Stairhaven to Sandhead

Saturday 20th September

Felt great after Loch Ryan. It boosted my confidence and I loved swimming with Scott on the boat. I swam with the Stingrays Tues and Thurs morning this week and we did sets of 5oo and 400. Thursdays session was really hard and I struggled to keep up and I think I found it really hard to be in the pool again. I just can't seem to go any faster although I know that is not my focus or who I am. I managed 400 in 7 mins 3 secs which is OK I think.

So after a few phone calls I found myself planning the big swim on Saturday. After talking about it for so long it seemed like a sudden and unexpected thing to happen. I felt extremely tired after Thursdays swim and a busy at work. I wondered if a big swim was wise....

I did not contact the Coast Guard as all I could find was the emergency number. I was also concerned that Luce Bay is labelled a bombing range so I tried to find the number for West Freugh. Couldn't find the number but did find out about the West Freugh Incident which happened in 1957! This involved a mysterious sighting of UFO's. Look it up it makes fascinating reading. I added to my Risk Assessment..'Risk of Alien Abduction' Action..'Make sure you sell your story!'

Anyway, we had a boat and Harry was all set with the Kayak and Ian was up for it, so it was all systems go!

When we got to Stairhaven, the wind was up more than we had expected. It was overcast but visibility was improving. There was tension in the air as some loyal spectators gathered on the beach and Harry was very keen to get going. Thanks to El, Elizabeth Carrie and her dogs, and Marlene for seeing us off. Bobbi and crew were a little late, so the tension increased. Finally all greased up and suitably nervous, Ian and I waded in. As we set off the cold gripped our bodies. It was rough almost immediately and the water was peaty and quite brackish. Soon Bobbi caught up with us and I realised I was swimming further than I ever had and with 5 men. Nadav and Harry in the Kayak and Bobbi and Robert in the boat. Ian set the pace and I knew I had to preserve energy rather than try and keep up.

It was rough rough rough! and there were many debates about the route we would take. Should we go to the left of the platform or to the right? We ended up going to the right and then swimming past some amazing ruins of some chimneys which are something to do with the war. I'll find out more about them. The sun came out quite a lot which saved our bacon and boosted our morale.

Ian is a gent and waited for me but I was worried about that as I knew the cold would get him. I loved it when I saw Ian supping tea on the boat. I stopped one time and everyone asked me what was wrong. I told them I was having a wee and that they were not to look! (Bobbi rang me today and told me never to wee in front of him again as he was embarrassed) We plodded on mapping our progress with the platform and the chimneys. I had few songs in my head this time as I had to keep my wits about me.

We swam along the shore for a while and I could see people looking...they must have wondered. So, with Ian ahead I struggled onto the beach about 5hrs and 20 mins after we started. There is some dispute but we reckon it was about 10 1/2 miles!

I knew we were going to make it and I feel it is an amazing acheivement. Thanks so much to Harry and Nadav who had a really rough ride battling those waves side on. I was worried when I saw a big breaker hit them side on! Also Bobbi and Robert who were great. Ian is a very modest man and a superb swimmer and I enjoyed his company. Thanks as ever to EB and the support crew on the beach. Terry and Elizabeth, and Scott and Margaret.

Oh by the way someone asked me the other day if we had any more eggs since our first excitement....er yup! Some people take them and give us a small donation for the swim so our clucky girls are contributing bless em

Loch Ryan

Sunday 14th September
We had a wonderful break in Cornwall where very little swimming took place due somewhat to oppressive life guarding techniques, but also because I enjoyed walking and jogging on the cliff paths for a change.
It has been difficult to get going after the holiday, especially as work has been tricky on my return. My pal who lost his foot is doing really well and will be back at work next week which is a testimony to his courage and attitude. Unfortunately there are other problems now which means a few extra responsibilities which is stimulating but busy. So I struggled back to the pool last week and found sessions with the Stingrays very difficult.
However I worked through my usual doubts and connected with Harry again. He is away for a few days and encouraged me to try Loch Ryan in his absence. After some tooing and froing I contacted my buddy Scott who has a boat at Loch Ryan and after looking at conditions and tides we decided to swim from the Stranraer Marina to the boat slip at Kirkcolm. I wasn't sure at all as I had felt so unfit in the pool.
Ian decided to swim a short way with me, so we set off at 8.15am. We had the lovely Dawn on board who volunteered to be the lifeguard for the day, so our Risk Assessment was complete
I managed just under 4 miles in just over 2 hours. Scott was awesome and I trusted him implicitly. I loved the swim and I felt really strong. In fact, I have just spoken to Scott and I think we should have swum back again. I think I am up to it and we'll see if we can fit that in. The temperature was fine and I did not feel at all shivery. I wore my aqua skin because of the treat of jelly fish and guess what....yup, they sting through it. I only have one small sting though so I think it protects me a bit.
I'm thinking of my channel swimmer pals who I have been visiting on blogs, and it has been the worst season for 28 years. Maggie was defeated by appalling conditions and some never even got to start! Also the Windermere BLDSA event was aborted after only 20 minutes or so for the first time ever. I was hoping Maggie was going to join me yesterday but she couldn't make it. We will swim together in the next couple of weeks. The channel is awesome but we are surrounded by the most wonderful Scottish and Irish seas and yesterday I was reminded about how awesome it is to be out there in the beautiful ocean. There are adventures to be had! It was also the Great North Swim yesterday and it sounds like a magnificant event. Our great nephew Ryan Bishop swam it, and came first in his age group and 15th overall. He is only 15! Watch this one, he's good! Also Maggie told me that a woman from Dundee swam the Irish channel on Friday. Lookout guys, it's all happening.
Plans now are to have a meeting for fundraising soon, and at least two more sea swims if we can before we are defeated by cold.......