CuttingWater

Monday, June 30, 2014

Quick note of success

Just a quick note before heading to zzzLand after quite the workout today.

#15 is in the books, 11 hours, 50 minute. 

Thank you Janet for taking such good care of me.

I got to experience almost everything the channel hit you with:

Darkness, start at 12:30 am.

A beautiful sunrise around 4am.

Some, not much, bumpy condition.

 Some big traffic.

... and a stony beach landing,

we had a visit from the British border patrol.

Good I brought my passport, the film crew loved the entire,

I will in a few days.  
... baths have been taken, dinner done, now sleep.

Until tomorrow.

Dream, Prepare, Succeed



Sunday, June 29, 2014

Come Follow me across the channel

Hi everyone,

The time has been set, conditions have cooperated just enough for me to head across the English Channel on EARLY Monday morning, celebrating the exact Anniversary date of my 1st crossing 20 years, June 30,1994, I can remember that day as if it was today.

The Plan is to meet Mike Oram at 11:15Pm, take a leisurely boat ride to Samphire Hoe, drop my the water,


I swim to beach, and when I decide to get back in :) we start.
Should be around 12:!5 AM (Dover time) that's 7:15pm Eastern US time.

Come follow me on my English Channel adventure.

 There are 2 places to go to check my and other swimmers track.

 
1) my pilot, Mike Oram's site 

 
 
or
 
2) the Channel Swimming & Piloting Foundation's site (if there are more than one boat out you can all of them on this site)
 
 
Have fun and I will talk to you tomorrow, it's rest time now.
 
Dream, Prepare, Succeed


1994 Remebered, Channel Style

Hi everyone,

The time has been set, conditions have cooperated just enough for me to head across the English Channel on EARLY Monday morning (12:30 AM), celebrating the exact Anniversary date of my 1st crossing 20 years, June 30,1994, I can remember that day as if it was today.

Here is a short video of those days. The biggest difference was no cellular or internet in those days, lots of reading books, phone calls (operator assisted), letter writing and Telegraphs. 

These memories make me smile when I looked back at my scrape book (paper)... remember those days. Wouldn't it be nice to go back to those Simpler days occasionally, it actually happens here in Dover, things have changed but have they?
 
The harbor and channel are still here, many more people (new and old friends) still show up to swim (surprising even the locals), the ferries are running back and forth to Calais France (no Hover craft any longer),
...and France remains 21 miles away ... let's go for a swim, Captain Webb really started something in 1875.

Come follow me on my English Channel adventure, details in next post after I've called Mike Oram ONE more time.
 
Dream, Prepare, Succeed.

Friday, June 27, 2014

Dover day2

Is there something wrong with me,

I am so RELAXED.... I guess 20 years has prepared me for this upcoming swim.
The water is so comfortable (temperatures in the low 60's), Hammonasset State Park, back in CT was way colder last weekend, but things can change quickly here,

probably not for my swim, but maybe for other swimmers coming up through season.

Today was a usual day in Dover, waking at my usual time in CT (4:30ish AM), start up the coffee and do some computer work.
After poached eggs and a light nap (not the norm, but guess I was tired from the travel), we went down to the beach for a 2 hour swim.
Met some new swimmers, one from Australia (the channel virgin, he said it, not me), a couple of swimmers from a San Francisco relay team, and Rohan from India (we swam for a good 90 minutes together), very nice to have the company.


Janet and I had a light lunch after a most wonderful hot shower, (this is the only time I like HOT water), actually I have to be careful because my body is very cold and I could be scalded by the water without even noticing.
A bit more of shopping, starting to get supplies for the upcoming day, we started a jigsaw puzzle, so much fun, I forgot how much I LOVE to do them.


Mike Oram (long-standing pilot) contacted me, and I think we are in for the 20th Anniversary swim on June 30th, so far everything is falling into place.


I will be calling him tomorrow, but it looks pretty good for us the meet at 11:30pm, Sunday night, and I will start my swim 12:30am (June 30th)... I could be done by noon-time if I get decent condition and I stay focused,
Everything is falling into place for my 15th and American Record setting swim.


I'll be in touch tomorrow.

Dream, Prepare, Succeed.

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Safe arrival to my abroad hometown

It has been 20 years since my 1st experience in Dover, England.
Today, all was uneventful, my eyeslids are drupping from the continual travel down to my home away from home.                                                                                                                                                 
 Mini Gumby and Pokey have a blast joining Janet and me on our travels.

"Hi" to all my friends at home.








 I think this cap is 20 years old, it doesn't enter the water too often,

Is it climate change to explain the warmer than usual channel water, I'm not going to complain but the water is usually quite cold this early in the season.
my 1st dip this afternoon was amazingly comfortable, if the channel proper follows the harbors mode, I SHOULD BE QUITE COMFORTABLE.

OK, my eyelids are very heavy, I will be back tomorrow,

Dream, Prepare, Succeed.

2015 ... Swimming for Homes for the Brave

After spending the past 20 years paddling from Dover to France, it is time to venture into new waters, while helping some special people.
Soon, I will be traveling with my A-team to Scotland to swim the length of the famous Loch Ness.
As always, I try to help a Foundation raise funds and awareness and I thank you for interest and support.
I am deeply troubled with the thought of homeless individuals, especially in our US Veteran population.

That is why I am teaming up with our Connecticut-based “Homes for the Brave”. Can you imagine not having a place to call home?

Here is more information about Homes for the Brave! -Facebook pages – https://www.facebook.com/pages/ABRIHomes-for-the-Brave/199613606735630?ref=hl

- Annual Appeal with more information about our financials and programs- http://www.homesforthebrave.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/HFTB-2014-Annual-Report-FINAL.pdf

-Check donations can be mailed to the following address:
Homes for the Brave
655 Park Avenue
Bridgeport, CT 06604

- Donations can be made online as well: https://homesforthebrave.isecuresites.com/products/index.php?type=1110

Please write “Loch Ness Swim/Marcy” to track your donation.


I will always be dedicating my swimming to all those battling cancer and in the memory of 4 special people in my life. Cancer first hit my family when I was young. My grand-aunt Eleanor Kersavage, passed away with uterine cancer and my Auntie Bea Halchak battled with brain cancer.

On January 1, 2002, our LEHY family lost Nikki Giampolo to bone cancer, just turning 16 years old. Her spirit still lives on in our East Hartford swim team.

In July of 2009, my brother-in-law, Gregory Allen Urban, who passed away, after a valient battle with lung cancer. I can see him now, talking about cars and projects around the house, music and his family.

I know Aunties, Eleanor and Bea, Nikki, Greg and all the angels will help me CUT through all this water this summer.

The St. Vincent's Medical Center Foundation, based in Bridgeport, CT provides financial support for the needs that Health insurance companies don't cover, in addition to providing affordable cancer screening, wigs, medication and other things to make life easier for those suffering with cancer and their families.

Please make a donation, and thank you.

Online donations can be made at: http://give.stvincents.org

or you can send a check through the post to:

Swim Across the Sound
St. Vincent's Medical Center Foundation
2800 Main Street
Bridgeport, CT 06606
(203)576-5451

Thank you so very much, peace and good health to all.