CuttingWater

Friday, July 31, 2015

It's raining....

It's raining in Scotland, a common occurrence this summer according to the locals. They are patiently waiting in their rain and winter gear for a sunny warm (would love a hot day but really), we can't ask much from Mother Nature.

Last evening, I met and spoke with Chloe McCardel, a young strong Australia gal, training up here
for a another English Channel attempt, very interesting, I wish her the best.

I had another short swim at the 'beach' swimming up stream in the River Oich, behind our cottage. It's cold but bearable so far, we shall in a couple of days. I'd swim up the current for about 4 minutes and turn to fly back down to the mouth of the river. I can see the bottom here, and only saw one small quick fish swim beneath me, I'm preparing myself for the dark water, it's just another night swim with light upon turning my head.
Thank you Janet for watching me, safe and smart swimming.

I met our pilot, Ryan Tozer of iPowerboat, as he and Robey had to transport the boat through the locks to Loch Ness, it's a pretty cool site to watch the large boats stepping up and down the Caledonian Canal.

Very soon my friends,
I will confirm tomorrow.

Dream, Prepare, Succeed.

Thursday, July 30, 2015

We have arrived to Fort Augustus Scotland

If you look at my packing, you'd think it was December 28th, not July 28th, wool sweaters, mittens, hat and pants... where am I going, oh Scotland.

I don't think I'll ever get used to stepping off the plane and seeing everyone in winter jackets.

Our biggest adventure yesterday was traveling from Inverness Airport to Fort Augustus. I don't know how much help we were, but a friendly reminder to our driver, Margaret to stay on the left, but not too left (the roads are quite narrow)... white knuckled, especially when those lorries are passing us from the opposite direction, we arrived safe in town. What a beautiful place to lay our heads, Bon Accord in Fort Augustus, a beautiful quaint cottage on the Canal leading into and out of the famous Loch Ness.
 
 



I didn't swim yesterday, but we stopped along our journey to view the Loch, water looks beautiful, cool and I started my rock collection.

I've already had notice that my swim may be quick in timing, possibly Saturday or Sunday, all depends on the WEATHER, between periods of clouds and rain, normal weather pattern this year.

I'll be in touch as soon as we firm up plans. I have my tracker with me, hopefully it will work, we're going to try it today, walking around town.

Dream, Prepare, Succeed

Remember:

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

Tuesday, July 28, 2015



Now about the swim: My next Aqua-adventure/challenge: swim the length of Loch Ness … in the purest form, one bathing suit, cap and goggles

(No wet-suits or performance enhancements)





Swim window: August 1st-8th 2015
Start: Fort Augustus, Scotland... swim 23 miles… Finish: Loch End.
Information about Loch Ness and results about the swim can be found: www.lochnessswim.co.uk
Loch Ness is a large, deep, freshwater loch in the Scottish Highlands extending southwest of Inverness for approximately 23 cold miles (37 km); (I’m telling myself 52 degrees, although it may be colder, hopefully warmer). Its surface is 52 ft. (15.8 m) above sea level. Loch Ness is best known for alleged sightings of the cryptozoological Loch Ness Monster, also known affectionately as "Nessie". The Loch is connected at the southern end by the River Oich and a section of the Caledonian Canal to Loch Oich. At the northern end there is the Bona Narrows which opens out into Loch Dochfour, which feeds the River Ness and a further section of canal to Inverness. It is one of a series of interconnected, murky bodies of water in Scotland; its water visibility is exceptionally low due to high peat content in the surrounding soil.
 
 

Loch Ness is the second largest Scottish loch by surface area at 56.4 km2 (21.8 sq. mi) after Loch Lomond, but due to its great depth, it is the largest by volume. Its deepest point is 755 ft. (230 m), making it the second deepest loch in Scotland after Loch Morar. It contains more fresh water than all the lakes in England and Wales combined, and is the largest body of water on the Great Glen Fault, which runs from Inverness in the north to Fort William in the south.

For updated information, come visit my blog: www.cuttingwater.blogspot.com or Cuttingwater page on Facebook,

there will be links to Homes for the Brave.

Thank you for your time and have a FUN summer, Dream, Prepare, Succeed

Remember:

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

 


Loch Ness letter

Dear Friends,
 
Here is some information for my upcoming swimming adventure and my swimming background.
 
The Most important message I hope you will help me with is, my fundraising cause, the "Homes for the Brave", helping homeless veterans. (SPREAD THE WORD)
 
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 donationscan 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=


I am leaving on today, Tuesday, for Scotland, soon to attempt a solo swim of the length of Loch Ness, all in the attachment. No Americans have completed or attempted.
 
I will have my Tracker, all information here or on Facebook.
 
I do not carry a phone while away, enjoying the rare freedom, but I will try to respond to all emails.
 
Dream, Prepare, Succeed.

Saturday, July 4, 2015

Fantastic Birthday week, Independence Day

This week was a fun birthday week, 5 birthdays ... 4 people and a pretty young country.

Monday, June 28 was my niece, Kassandra's 23rd birthday, so that was a very good workout because I didn't have any time constraints.

Happy Birthday Kassandra Holder
Thanks for the motivating numbers for today's swim.
23 =
300 warm up...
2300 swim
23 x 100 (1:40)
2300 swim
300 cool down, not that anyone needed to cool down after this morning's chilly temperatures
= 7500 Happy Birthday meters


Tuesday, June 29th was 2 of our young swimmers birthdays, Kaeley turned the important adult age of 18 and young Charlie became a teenager, good old 13. I only had a short day, so ...

1800 warm-up
13 x 100 (1:40)
300 cool down
= 3400 Happy Birthday meters


Wednesday, July 1st was Kurtis, my nephew, 23rd birthday also, but it was cut short due to an intense flash of lightning after only 100 meters,
I've never moved so fast OUT of the water.

Oh, well, it happens.



The final birthday was our country,
USA's 239th birthday, Happy Independence day.

A nice long swim at Hammonasset with friends and a beautiful picnic at the Collins home.



 

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.