturday morning around 10 a.m. and land late at night, maybe into Sunday. The wind starts turning tonight and will be coming from north-west, pushing the swimmers, finally!

The good thing about swimming into the night: the night is usually calmer, you will have daylight and hopefully some sun for the harder part of the swim, it's a great experience swimming into the day and you also will land in daylight and avoid getting torn bloody all over when trying to climb over the barnacle-covered rocks in the dark to reach dry land. I am estimating around 15 hours for my swim ( in 1985 it was 17 hours, but friends who are slower were faster on their swims - depends a lot on the wind and currents).

Saturday or Friday?

The weather and the forecasts keep changing, but my guess is Saturday. Some people made it yesterday, some didn't, due to hypothermia, seasickness, lack of mental preparation etc. Today all the boats stayed in the harbour. The water today felt much colder, almost arctic, but it was quite calm in the harbour and the sun is out, warming. Swam with Rashmi again. Tonight Marie-Therese will arrive and we will get everything ready and worked out. It's my Channel-anniversary today, but there is no special feeling - the future is more exciting than the past. Still I am amazed at how calm and peaceful I feel.

Options

Just talked to Alison, my pilot. She offered me several options. Friday is taken by a relay, but they could change to Saturday. Tomorrow and Thursday seem to be swimmable, but still with windforce 3-4 in the wrong direction. Saturday would be calmer and northerly winds. Wednesday is out of the question for me. Will check the weather charts again tomorrow.

Looks like Saturday or Friday now (Sept. 10)/

Exciting news: Swimmers are out - and more hope!

Arrived in Dover last night by train and ferry - with an amazingly positive inner feeling, no matter the outer circumstances which only seem to be improving. Moved into a nice little attic twin bed room at Victoria Guest House WITH A VIEW TO THE HARBOUR AND THE CHANNEL! And with great breakfast and wireless laptop (if it works), with extremely supportive landlords and more Channel swimming company.

Swimmers are out today!

The yacht harbour at Dover Marina, where the pilot boats are moored, looks quite empty today.
A number of boats with their swimmers including Alison with Roco went out early this morning. We are all very excited about it. On the ferry yesterday it didn't look too bad - wavy yes, but not unswimmable, with north-westerly winds. More swimmers are getting ready to go tomorrow morning, if they get the confirmation tonight, but right now Tuesday looks windier again. Wednesday and Thursday are looking quite good right now, then it is getting windier again on Friday. Alison took a swimmer or a relay out today - so there is only one person or team before me now!

Good omen

When I came to the harbour around 9:30 this morning for a two hour training swim - after a huge Channel swimmer breakfast of porridge, eggs, beans, potatoes and toast at the Victoria Guest House with another swimmer from California and his crew (and pizza last night) - who was there, as if waiting for me? Rashmi, the 18 year old Indian girl and her family, still training and waiting for a chance to do her 2-way attempt! Great hello and lots of chatting and picture taking, until Kiran, her mother chased us off into the water. But first we still had to admire the sun partly covered by a tiny cloud, creating a rainbow halo-effect for just a minute! Very unusual! Rashmi is taking it as a good omen. "You came and are bringing the sun!" she told me. I wish I could bring about her swim! She is still 4th place with her pilot ("left-over" swimmers from earlier tides have to get to the end of the line behind the official swimmers of each tide). On Monday they will be going back to India, no matter what.

Two hour swim and international company

I totally enjoyed the two hours of swimming, it felt smooth, easy, powerful, plus I enjoyed swimming side by side with nice company, including another Indian girl we met in the middle of the harbour. After taking off our googles, we realised we know each other from the Zurich lake swim last year. She may go out tomorrow!

The water felt "crisp", and it did bite my face at first. The lake and pool had definitey been warmer, uncomfortably warm for me. But luckily my body felt fine, in the beginning I was even wondering for a second if I was still dressed. More rest and food plus the long swim weekend in the lake seem to have some positive effects! Fingers started fluttering again after an hour from the cold, but after two hours they were fine. Better than last time in Dover! The water on the left side of the harbour was quite choppy again, but that makes it only more interesting and better training. Two or three more days of acclimatisation and I am definitely ready to go!

Cosmic Game

The only constant thing is change - also in regard to Channel weather forecasts. Right now it looks much gloomier again for the tide starting today, but of course that could change again. And reality need not abide by the forecasts. Now there is only a relay and a solo swimmer before me. And there are new enthusiastic and experienced helpers confirmed: Marie-Therese, who helped Bea in 2006, will come to Dover on Tuesday - and Angela, a physiotherapist who was on the World Harmony Run in Australia, would join the van-crew and be a support-biker, if we get to swim and make it.

I bought my train ticket to Calais for the 7th and I feel it is the right thing to go. It feels nicer to celebrate my Channel anniversary on the 9th in Dover, it will be good to swim again in cold water, although tapering, and if it doesn't happen this tide I will do another long swim in Dover and only come back for the 2nd tide of September, if the weather looks good. But I am still hopeful for this tide - miracles do happen. (In 1985 my helpers had to come three times and then the day of the swim was great - so I am used to the game, it is just a matter of time, and also money, of course.)

This time, with only one helper and coming late, we will be staying at Victoria Guest House, closer to the harbour and very supportive of Channel swimmers.

Back to Dover on Sept. 7th

With a little help from my friends I will be back in Dover for the next neap tides (Sept 6-11) soon. Just checked the pressure charts: a high pressure zone is pushing its way up! High pressure usually means less wind, i.e. good swimming conditions. The first days of the tide still look not so good, but its getting better from Monday on and the 10th and 11th are looking quite promising right now also on windfnderfor example. The only thing, apart from the fact that the weather forecasts can change within a few hours: there are still swimmers before me! But one or two days after the neap tides (12 and 13th) might still be swimmable, too, if the weather is right. So I am quite excited and hopeful now!



Met office pressure forecast for Sunday 7th: the high is pushing up towards the British Isles

There are so many swimmers waiting - and quite a few left over from last tides. I really hope we are getting a chance this time. Good luck to all!

(I am aware how tiny our weather problems are compared to some much more serious weather issues on other continents!)

Karteek did it again! Congratulations!

Last Friday (Aug. 29) Karteek Clarke from Edinburgh, one of the members of the international Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team, has conquered the Channel for the 9th time since he got kind of hooked on the Channel in 1997! His intention was to never again go on a spring tide, but since Friday was one of the very few good days this summer, he took his chance and succeeded under the able guidance of Dave Whyte (good thing he hasn't retired yet) in just under 15 hours! Congratulations!

For Karteek, the swims most of the time have not been easy. He knows how it feels to want to stop swimming after only a couple of hours out there, no matter what the financial implications, the year-long efforts put in or how many much longer swims you might have done in training. His experience is that you can learn to not give in to this feeling and just take it as an experience, if necessary for a few hours. At some point it will lift like a veil or disappear like a fiever. The only thing is not to surrender to it, but to know it is only temporary, even if it may seem like an eternity. Cliff Golding used the nice expression: to work to the point where the "secret inner doors" open - and you swim in a sea of peace, if you are lucky!

Karteek shared a few tips in regard to feeding: he prepared all his feed bottles in advance (just bought water bottles, the caps are easy to take off) and his helper would warm them in some hot water on the boat, and he brought his handmixer to mix bananas into rice milk (I would go for soy) with some protein powder, which can be a nice change for the sweet carbo stuff, especially after 5 or 6 hours. He did get a bit seasick on this swim, too, but was able to feed properly again after the 5th hour.

Hope to read a longer account of your swim soon!

An amusing helper's report about Karteek's and Mate's very serious Channel swims in 2003

Last split Channel swim before the next tide (7 + 7 hours)

Last weekend of August, after almost 2 weeks of just pool swimming, including a few "fast" 400 m lap-sessions under 8 min. and quite a few days off, plus a long bike ride (previous post), I felt the need for another, hopefully last LSD-swim (long slow distance) this year and did a 7 + 7 hour split swim in the lake. A bit crazy maybe so close to the next tide which is Sept. 6-11th, but I may only swim towards the end anyway - IF (!!!) the weather allows. I was really happy to have done it, my muscles had already started to shrink, but the hunger had come back. And with the high pressure zone still around and lots of people out at and on the lake, it felt easier and safer than had I done it earlier on cloudier and colder days during the week.

Some hours, especially in the middle, felt like hard work again, but overall I really enjoyed it and knew I could have continued. I pictured my self out in the Channel, first shipping lane after 3 to 4 hours, halfway geographically after 6 hours (which is nowhere near halfway in my case timewise), in the middle of the seperation zone I went home, and the next day, as usual not starting from hour 1 but from the seperation zone with hour 8 I made it almost to France (actually I DID make it to France, I just skipped a few hours in between). After 11 or 12 hours is when the really serious part of the swim will start for me. So to have done 14 hours felt good, a little room for self-transcendence left once I will be out there.
(To be sure, I am fully aware that conditions out in the Channel will be by far more difficult: waves, currents, cold water and wind, no rest, short feedings, possible seasickness etc.)



Saturday morning - 10:50 a.m. at the lake in Roxheim. The water was refreshing and clear, but lots of fluffy greenish organic matter floating around to swim through - good pratice for the Channel. In the beginning it used to scare me out of my swimming trance...



Sunday evening - ducks racing to get some cookie morsels from the photographer



Mission "Silbersee" completed - happy and sunburnt after a 14 hour swim weekend

Alison still has 2 swimmers and a relay for the next tide, but I am going back to Dover on the 7th anyway. If it is meant to be it will happen. She might even recommend another pilot if there is one available. A new helper for the boat has emerged out of the blue, let's see what the universe still has in store!

more photos

Gratitude and Patience

France in the distance, even visible from water level! So close and yet so far! (foto taken after my 7 hour swim on Thursday)

One might think the Channel is there to teach a few things: patience, determination, humility, a never-give-up attitude, and that you have to put your heart 100 % into something, if you want to succeed. And even then there is no guarantee. (In regard to the mind-philosophy: some say, 80 % is in the mind, others say, best is "no mind". Both may be right.) Also it seems the weather has become much more unpredictable and unstable.

Friday (15th) morning 13 boats went out. Only 2 swimmers and one relay (if I am correct) made it to France. The wind picked up earlier and stronger from the South than expected, making progress extremely slow in conditions that were becoming dangerous, especially in the dark (feeding in high waves, being swept away from the boat or hit by it). Only a relay and two fast swimmers made it, one of them Liz Fry with her two-way attempt, who reached France in under 12 hours and even managed to swim a big part of her second leg back to England through the night, before she had to be pulled out due to the conditions after about 20 hours.

It was hard to believe when we heard the stories this morning on the beach. I felt so sorry - we had been so sure for Jonathon (caravan neighbour at Varne Ridge) and others they would make it. And at the same time I felt a deep sense of gratitude that I still have an opportunity to go. I would not have lasted in these conditions either, being a slower swimmer who might need a window of 15 hours plus. And the night was chilly - only 11 degrees Celsius even for Calais!

Even felt grateful in hindsight for the late money transfer, the bike problems etc. which had been keeping me and my mind busy during the "unswimmable" time. Had I tried to go out by all means and failed, I would not have been able to afford a second attempt in September.

Patiently hoping now that the Channel will again be like a fruit: all the efforts put in are part of the ripening process, and when the time is ripe it will happen. You can not force it or push it. Sumeru told me about an experience Reinhold Messner had with his Mount Everest climb without oxygen: He wrote that he tried to communicate with the mountain, and one day he felt it was "the" day where the mountain would allow to be climbed. Messner even fell into a deep crevasse, which under normal circumstances would have been it, but he had no fear and just knew he would stand at the top of the mountain at the end of the day. And he did.

I remember in 1985, when the day finally came, how smooth it felt. After 6 hours, in the middle of the Channel, I had the same feeling that it was already done, I just had to execute it. Maybe the fruit is not ripe and I am not completely ready yet.

Today only 3 hours in the harbour, yesterday the same, although I had hoped for two more long swims (at least Thursday I had managed a 7 hour swim) - the energy did go down a bit. Glad to get a break from Dover.

There are a few inspiring DVDs to keep spirits up for those waiting: Kanalschwimmer (Channel Swimmers) featuring Christoph Wandratsch in his record attempt plus two other swimmers, and "Heart", the true story of Marilyn Bell, who swam lake Ontario at age 16, outswimming Channel legend Florence Chadwick.

Quote from Marilyn Bell:

It's OK if you fail something,

as long as you don't give up,as long as you say

- OK, I will try it again !

And gratitude again to the Beach Crew, especially Freda, Irene, Barry, as well as Evelyn and Dave from Varne Ridge and all the support so far from other swimmers, friends and family.

Sadness and another 7-hour swim

Shakespeare Beach - just wild!

Yesterday, after confirming with Alison that for me the tide is definitely over (Alison feels I can go on a good spring tide, but I couldn't now because of lack of helpers for the triathlon), I felt sad and empty. Went to the Euroline ticket center to check how I will get back, and then to Shakespeare beach again. The sea wasn't just powerful but violent, ferries were even held up for a couple of hours. In the evening it cleared up and there was a beautiful moon, almost full, over the waters which were becoming calmer. My 2 helpers had a last bus trip to Deal and walked back over the cliffs (4 hours) to Dover. Sumeru left this morning, Bea is leaving tomorrow, I may stay until Sunday.

Meditation helped me refocus - it is not even three weeks until the Sept. tide! So today (Thursday), with Bea's great support, I did another 7 hour swim in the harbour in beautiful sunshine and increasingly calmer waters again. Felt as if I had swum half the Channel (realising again the Channel is really no joke), strained but quite happy and upbeat again. And enjoyed the hard earned massage afterwards! We tried out a few things regarding feeding, such as throwing bottles and having a bit of bread with peanut butter when the sweet taste is getting too much (I like it during ultra races), and it felt good. Of course, in the Channel it will always be a bit different.



The usual swollen eyes after a 7 hour swim

Was happy to hear that Carol from Australia will come back with Max next year to finally do it (they have been so kind and offered us transport to and from the beach many times), and that Jonathan, also staying at Varne Ridge, will have his go tomorrow in what seems absolutely perfect conditions, along with many others. Amazed to hear that some pilots are still not going out. What a game.



Bea, Carol and Max

Hopefully 4 hours in the harbour tomorrow and a last long swim on Saturday, then back home, to get some work done. And looking forward to seeing quite a few swimmers back in September!

Good luck to all swimmers tomorrow!

Postponed until September

At least now we know. Friday, the last day of the neap tide, will be a great swimming day, it seems, but the swimmer before me is going out. Good luck to you, Maggie, make the best of it and don't stop until you run out of water! I will go for a long training swim tomorrow and maybe again on Friday, just to make the most of my time here in Dover.

Yesterday and today the wind has been up to gale force, even with the sun out for lots of the time, which helped to keep spirits up. When we jogged down to the harbour from Varne Ridge yesterday via Shakespeare Beach, from where swims used to start (now they may also start from Samphire Hoe, created from debris from the Channel tunnel), the waves there were breaking so high, there was no way of getting into the water. The Channel was really showing its power - exactly like in July/August 1985, when Minati and Saumya were there with me.

I will be back in September. My helpers have to be home in Zurich and Graz by Sunday, and I would not swim on a strong spring tide anyway. Waiting for the next tide is no option for various reasons. The budget will be stretched, but I am still lucky - swimmers from the U.S. or from other far away parts of the world mostly don't have this option.

We had a nice chat with Alison Streeter, my pilot, on her boat in the morning. She had been more depressed about the weather than many of us swimmers, wanting desperately to give us a chance to go. She will try to take out as many swimmers as possible already on the next tide if the weather allows so that there may be "vacancies" on the first September tide from the 6th to the 11th or so or even a few days earlier. I will be able to go to Dover on very short notice as soon as the weather seems right and there is a slot.





On Alison's boat - Bea tells the famous story of her mid-Channel haircut for the umptieth time - and we just crack up laughing again!

All the preparation is done, loose ends have been tied together, things can only run smoother in September. New helpers will be needed for the boat, but for the bike and run part the crew is already confirmed (anybody else who feels inspired is still welcome!). We have gathered valuable experience here and sorted a number of things out (feeding schedule, what to feed, how to feed, things to take into account like stomach sickness of the swimmer etc., bought light sticks, grease etc.) - and my muscles have grown! All the hours of training in the choppy harbour and acclimatising to the cold will not be lost. I might have to take cold showers and maybe even an ice bath every now and then at home, but in September the water usually is even a bit warmer. The air temperature right now is not very helpful either, rather making for a higher chill factor during the swim.

I will leave some things in Dover, like food supplies, gear, clothes, so that everything will just be ready to go when we come back. Fingers crossed!

With 2 girls of the successful Teens on the Move Sea 2 See-Relay and their coach Dee from Australia, our caravan neighbours, and Dori (U.S.), who swam successfully last Friday, on the beach in Dover harbour

With Michael Read, head of the CSA (the Channel Swimming Organisation I swam with in 1985) and former King of the Channel with 33 crossings

My current pilot Alison Streeter is part of the CS & PF, the Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation, a new organisation to pilot, observe and ratify English Channel swims. For us swimmers the main thing is to swim under official observation - I am trying to keep away from politics.)

... and waiting....

Stuck in base camp, so to say. The Mount Everest of swimming is showing us its inaccessible side and has only allowed very few swimmers to cross this tide so far. Until Wednesday it will be extremely windy (25 knots and over from the south), Thursday getting slightly better but not great, still strong southerly winds, Friday is now looking like a swimmable day, but there is still one swimmer before me. Still hoping the good weather might move up in time. Saturday looked good yesterday, not today anymore, plus it is a spring tide, with 6.3 m and 1.4 m high and low tide. Opinions are divided as to how advisable it is to swim on a spring tide. A slow swimmer can end up just being swept parallel up and down the French coast - until the next neap tide..

Last Friday there was a narrow swimming window of 10-12 hours. Two swimmers I know of started in the afternoon around 3 and 4 p.m. in pretty grim conditions, with northern winds at about 15 mph pushing them and sky covered by clouds (the "chill factor", i.e. lack of sun, wind, adds to the cold water temperature). One swimmer gave up after 2,5 hours (felt sick), the other one, Dori from Connecticut, made it in 10 hours, conquering her sickness by only taking peppermint tea and carbo-stuff (maltodextrine and fruit sugar, I think) all the way, throwing up everything else. At times she could see the bottom of the boat coming out of the waves. During the night it got calmer, the water became warmer - and she touched French shore around 1 a.m., loosing quite a bit of skin in her effort to climb over the rocks in the dark night to touch firm ground. (Slower swimmers would have had the wind coming up against them a couple of hours later.)

Staying at Varne Ridge really helps to cope with the waiting time. Great views over the Channel even in bad weather, beautiful walking and running trails on the cliff tops, very friendly and supportive owners, Dave and Evelyn, who e.g. organised an indoor barbeque with great pizza and salads and German Zwetschgenkuchen (plum cake, bought at Lidl in Folkstone) on Saturday to help lift the spirits of all the swimmers and crews staying at the caravan site.



Evelyn cutting the Zwetschgenkuchen, I believe



5 Channel swimmers, 9 swims (not counting relays): Laura, Bea, Vasanti, Dee (Jersey) and Sally turning the indoor barbecue into a teddy bear party



Irish bagpipe performance (Enda's team) - there was no room for it inside....



Goodbye for the Sea 2 See-relay team - the Jersey girls are leaving with Sally, the Australians are staying a few more days (sadly, they were the only ones to get that "congratulations"-sticker on their caravans while we stayed there....)

Last night I had an evening run over the cliffs in a stiff breeze with the path of the half moon glittering on the waves, in the afternoon I treated myself to two hot chocolates with whipped cream at the clifftop cafe (open air) writing my diary, while my helpers were out for a walk.



All along the coastline (not only in Dover harbour) you encounter remnants of the war - bunkers, memorial plates and sites, like the Battle of Britain memorial which I visited a few days ago. I have been reading a book with swimmers' portraits, and one story touched me particularly: It was about a swimmer who felt his most significant swim was one between Bali and another island, not because of its difficulty, but because Hindu and Muslim fishermen, who had used to avoid each other for ages, started cooperating to help him with his swim. Similarly, swimming the English Channel - and doing this triathlon - for me has a feeling of helping heal old wounds, strengthening the feeling of oneness between countries instead of seperation.



Battle of Britain Memorial site

Swim training has been down to 2 hours in mostly quite wavy conditions, on the weekend (yellow cap from Feda) with lots of other waiting swimmers and one head on collision (actually only "hands on") and a few close misses (Kevin just barely...) Today only one hour.



So we are trying to keep our spirits up and remain focussed, ready to go any time a window should open. Trying not to catch a cold, not to twist ankels in rabbit holes along the cliff, not to break fingers crawling into other people's face etc. If it is not to happen now, I am definitely going to be back in September!

Thanks everybody for your e-mails and faxes of support! And check back soon for updates!

Waiting

Tuesday evening, biking by the harbour, I was almost shocked: for the first time since I was back in Dover, the French coast was visible again - so clear, so near, almost in grasping distance.

Next day my two helpers for the boat arrived, Bea and Sumeru from Austria and Zurich, and we moved to Varne Ridge Caravan Park, where a whole Channel swimmer community is staying. A couple from Australia (Carol wants to come on my boat as a helper and support swimmer to get more Channel experience), Enda from Ireland, and the members of the Jersey-Australian Teens on the Move Sea-2-Sea Relay Team who made it only the other day (Aug. 6), barely missed by thunderstorms and lightning from three sides at the end of their swim in the night.

Sally Minty-Gravett, 4-time Channel swimmer in 4 decades from Jersey, coach of the Jersey girls and staying in the caravan next door, turned out to have swum exactly the same day as myself in 1985, on Sept. 9th. On that day all the faster swimmers had been held up by the French coastguards until the slower swimmers had caught up. Only then were they allowed to continue - otherwise she would have been quite a bit faster that year! We had a very nice conversation and of course took quite a few fotos.



With Sally Minty-Gravett, 4-times Channel soloist and caravan neighbour. We both swam on Sept. 9 in 1985, just like U.S. adventurer Steve Fossett, who needed 22 hours, and Philip Rush, who true to his name did a two-way in not even an hour more than I needed for a solo!

We feel like in heaven up here on top of the cliffs between Folkestone and Dover, with a fantastic view across the Channel to the French coast, with its lights glittering like diamonds in the evening. It helps us not to get too impatient waiting for the right weather. Last night it seems a few swimmers went out, I heard of one who got out of the water after only 3 hours because it was too cold for him(16.5 C water, "normal" temperature, i.e. what you have to be prepared for). Today around 3 p.m. in the afternoon more swimmers will go out, with quite a bit of wind pushing them, then calming down, but with a chance of stronger Southern winds in the morning. I still have to wait for my turn.

For the weekend it looks very windy, even Monday and Tuesday don't look too good right now, but things can always change.

Swim training is down to a minimum - two hours on Wednesday, quite fast for me in very calm water with Rashmi, the 18-year old Indian girl waiting to attempt a double. I was surprised to be able to keep up with her - confidence for a faster crossing than in 1985 is growing.



With my helpers Bea (Channel solo 2006) and Sumeru, a doctor from Austria

Yesterday, on Thursday, only one hour - all the time thinking "I am swimming in the wrong direction" - with the French coast visible in a haze in the distance, beckoning. Today again only one hour easy - like other swimmers who are waiting.

I was glad we had a chance to watch the Olympic opening ceremony - fascinating, at some points during the cultural part I had goosebumps. In spite of politics and pollution and drugs - there was a feeling something new is emerging, even if it will need time to grow.

Latest news: grim prospects even till Monday and later, some say for the whole tide! Will our prayers help? Or will it be similar to 1985, where my helpers had to come three times and I had to leave Dover in between? Coming back in September would be an option, if there is a place on a boat available. Plus it would stretch the budget quite a bit. But I cannot imagine training like this for another year... So let's at least stay optimistic!

Dover Training Camp, 2

Dover Castle from the Marina Office area

Sunny Dover Harbour

Just a short update from the Dover Marina Office public computer. Photos will hopefully be added soon, in the meantime some Dover photos from a couple of weeks ago: Album DoverJuly482008FirstChannelTraining

53 swimmers and relays (at least) have been successful so far in 2008! For details click: http://www.dover.uk.com/channelswimming/swims/

The week continued

Wednesday I felt very tired and only did three hours in choppy water, in bright sunshine, then Thursday four hours, Friday only 2 again in very lumpy water - on Cliff's advice, otherwise would have felt like a whimp, but I do have to allow for regeneration - we are no longer in our twenties, he wisely pointed out. Saturday red cap (for long swim) and 3 hours given by Freda in windy and sunless conditions (and a long run from Varne Ridge back to Dover over the cliffs in evening sunshine - yes the sun did come out at the end of the day!) and today, Sunday only yellow cap by Freda, i.e. serious tapering, only a short swim of 2 hours in very choppy water again. Tomorrow will be off, then only one or two hours, maximum another 3 hour swim.



View from Varne Ridge where we will be staying from the 7th to Folkestone

During the week which was mainly sunny and warm (up to 27C) there were only a handfull of other Channel aspirants on the beach. We heard that some swimmers hadn't made it on Tuesday, a perfect swim day, due to hypothermia and other reasons.

I met up with Rashmi Sharma, a 18 year old Indian girl from Calcutta, with her mother Kiran coaching and feeding her and watching our things and her 6-year old cute brother Adri. Rashi has done the Channel already twice, in 2006 and 2007 (at the age of 16 and 17, and in 2007 even got half way back on the second leg of a double attempt!) and is training again for a successful double crossing now, very serious, very determined and disciplined. She looks strong and happy and confident, and I have a good feeling that she will make it, weather permitting. Her mother is praying for her. While she did her 5 and 6 hours I did 3 and 4 - it is always nice to know someone else in the water, even if they swim at a different speed. Friday and Saturday Cliff came to help his girlfriend Laura and helped feed and advise the rest of us. He knows almost everyone on the beach and has done the Channel twice - although he looks and maybe feels more like a runner.



Rashmi (18) and Adri (6) Sharma from Calcutta, Rashmi is on my tide, attempting a double crossing after two solos in 2006 and 2007

The weekend - 2nd/3rd of August

Big weather change. Saturday and Sunday was the 10th anniversary of the Dover Regatta with lots of things going on in the Harbour area - entertainment, swimming, Newfoundland dogs rescueing show (I hoped to get pulled out by one of those huge cuddly black beasts but they did only what they were supposed to do), boat races, English and French shopping stalls, yacht parade etc. But it rained a lot of the time and cooled down quite a bit! The sun had moved to the Zurich lake swim it seemed, where a bunch of about 40 Brits including Nick Adams had gone to swim the 26 km the length of the lake solo or in relays.

We only had a very small part of the harbour to ourselves, marked by bouys that were difficult to see in the huge waves, and about 40 channel aspirants swam for 1 to 5 hours, according to the proximity of their swim tides, in the eastern part of the Harbour which is the most choppiest when the wind is blowing - and it was about windforce 5 (all the private yachts are stuck in the harbour right now)! Great training not only for the arms and shoulders, but for the whole body, but with the tide starting on the 7th and a first swimming possibility on the 9th, I have to be careful! And Freda knew that, of course.

Feeding break with Nicola Millichip, who swam today (Aug. 6) on the sping tide - and made it!

The good thing is the water temperature has gone up, Sandette light ship between Dover and Calais has already shown over 64 degree Fahrenheit (18 Celcius), but went down a slight bit again. Saturday felt quite warm, but today it felt again much colder in the harbour, maybe also due to the weather. With my triathlon I am trying not to put on more weight (it goes mainly only to the wrong places that are heavily insulated already anway and would slow down my running even more...), and I have seen a number of much skinnier girls here who seem to have no problem after some acclimatisation. Actually I start feeling very comfortable with the water, the waves and the temperature, the longer I stay in. Swim day will be lesser waves and better weather anyway.

Met again a number of Channel swimmers (e.g. Hoffy who is doing Jersey to France soon, Damian Westray with lots of juicy Channel stories about Alison Streeter and others, Kevin Murphy (59) who is third place after me on Alison's boat for his 35th crossing (!), Chris did another successful long swim) and had many nice talks. Good advice for upset or funny stomach in the water (apart from Sea-leg pills for seasickness and coke): peppermint tea! From a Michelle from Dover who made it in 15+ hours on Sunday. Got more supplies like light sticks for the night, Maxim electrolyte, a good cap and a swimmers' check list and feeding list from Freda Streeter (mainly maltodextrin and fruit sugar with tea or water every hour, later every half hour, plus some electrolyte every third hour after at the half hour mark). A check list can be quite helpful - I heard that a well-known channel swimmer found she had forgotten her bathing suit when she wanted to start one of her swims from France, and a TV crew was there to film!

Thanks to Freda and the Beach Team with their fitting "open water junkies" caps again for their invaluable dedicated service!

Freda Streeter watching over her swimmers

Morning power

Evening peace

When?

Getting more and more focused on the Big Day and the question "When will it be?" - checking the internet regularly for the wind forecasts, but it is hard to tell so many days in advance. Right now the 9th and 10th looks fine, but things are changing constantly (e.g. for this weekend there had been sun predicted only a two or three days before) and I am only second swimmer - unless someone changes their mind. Relays may even go out earlier on the spring tide.

Slight bike problem: Might have to get a new bike here last minute because the gears of my old one broke down and cannot get fixed and a replacement bike seems problematic. But I am confident that everything will work out fine.

"My", i.e. Alison's boat Roco, very spacious, but under repair right now with the old gears being replaced with new, smooth ones!

Charities and International Friendship

It has become very popular among Channel swimmers to swim to raise money for a charity, and there are many great causes supported by them. It can give inspiration and a deeper motivation to the swimmer to know he or she is not just doing it for him- or herself but for a greater cause. It can help to endure physical and mental pain, suffering or hardship thinking to be able to serve fellow human beings far worse off and doing the swim and training in a spirit of self-giving.

If anyone reading this blog is inspired to support a cause - please feel free to support any of the charities in the linked blogs.

I just want to dedicate my Channel triathlon to the cause of World Harmony and international friendship and understanding, which is so much needed to solve many serious world problems, and the Channel swimmer community is a great example of this spirit, even if also here there can be encountered some instances of human ego-problems and divided opinions. That's the world, we are the world, and we can be a part of the solution!

Never underestimate the impact of a positive attitude or positive changes in consiousness. Even for the Channel it is said: 80 % is mental. To which I only would like to add: not just mental, but deeper - you not only need the mind, but your heart and soul to reach your goal! Good luck to everyone!

Dover "Training Camp", Part 1

Sorry for the delay - laptop didn't work, camera gave up (I did exchange batteries, not knowing, however, that it only seems to work on accus or Duracell) - and now, typing away at the Dover Marina, I cannot upload any photos. (Pictures will be added later.)

Otherwise things are great!

Arrived on Thursday afternoon (24th July) by train and ferry again, totally enjoying the crossing and being out on the Channel again. Even went for a half hour dip in choppy harbour water in the evening sun before bedtime, another 1 hour dip next day - keeping it short for the 7/6 swims on the weekend, but trying to get the body used to the water temperature. It was nice meeting other swimmers on the beach and in the water, like Lynne Smith, who brought me some Advil I might need for the bike and running leg, Cliff Golding and Laura, Marcy MacDonald and others, and sharing experiences and inspiration. Greetings to Bea, Vedika and Vijaya if you are reading! And Praphulla!

The weekend - first split Channel swim in 16 degree C water (July 26/27 - 7 + 6 hours)

We were very lucky with the weather this time. The sun was out, giving the helpers and the swimmers a much easier time, although quite a sunburn to some, and the water was almost flat.

The 7 hours passed quite uneventfully - no collisions, no hitting on my head from behind. This time I fed not only Maxim but pieces of Swiss Lemon Cream Roll every hour after the second, in addition to half a banana and chocolate roll handed by Barry, Beccy and Cliff along with lots of positive and encouraging words. So plenty of carbohydrtes to keep me warm, but again my hands froze after the first hour, getting back to normal over the next hours. The only problem was a strange paralysed feeling in the groins which I tried to counteract with some stretching. It came back the next day, but today I was fine again. The 7 hours felt harder than the 7 hours at home, probably due to the cold. I felt best, however, during the last two laps. My shoulders and arms were fine in the evening, and the same after the 6 hours next day.

It was nice to meet more swimmers and faces well-known from blogs and Channel chat group - e.g. Beccy and Hoffy, Chris Poutney, Leanne, who is going to Zurich next weekend etc. And I was very happy to see some swimmers back fit and positive who had had some motivational or physical problems over the last few weeks. This is one of the great aspects of Channel swimming or long distance sports in general: mostly you are happy when other people are doing well and you sincerely try to encourage and support each other. Only very few are here to beat others and establish records - mostly the goal is challenging yourself and transcending your perceived limits.

Sunday was very similar to Saturday, only one hour less, luckily, I thought - although like most others I could easily have done one hour more physically, just mentally it can be a relief to know you are on the last lap - again, this was when I felt happiest.

Monday - bike day

I had asked Freda for advice on my training schedule for the next week, and she had "given me a day off", and recommended 3 and 4 hour swims the following days. I was hoping for bumpy water now, to get my muscles a bit bigger still. The weekend there would be a regatta in the harbour, so there would only be 4 hour swims maximum for everyone anyway. Then tapering towards the 7th.

So on Monday I took "my" mountain bike, which the owners of Westbank Guest House are allowing me to use, and had a hilly but leisurely and very scenic training ride along the bike trail to St. Margrets Bay, Deal and Sandwich where I wanted to visit the Sectret Gardens (not quite as striking as I had hoped). I spent all day, taking lots of pictures until the camera died and replacement batteries didn't help, and took the busy road (A258) back - but cars were very considerate. Coming back I passed by the harbour, which attracts me like magic, and met Freda and Alison, just to collect a scolding from Freda for not really taking the day off ( I explained to her that my training is not limited to swimming), and some helpful sharing of information with Alison.

Tuesday

Just two 1 1/2 hour dips in very lumpy water, nice Channel chats with other swimmers and helpers, e.g. Brent Hobbs who did a great sub 10-hour swim, accompanied by dolphins, the day before and was going in just for a short dip now. (Check his website for an inspiring report!: http://englishchannelogopogo.blogspot.com/) I am trying to hear about as many experiences as I can - there is always something to learn. Tomorrow 4 hours, hopefully.

Dover, finally! 8 hours in choppy water (in 3 days, though...)

When I arrived in Dover in the late afternoon of Friday, July 4th, for a 3 day training visit, it felt like coming back to meet an old friend. I hadn't had this feeling on the few other occasions I had come through Dover since 1985.

I had taken the train from Heidelberg and the ferry from Calais to Dover, just to get a real feeling of the Channel and the distance. And I felt it embraced me like a friend. The sun was out all the way, also next day, the water was not too choppy during the crossing (windforce 1-2?), it looked clear and beautifully turquoise or greenish, only the huge patches of seawead or grass didn't look so inviting - but good to know they can be there in order to try to avoid them, e.g. with the help of infos on the white board by the crew.



The famous White Cliffs

The White Cliffs of Dover were already very visible from Calais - as the French coast would be clearly visible from Dover harbour beach in the evening. Very encouraging again! Of course I am very much aware that what looks so close is not necessarily easily accessible - not only the extremely busy shipping lanes present a challenge (how on earth do the pilots manage to get the swimmers safely past these huge tankers and container ships that are continuously travelling the shipping lanes, I was asking myself) - but especially the currents off the French coast past the 10th hour into the swim can turn the last few hundred meters into half an eternity. And often the weather is changing, with the wind picking up!

After I had checked into Westbank Guest House, a very cosy and friendly bed & breakfast in Folkestone Road with a nice terrace, I went down to the harbour full of anticipation. I didn't dare to get in at that time of the day all by myself, so I just walked around in the shallow cold water for quite some time, thinking "this is bearable". Then I sat down quietly on the beach to absorb the atmosphere and to let everything sink in a bit. France was clearly visible in the distance - I couldn't believe it! I also met a few swimmers from India who were training for a relay - they immediately recognised my t-shirt from the Lake Zurich marathon swim. "We have been there!"

Saturday, July 5th

Next morning I arrived shortly after 9 o'clock at swimmers beach, while about 30 or so swimmers from all around the world were getting ready to get into the water. Divided into short distances (yellow cap, mostly relay team members) and long distances (red cap, 4-6 hours or so). After saying "hi" to a few swimmers I knew and briefly chatting with Alison, my pilot, I introduced myself to Freda. Since it was my first visit to Dover I was free to do what I wanted. My only goal was to see how long I could stay in the cold water. So I got a yellow cap and in I went, to the left against the wind.



Meeting Alison Streeter, my pilot, and "Queen of the Channel" with 43 crossings! She knows many of our swimmers from the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team and was honoured by Sri Chinmoy personally with the "Lifting up the World"-Award for her inspiration a few years ago



Walking to France?

The water was biting my face, but this feeling soon disappeared. I felt happy and comfortable in the choppy water, the sun was out most of the time. I remembered my successful 7 hour swim of 1985 in a rainy and choppy harbour - only I was 10 lbs heavier then. When I arrived at the PofW pier, my fingers had gone numb and were kind of fluttering in the water, creating a funny sensation, so I thought I should better get out and warm up a bit, even though the body still felt fine.

So after the first lap I got out, changed into a dry bathing suit and jogged up and down the harbour in the sun, taking pictures and chatting with Margit Bohnhoff (swam in 2007) and Miyuki from Japan after they finished their two hour swim. Both looked absolutely frozen - and Miyuki is due this tide! And has already 5 successful crossings to her credit!



Miyuki from Tokyo (5 crossings!) and Margit from Berlin before their 2 hour swim
Margit only came to Dover to meet Miyuki, who she had become friends with last year - Channel swimming creates friendships around the world!



Margit and Vasanti after their "dip"



Water in India is much warmer!

Back in for another lap, same story as above. When my fingers got numb towards the end, I got out again to warm up and get changed - I thought it better to acclimatise slowly. After some more chatting and taking pictures I turned to Freda and jokingly said: "I am a whimp!" Her very stern answer: "You have ten minutes to get back in and do another lap." (Before everybody else would be finished.) 5 minutes later I was back in the water, enjoying again the roughness, and the fact I had no pressure whatsover. Freda's goodbye words: "Tomorrow at 9 o'clock on the beach!"



Shakespeare Beach - where most of the Channel swims start (France is visible in the distance!)

After the swimming, some socialising, food shopping (btw great discovery: Heinz Weight Watchers canned spaghetti - really spicy! (I am not sponsored by WW, unfortunately)), shower and meal, I went on a two hour hike around Dover and over to Shakespeare Beach - where most of the swims start - and later up the cliff. Sat down on the beach for some silent moments, again the French coast visible in the distance, as well as an endless line of huge ships, visualising reaching the coast. Back via a trail through green pastures, with the sun out until past 9:30!

Sunday morning



Freda (the "General") and another seasoned and selfless helper ("There is no bad weather, only inadequate clothing," my father likes to say.)

Rain and wind. Down to the beach again. Freda asks me what my goal is for today. I just say: stay in as long as I can, that is until my fingers go numb. She says: everybody's fingers go numb. Red or yellow cap? Red! But I "warn" her that I may come in after an hour for a feed. Off again against the wind to the left, only today we are not allowed to swim all the way to the Docks - too choppy. So short circuit, but stronger effort. Punching the waves feels great again, I only come in for a feed after two hours. Bit of warm maxim and off again. I am amazed that I hardly meet any swimmers with so many people out there, but the waves are quite high and you don't see far. Suddenly I get a punch into my face from the right, right on the goggles - that hurts! Someone is crossing my way diagonally, swimming up from behind. He barely apologizes and just swims on. At the PofW pier some swimmers are swimming/sprinting along the pier. Otherwise I am by myself.

Feed 3 is warm maxim and a chocolate bar - and back in again. My fingers, which had started to get numb after the first hour like yesterday, are less numb now - progress! Only, at the end of the 4th hour, coming in for the next feed, my body starts feeling cold - probably also due to too few carbohydrates for a non-acclimatised warm water swimmer. The feeding helper asks me suggestively: "Coming in?" And I offer no resistance. In my mind I am telling myself: just to change into a dry suit, warm up again and go back in for 2 more hours. But! When I get out, it starts raining, wind picks up to gale force - and nobody is pushing me to get back in. So there I am - dry suit, cuddled up in warm clothes. Success or failure? Happy or not? 4 hours compared to yesterday is good - compared to 1985, well.... I know I would have been much more satisfied with 5 our 6 hours, but I had no set goal. I might have lasted for 6 hours, but then I would have needed more fuel.

What I also missed was someone to swim along with - in 1985 I had enjoyed it a lot to swim together with others.

To compensate for only four hours of cold water training and to give the poor lady in this horrible weather some business, I got some ice cream - and later went for a one hour jog again to the beach and lighthouse.



Braving the rain and the cold

Monday



Choppy water!

I had hoped to make some progress over Sunday today and had hoped for some sun, but the weather was horrible and rainy again. Maybe even windier. We wanted to meet with Margit, Miyuki and Ichi, her coach, as usual around 9 for a 2 hour swim, but they were late and not inclined to go in or stay longer. One brave Australien did a short lap supervised by his wife or girlfriend, otherwise no souls around. We agreed to meet again at 3 p.m., since the forecast was for sun in the afternoon.

Time went fast with eating, resting and some shopping (the famous 3 triathlon disciplines: eat, train, sleep). By mistake I went back to the harbour, not aware I was 1 hour early (German time on my watch), and sat there, watching the waves breaking more and more powerful on the beach with the incoming tide. When my three new friends finally arrived, I managed to convince Miyuki it would be good for her to get in at least for half an hour. The sun had actually come out, but the wind remained. As soon as we were in the water, we really enjoyed it. We were about the same speed, swimming alongside or close to each other, which gave a nice sense of confidence and security. We swam three short laps to the PofW pier, the safer side, but after 45 minutes it seemed the wind was picking up even more and the waves were breaking higher, so I felt it was better to get out. The two sailing boats that are usually anchored in the harbour, had already been taken out for safety reasons. We left the water at the boats' house, where the waves were breaking less fiercely. Miyuki was nicely dumped into the pebbles by a huge wave anyway. I was grateful to have swum - but somehow felt I could have done more, had I dared to get in in the morning.

Later I took the bus to Folkestone and got off at Varne Ridge Holiday Park, where we would stay with my helpers from the 7th until my swim. The view from the cliffs up there was simply breathtakingly beautiful. I was already so much looking forward to coming back in 2 weeks. I jogged back to Dover on the biking trail in the evening sun, and when I reached my B&B, it just started raining again. Next morning, on the ferry, a sunny goodbye, but huge waves - the Channel had shown me all his faces!



All in all it was a great and valuable, worthwhile trip. True, I did not get overtrained, but I "touched base" and got the confidence that I am on the right track.

This weekend hopefully again two longer back to back swims in the lake, next weekend long swim and long bike, and then it's Dover again, this time very seriously - 7 and 6 hours back to back and then getting ready for the big day.



"Ecstasy-Bird..." (from a song dedicated to Channel swimming)

Here are more photos from this trip:

Dover July 4-8 2008, first Channel training