Relay week with the Channel Wanderers

End of the week for the relay, and we never got a chance to swim :( The wind blew too much all week and meant that no support boats could safely go out into the channel. the team are gutted, but we are re-scheduled for September for the relay swim (and the dinner with the Mayor of Bolton!).

See the waves on the left. Beach training below

Arriving on Sunday 6th July at Dianes house (our team swimmer and organiser) full of anticipation, we first had the challenge of fitting all the required gear into the car. Far to much the the modest boot of the Jag X-type, we had to leave Justin walking whilst we nipped round to Chez's house with an extra load for the Nissan truck!! He was dead pleased to see us at 6:30 am (really).
We got down to Dover about 1 ish to greet a few of the beach gang after a tough windy swim...more of that later...
We unloaded the cars, and got settled at Varne ridge, and went off to meet Fred, our pilot. He was a little scepitical about the weather for the next couple of days and proffered Thursday night as his best guess with a we'll see and jokes about lucky seaweed.... A little down hearted, we headed back to the Ridge and ate our 1st of many fantastic banquets courtesy of Diane. (More of the multi talented Diane - check out the picture below !!
Monday was spent chewing the cud, and a quick dip in the water in a rather wavy Folkstone for Justin, Chez and Diane:

Tuesday, Justin decided (well, we did on his behalf) that it would be a good chance to get in his 6 hours. So we dropped in at 9:15am me for 3 1/2 hours, followed by Matt, Chez and John with Diane being teh official CSA obsever on the beach. Justin swam strongly for the duration, even resisting the tempation to race with Matt, who went over to him and raced off past at full speed!!!
I popped in for the last 20 minutes just to how the water was, and indeed it lived up to the reputation of being warmer on a second 'stint'. Encouraging for the relay team!
Wednesday....a day to forget, more of that later involving search parties and coastguards.

Thursday, we lost Matt as he had to return for work commitments (6 men, and a lass went to swim, went to swim the channel, 6 men, and a lass, 5 men and a lass......., Diane sorted us with a monster breakfast and then we caught her passing the time..........(1 Girl went to mow, went to mow a meadow....!!!)
Hope those lines are straight Diane!!

This brings us up to current...and we are waiting for news on the weather, most reports are showing that the weekend is prime, we are just unsure if we can all stay that long :(