SHARKS AND SWIMMING Day 1

Have you ever won anything...me neither...until this year, first i win an Orca bag...which is wonderful (and ensured that i bought more goodies to fill it with!!) and then i won a trip to Scotland...and not just any trip, a trip to swim with the wildlife that is currently migrating through its wonderful waters.

Basking Shark Scotland (http://baskingsharkscotland.co.uk/) selected my name out of the hat and with a bit of juggling of my schedule i was able to accept. Like a child at christmas i was bouncing at the mere thought of swimming with basking sharks. I am sure i drove everyone i know and all of my students mad with my chatter about how much i was looking forward to the trip.

me swimming in the secret cove!!

Staying with my friend Chris Sifleet on the Thursday night meant that the journey was relatively pain free to Oban the following day. Arriving at the waters edge a rushed auburn headed female came rushing out of her car. Were we on the same trip, were we parked in the right place, was that our boat she could see....a volley of questions shot ourway, i could  not help but giggle. Walking down the the semi-inflatable boat we were met by the grinning Shane and his boat skipper Cameron. Yes we were in the right place, we rushed to get our kit (we bought FAR too much), then to park the cars in a long stay car park. After this a chance to meet our fellow travellers, Jamie Openshaw, Achim and his wonderful wife Danielle, myself and my daughter Gemma. A nice sized group.

Availing ourselves of the lush seats, Cameron started the engine and we were off, the waters relatively choppy to start off with (so glad i had not eaten breakfast!), the skies...well if we could have seen them through the mist i would have told you what they looked like. Shane, every positive informed us that the mist would clear shortly and commended his safety brief and had us intrepid travellers complete the relevant paperwork. That done we were free to move about the boat at will...seriously...i did not know if i had sea legs and if i did at that point they did not belong to me.

Bouncing out of the harbour, Cameron, reassured me that the stomach acrobats that i was experiencing would lesson and disappear as i got used to the motion of the boat - he was right, and thankfully it did. We had not long alighted the harbour area and the sea suddenly calmed at little, the boat no longer seemed to slam against each wave and instead appeared to slice its way through the green waters.  All of us alert to 'what we might see', although we were hoping to see basking sharks, we were informed that there was all manner of wildlife that we 'might' be able to see. The skies cleared to what was to turn out to be a wonderfully sunny day!

And so the waiting commenced - but not for long, slowing the boat in a wonderful little bay, all eyes were on the water looking for the elusive fin of the basking shark....now in a picture they look easy to spot...on a boat with moving water....that is not so easy. Seals curious to our presence bobbed up left, right and centre, confused no doubt by our groans at their appearance, anxious to spot the first fin in the water. And then there it was Achim had spotted it, a fin breaking the water, the fin of a minke whale, in fact we saw 4 of them moving at speed to the left of the boat. For all that the fin appears small (not sure what size i thought it would be) in comparison to the body the body is large. As fast as they arrived they drifted on in their journey of the waters. And breath....the fish were in the water....we had seen them!

Moving on the boat steadied at the helm (nautical terminology probably not being used correctly, i am sure that Cameron will correct me!), we headed on to the 'secret bay', oh and long may it remain a secret, it would have be such a shame to have turned up to find it full of people! Stunning white sand, crystal clear water, wow, it was breathtaking. I had my swimming costume on...it had to be done, adding a vest over the top to take the bite of the 9 degree water away, goggles on hat on, and there was no stopping me. Shane bless him had swam out in his dry suit to get some pics of the boat in the water, and i was lucky enough that he managed to get a snap of me swimming (see first pic). My daughter Gemma, remained on the boat as did the others while i swam so i literally had the waters to myself - heaven.

The crisp bite of the water had for the time being satisfied the urge to swim. Danielle was astounded that i had got in, touching my skin which was warm to the touch, she claimed me 'not human' and proceeded to look at me with her mouth open for a few minutes as she donned her many layers ready to put on her dry suit. We ended up laughing at her mass of clothing and my lack of!

Our overnight destination was the Isle of Coll which is 4 miles north of the Isle of Mull, housing around 200 people, its a small island 14 miles long and 4 miles wide....a jewel in the water so to speak. Heading around to one side of the island we were met enroute by a large pod of porpoises, graceful in their actions but totally focused on the task in hand, barely registering our presence. But none the less wonderful to see.

With Cameron at the helm (another nautical word....gosh i must be getting good at this) spotting for wildlife, Shane dishing out copious amounts of hot drinks and homemade goodies created by his wife (Nikki)....a very fine baker i will add...the fudge is not to be missed! I 'stole' / borrowed Shanes seat at the front of the boat, a great place for creature spotting. The other travellers having grown accustomed to the swell of the water were enjoying the views from either their seats or the back of the boat, the atmosphere relaxed and very friendly. The chatter flowing as we got to know one and other. It was a great group to be a part of.

Pretty soon the shout went out again...were we really this lucky...dolphins. Five of them off in the distance and heading the same direction as us. 3 of them broke off and headed to the boat, at a guess we could have said mum, dad and youngster. Wow, they were getting closer..and closer and then the parents appeared to hang back, the little one came within touching distance raised his head and clattered at us. A boat full of adults instantly forgot to hit the video button, we simply and collectively said wow.... for what seemed eternity but was probably only seconds he chatted away to us as if inviting us in to play, we stood spell bound at such an amazing encounter with the wildlife so close up and personal. It was truly magical and makes my heart swell just recalling the memory.

 With a final dip of his head, he made a graceful turn and returned to his parents. You could have heard a pin drop on the boat, we were simply stunned into silence. Then the grins started, the day was simply turning out to be amazing!

Watching the dolphins ride off into the depths of the water one has to marvel how in that great vast body of water they managed to find us it really is difficult to fathom. It really is the ultimate feeling to see such creatures in their natural environment and for them to 'want' to interact with you, my only regret was not getting in the water with them but it was such an overpowering experience for them to come to us that it never crossed my mind at the time. 

Fingals cave (swimmable!!!!)

Still on the hunt for basking sharks we follow the landscape round, much of it having been exposed by the weather and water displaying the most wonderful of colours, shapes and sizes.  The beaches could have been set in some of the most tropical places in the world, pure white sands and crystal clear waters, its a swimmers heaven. Shanes policy of 'if you see somewhere you want to swim let me know' is a master stroke in the open water swim world! His second policy is that if you are in the water so is he, brilliant for those less confidence in the sea to have someone so experienced along side them, of course he has his camera with him at all times...taking pictures of you taking pictures with your camera. (Jamie too managed to get one of me as i clicked away fascinated by the tentacled movements of the lions mane jellyfish!)

The seals were very curious, dancing around us, getting closer and closer, one pup did seem very happy to get within a couple of feet of us before bouncing out of view under the water without so much of a ripple in the water, as we looked into the depths, said seal would then hover in the water inviting us to play...the invite i can tell you was taken up and he did leave us a merry dance under the water, making us look like mere amateurs! 

Staying over night in Coll was wonderful too, the building a new build of timber frame design, very modern and peaceful and more then adequate for our requirements, boys in one room, girls in another, a fantastically large kitchen/dining area with a great sized lounging space too. 

We ate at the local Coll Hotel offering lobster at the best prices that i could not resist having one! And before you ask....no i did not share it!

Day two...of what an adventure...read it soon...its being written as you are reading this....the first day of such an amazing trip...words simply can not explain how magical and totally breathtaking it is to see the wildlife in front of you, interacting with you. Its not just a once in a lifetime experience with this company you can experience it year after year!!

I'VE DONE IT - NEIL WALKER

I'VE DONE IT - NEIL WALKER

 

My challenge of swimming 3 miles has been completed, and what a fantastic one it was.

My first swim 10am Yellow wave was relatively easy, I took it steady and I finished in 29:03. I suffered a slight sore on the back of my neck due to the Velcro from my wetsuit that had rubbed quite bad. I attended the first aid tent and explained I had a further two waves to complete but they could not really offer any first aid or a solution to the problem.  The only solution was to ditch the wetsuit in time for my 2nd swim, which I did!!

12:35pm Green wave my second swim soon came round, so off I went.   I felt pretty good as I went around the course so decided to push myself for a better time and put a sprint in at the last 100 metres.    I had a slight twinge of cramp in my left calf so had to leave off kicking with my left leg but managed a time of 28:15.

2pm Purple wave  I had to make my way back to the start as I was due to set off again at 2pm for my last and final swim. I was very conscious of my calf with the cramp so I worked on the calf to try and prevent any further attack.  I was starting to feel a little tired by now and wished I hadn't pushed myself in the previous swim.  I had a friend join me in this wave to help spur me on.  I finished this race in 31.38

I want to thank you all for your support in sponsoring me; I will be collecting in the money in the next week or two.  I was hoping to raise a £1,000, but overall it looks more like £3,000.  The family are so overwhelmed by everyone’s generosity and the children have decided they would like to go to Ibiza in October.  This was the last family holiday they spent with their Mum and Dad.

Your contribution is greatly appreciated.

Donations can be made by contacting me via Diary of an open water swimmer - this blog, or facebook and i will direct you to the payment methods available - happy swimming folks!

SWIMMING FOR OTHERS! - NEIL WALKER

My Name is Neil Walker and I am attempting to swim three one-mile swims in Salford Quays on the 20^th July 2013 to raise money for a young family that have suffered the most unreal tragic circumstances.  This a story of a family, Robert (Dad) ,Rachel (Mum), Luke and Olivia Scholey from  Kimberworth Rotherham.

On the 9^th August 2011, tragically Robert died very suddenly of a ruptured bowel that had perforated which lead to septicaemia aged only 41 yrs. This was very sudden and shocked the community leaving a wife Rachel, Luke 11 yrs and Olivia 3 yrs.

Rachel was  so positive after Robert's death as she had to be for her two young children, bringing them up was not going to be easy for her but she  continued to lead a normal life taking Luke to football and bringing Olivia up and just being a fantastic and strong Mum.

Rachel eventually went back to work after Roberts’s death as a nurse at Rotherham Hospital when she started to feel unwell. Rachel had some tests  and on the 15^th May 2012 she was diagnosed with a grade 4 brain tumour.

This was devastating news and very hard to comprehend for the family and friends of Rachel, but she was extremely brave and accepted what she had. One thing Rachel did have was a very loving family and she was very close to her sister Karen and had lots of friends and work colleagues who were willing to help anyway they possibly could.

Rachel never asked how long she had to live so no one had any inclination and she continued to be very brave for Luke and Olivia.

As time went on Rachel began to deteriorate but continued with her treatment.

Suddenly on the 20^th May 2013 Rachel’s Dad Terry tragically died very suddenly leaving the family devastated and having to cope with his unfortunate death.

On the 25^th May 2013, Rachel lost her battle against Cancer aged 38 yrs leaving Luke now 13 yrs and Olivia 5 yrs  sister Karen, Family and friends and the community totally devastated.

Rachel was a loving caring Mum Auntie friend and would do anything to help others nothing was too much trouble for her.  Rachel never ever moaned  or complained about her illness she was just such a brave person.  It really is a privilege to have known Robert and Rachel Scholey.

Rachel’s sister Karen and husband Nigel now have taken care of Luke and Olivia also having a son of their own Lewis

I am raising money to send Karen, Nigel, and children on a family holiday that they more than deserve. I want to try to make a difference.

You too can make a difference by sponsoring me to complete the three one mile swims to help raise money.

Your contribution is greatly appreciated.

Donations can be made by contacting me via Diary of an open water swimmer - this blog, or facebook and i will direct you to the payment methods available - happy swimming folks!

A MEMORY REVIVED

A MEMORY REVIVED

This time last year an amazing lady called Louise Bradley was preparing to take part in her first ever open water event. She had been coached, overcome her fears.....had to talk to herself several times, put her trust in me completely....from the second she dipped a toe in the water, she changed, she strengthened, her spine straightened, she developed and grew.

I sit here tonight in anticipation of the glass of red wine i shall have in salute to her amazing achievement, tomorrow night, just as i did one year ago.

People come and people go and every now and then someone enters your life that reminds you a little of you, that leaves an imprint that you know will last a lifetime, as just as i did a year ago and just as i will tomorrow night, i will raise a glass to the determination of one lady and to the powers of open water swimming that helped her realise just how special she is.

We all sign up for events then wonder what on earth we have done and why we are doing it, then we train, and then the day arrives, our family surround us, the noise overwhelms us but we are there, and no matter now much every fibre of our being is saying 'just leave..no one is forcing you to do it' we stand on the start line and wait for the starters whistle. And there it is we are off, just us and the elements...we are doing it!
As we go round our bodies say no i can't do it, i am tired, our heads play every game that can be played, the elements toss us and turn us in the water....is this what our washing feels like when we put it in the machine i wonder.....but wow we are doing it...the big day is happening!!!!

 And then as fast as we can blink its over, the medal is round our necks and we have done it, the tears have been worth it, the hugs breath taking, the smiles amazing, its a film reel that goes round and round in my head, i wanted to shout from the roof tops SHE DID IT!!!!! And still do, i am grateful for the experience she gave me and always will be and for that tomorrow Louise my glass is and always will be on the night of first mile Great North swim, raised to you!

What does the future hold for an amazing lady, well i am proud to say she's getting married, a bride what will shine brighter than the sun on the day.

I toast to you Louise, as i sit her slightly emotional remembering this time last year, each and every year i will toast you, you are incredible and please never forget that!!!

HUNTING FOR BUBBLES (CAPENWRAY SOCIAL SWIM)

HUNTING FOR BUBBLES (CAPENWRAY SOCIAL SWIM)

The return to this amazing venue was a certain, at the back end of 2012 Alison Darley and myself took to Capernwray's clear waters for a dip after coaching, the water was cooling in the autumn months but the sun was glorious as we followed it round the quarry in our attempts to seek out its final warmth of the day.We were the only two swimmers in the water and the area was silent other than the evening calls of the resident birds. The divers in the water showed their presence by the surfacing of the bubbles as they broke the waters glassy surface. Swimming around taking in the visions below us, the water the clearest it had been all summer (it tends to get EVEN clearer as the water cools), we found the diving bell, never been seen before by either of us, we were just two grinning swimmers as you can imagine! And then far below us we spied two divers, their yellow fins standing out in the blue of the water. Without speaking as telepathically agreed we followed the divers by their bubbles, large and small rising from the depths bring fresh waves of cold water with them. I am not sure how long we followed them for before the magical moment happened. At the same time we both realised we could see our own reflections in the larger bubbles as they rose. In sync we stopped swimming and at the same time said 'bubbles' to each other. Then it was heads down and grinning under the water we watched ourselves get bigger in the milky surface of the bubbles as they rose, we stay in until the water chilled us to the point of shivering. Our only disappointment - not a camera with us, we had left them in the car and were too chilled to get out and re-enter the water again - we vowed to return.

The winter has seemed soooo long, too long when you are waiting to return to a venue you love but finally we could wait no longer, it had to be done, dates booked and announced, swimmers adding themselves as attending. The water was around 9 to 10 degrees, the sun shining and an added bonus of 3 divers who very generously had repsonded to a request to share their bubbles with us. Steve Smith, Stuart Sanderson and Mark Fairhurst had kindly agreed to meet us and let Alison and i track their bubbles - this time cameras charged and ready to click away! I had arranged to meet Steve at Capenwray, it would be easy, i would be wearing a wetsuit, him a black drysuit and with yellow fins...i mean how hard can it be!!! Other than the fact that people rarely look like their facebook photo (oh yes there are those that put pics of themselves aged 4 on or even better their cat!), but given the discription we were sure to spot each other, confident i arrived at the venue...to find it packed full of vans...and divers and oh yes they all had black dive suits on and you would not belive how many were carrying yellow fins!!! Needle in a haystack time!!! After asking around 6 men in black, high are you Steve...i gave up asking when the 6th told me no he wasn't but he could be if i wanted him to be!!! Phew how hard was this going to be, then suddenly a male approach...oh thank the lord...Steve was there!!! Introductions made, he and his friends had arrived and brought their under water cameras too...yippeee I was really looking forward to this! The guys went off to get their kit, us swimmers changed and to the waters edge. The sun really lending its warmth to us, astonished divers exiting the water were astonished at our plans to swim, 'we have drysuits on and we are cold..you guys are hardcore they said' We must have looked like we knew what we were doing, 20 neoprene clad swimmers all grinning practically itching to get in the water. Group photo taken...it was time to get in....at this point even people in the cafe had come out to take pictures of us getting in!

The intital bite of the water hitting us as we entered, its clarity permitting fleeting glimpses of the fish, who used to the divers feeding them obvioulsy thought that we had brought a buffet with us for them to feast on...those new to swimming and having never been to capenwray dealt with the sudden intrusion with great dignitiy but yes there were a few squeals and whoops!!

Left - Where is it and will it touch me!!!!

Phew...nope its swam way

eeeeeek...the fish are over here!!!!

Divers stood around watching our entry...it was swift...no hesitation...other than the ritual....warming of the wetsuit...Vanessa Christie and i have literally got this down to a fine art now...almost syncronised you could say!! What do you reckon Ness...a wee smile!!!!

Swimmers do what swimmers do and headed off exploring the sights below them, stopping to admire their surroundings, their shouts of 'look at this', 'oh this is amazing' echoed round the watery cavern.

Alison got busy finding our divers....yellow fins...thats what we were looking for!!!  We found them...the bubble hunt commenced. Thankfully Steve knew what we were after and he and his friends set about making sure we were getting them. It must have looked quite strange to anyone watching, the other swimmers blasting round and then us too virtually prone in the water, the occasional kick of the legs to keep up with the divers. But we wanted bubbles ...and its bubbles we got!

                                                     

There was a particular shot that we were trying to get. Our reflection mirrored in the bubble which is what we spotted the previous year...would we find it or was it a one off last year never to be seen again. The divers at this point were relatively shallow in the water (for divers that is), but slowly they moved deeper, thankfully the blue and yellow fins meant that they were were still visible. 

One thing we had not anticipated or to be honest even thought of was the temperature..on the top of the water where we were it was around 10...but the bubbles that the divers were releasing from the depths ...were so much colder and that in turn made us soooo much colder! Have we got the shot we wanted...it was hard to tell, our own body temperature kept steaming up our goggles, the cold was making us start to shiver. Oh for it to have been a red hot day (few and far between i know) We knew we would have to return in the warmer months to keep trying...even if we did have the shot we wanted. Here is the one i am most pleased with:

The divers bubbles were cooling us down rapidly by now, we really should have got out 10 minutes before we did but it was a such an amazing sight to watch our reflections growing larger as they headed towards us, having them burst over us. Vanessa came over just at the point we had decided to get out, leaving her with the bubbles, we headed to the showers. Oh the warmth of the cafe was calling!

Warmed as much as we can be, we headed up to the cafe for warm drinks and food. Time to get the camera out to prove everyone made it out alive...and they did and they all had big grins too or maybe that was the frigid waters fixing their faces into position. But here are a selection of the post swim, trying to warm up pics.

 Apparently this food came with chips....!!!

20+ Tired but smiling swimmers headed home, all of us suitably warmed up, they enjoyed the water, the fish came to say hi and observed us from below, the sights greeted us....a great day by one and all. See you all again soon!!