Wotcher Rhino,
Err, well it's going I suppose, thanks for asking.
I'm told it's going ok, but I seem to permanantly, absolutely, and completely knackered all of the time. Getting up at 6:00 am and swimming a few miles in a gravel pit near Staines isn't, I've decided the best way to put some sunshine into your day.
I've mastered a few things that had escaped me in the past though, which has to be a bonus, - the one I'm most proud of is being able to evacuate my bowels while I'm swimming. Under most circumstances of course, this shouldn't really be necessary, and I haven't made up my mind as to whether it's a tactic or a relief. Either way it's not going to be a huge barrel of fun for anyone slipstreaming me.
Sunday morning for me on the 14th of June this year could not be any more different from the previous 23, but I think the end result will be same, - I'll be slumped in heap somewhere, mumbling, and demanding a drink.
Here's an interesting snippet from an e-mail I received from the organisers recently:
"If you aim directly for the swim finish, the tide will sweep you west past the swim finish and a boat will have to pick you up. Swimmers way up ahead of you will be to your right (west) and your natural inclination is to follow them. This is a mistake; do not swim to the west. They are further west because the current has had more time to push them. Don't waste your energy worrying about sharks and seals. The sharks rarely come into the bay and stay out in the open waters of the Pacific Ocean beyond the bridge. There are seals that may swim with you, but they have not been known to harm a swimmer."
All good for the confidence....
H
