Thank you for all your support, concern and prayers.

So is it over??? That really is a question I will answer to myself in the future. I haven't given up swimming, and even on Saturday, the 19th, the Day After, with a full night of sleep and good breakfast, what a difference a Day Makes. Heather, our young swimming friend from Florida (a triple crowner) came up from Dover, so what else do channel swimmers do... go for a swim. Not to say I wasn't a bit sore, but I felt OKAY. A couple of tweekes but nothing out of the ordinary.

Also joining us, is one of my favorite swim partners from CT, Amanda, she won't touch the water, too cold for her, but we have a adventure for Sunday... more tomorrow.

Let's talk about swimming the English Channel??? Day 2... The final Hour

Something just hit me, in my brain. I was coming over to boat for a feed, and I knew where we were in the channel. I knew how long I had been in the water, and I knew how much longer to France (8-10 hours)... Something was going on out there. I had never been stuck in the SE shipping lane so long.

My brain was turned off. Janet and Scott, and even Mike tried to get me moving again, but it was over, and I was Okay about it.

I swam to back of the boat, Dan was waiting for me, making sure I got out of the water safely. I climbed up the ladder, and I wasn't even upset, well maybe a little, but I will actually say I was frustrated. Today felt like a job, so rushed, so much exhaustion and lack of rest. Sleep since leaving Tuesday, the 15th... 3 flying hours, + 6-7 hours Wednesday(16th) into Thursday(17th)= 10 hours + maybe 3 nap hours before heading to the boat= 13 hours. Oh let's not forget my 1 hour on the boat and 3 hours when we went back home on the Friday, July 18th... 17 hours in 3 days...STUPID me. I should have insisted for on another date.

What a relief to get back on land, call for a cab. What a sleep I had. Thank you Team.

Let's talk about swimming the English Channel??? Day 2... I know too much

Some say "Knowledge is Power"... that is not always true. Sometimes it's a curse.

The Varne is stable lightship in the Southwest shipping lane. that lane is the 1st for us to cross after leaving the British water. Next is the separation zone before you get into and cross the Northwest shipping lanes. Finally you get into French waters in the hopes to land anywhere, other than Calais (the Coastguard frowns upon that), for a successful crossing. As I said, I know where I am in the channel, and the Varne was in my sight for hours, at a distance and up close and personal, a new experience for me...I did not like this experience, I felt like I was NOT moving forward. This head game, probably did me in.

Let's talk about swimming the English Channel??? Day 2... Take 2... The swim (Friday, July 18th, 1:45 pm)

Okay, I've been here before, 20 times, 18 finishes. 3 doubles, 11 solos and a crossing to Belgium, all in my back pocket of experience. I know I can do this, but each attempt seems to have a twist lately. Today, my worries are, how much energy do have in this tired, unrested body. I WILL give it my Best.

The water conditions were superb as you can see. I am always so thankful for my wife Janet, for feeding me during thiese swims and Scott Lautman helping her and documenting this journey. I think this picture of me feeding is so cool, you can just start to see the ripples on the water, conditions are starting to change, but this wasn't the reason of my DNF. Next chapter the Varne.

Let's talk about swimming the English Channel??? Day 2... Take 2... Time to GO

TIME, Time, time to GO... Friday, July 18, 2025 1:15 PM... We set off to Shakespeare Beach, conditions are beautiful. I know what needs to be done, but I am tired.

I do believe, if I could erase the previous 14 hours, my swim would have had a different result, unfortunately I can not do a "Do Over". So here we go, I get into the water around 1:43pm and swim to Shakespeare Beach.

Let's talk about swimming the English Channel??? Day 2... Take 2

Friday July 18: 10:30am We arrive back at the Gallivant, and the waiting begins agian. Breakfast is being prepared for the crew, so what else do we do, we pop up top and prep. Janet secures our mascots, Gumby, Pokey and Mergirl... Scott is documenting... and I am trying to rest and not get too frustratated with the situation. I do some stretching, and walking. I should have brought my book to read.

Around noon we ALL were ready to set, except the little engine... bang, clang was the signal to sit tight. I'm trying to distract myself, chatting with Mike Ball, watching the harbor action... WHEN???

Let's talk about swimming the English Channel??? Day 2 ...plan B

Friday/July 18; 5am: we arrive back to harbor dock, I explain to Mike, I really need to close my eyes and rest for atleast 3 hours. J,S and I get a cab to head back to Deal for a proper rest, we are all exhausted. Mike tells me when we return he can take us out anytime. I plan to get back by 11:30 for a noontime start...hopefully.

Remember we started this adventure at 10 pm the night before.

Let's talk about swimming the English Channel??? Day 2 Samphire Hoe

F/ July 18: As Mike navigates toward the beach, I'm instructed that he will try to get me into the beach at the corner of the wall of S.H. At 3 am, I get all greased up. 3:15am I'm standing on the starboard side waiting for the call, I'm nervous and not comfortable about this. A heavy breeze is blowing the fog and the moisture feels like it's misting...I AM getting cold.

It felt like an hour, looking hard for a place to drop me in, even tough it was only 20 minutes, before I'm told to go back up top, cover up and stay warm. I gladly accept the order and cover up. I'm very uncomfortable with all this grease on, trying not to get any on the boat, it's a disgusting feel. We wait for atleast 20 minutes, while Mike roams the coast for a spot. I am getting wiped out at this time, I'm tired. The decision to head back to the harbor is made, even though other swimmers are arriving to the beach. At 4:30am we enter the entrance of the harbor.

Let's talk about swimming the English Channel??? Day 2 FOG...

So, we meet our pilot/crew/boat at 10:30pm, and we wait. The fog has blanketed the harbor and no one is going anywhere. I hate driving in the fog at home, especially on our country roads. Thank goodness Andover, Bolton and Hebron have put yellow lines on the road to make conditions SAFER. Right now, the water is not safe. So, it's time to try to get some sleep, I'm offered a bunk below and maybe get an hour, who knows. When I wake, young Lance Oram is meeting with his Dad, Mike. Lance also has a swimmer and will head out of the harbor, over to Shakespeare Beach. He calls us back at 2:00am, we go give it a try. We have missed the timing for a Shakspeare Beach start, and we must head to Samphire Hoe... You decide if it's safe?

Let's talk about swimming the English Channel??? Day 2: night drive

Th/July 17/ : 6 liters of water, 6 liters of high dose sugar water, 2 liters of Coke-a-cola, 3 large containers of Classic English Custard, Cappuccino packets, watered down mouthwash, mixing and water bottles, cookies plus other incidental supplies... all packed nicely for our drive down to Dover. The conditions are favorable, Deal skies are clear with a warm breeze. As soon as we drive up the hills toward St. Margaret's... boom, we hit the wall of FOG, as thick as pea soup or a night Santa would really need Rudolph.