Joanna's Blog - Visualising Week 9 Training
Week nine and it's the final countdown! Well, for my blog at least. From next weekend, some of you lovely swimmers will be back in our home, Dover Harbour, to sample for yourself the delights of the yellow ducks, the Ferry Wall and the slopey groyne. For those currently training elsewhere and for whom it feels like a distant dream (or memory!), I hope that these blogs have given you a little taster or reminder as to what Dover training would have been like in a 'normal' year.
There have been some scurrilous rumours that this blog has been ghost-written by any number of swimmers: the Twins, Emma, Paul, Dickie, Charles, Mandi, Number 1 through to even Kev himself have been suggested! So, I would just like to clarify that #IamJoanna and #Iwouldneverharmahamster
Thank you to Emma for asking me to write this and to everyone who's read it. It's been an honour and a pleasure. Good Luck and Happy Swimming.
Saturday 27th June 2020
I open my eyes to rain lashing the windows with the sound of the wind whistling through the trees. This could be a bouncy one!
In honour of Pride Month, our theme this weekend is Pride. The beach is decked out in rainbow flags with Mandi in a fantastic tie-dye rainbow t-shirt, swimmers in rainbow-striped costumes and trunks, and Michaela-Jane leading the way with a natty rainbow face paint, flag and shorts combo. Mandi has her head in her hands as somehow Kev has got hold of a party whistle. Even Northey has decorated his crocs with a couple of ribbons!
Bob and Kev are busy, standing over two objects - one yellow and one white - and working furiously. What are they up to?
"Ta dah!" announces Bob proudly, standing aside to reveal a huge inflatable yellow duck and a giant inflatable unicorn (with mini drinks holder). "For inflatables week!"
"Umm Bob, that was meant to be last week, but the theme was swapped to 'Fine Dining' as the winds were forecast to be high. It's Pride Week this time." explains Paul.
"Well, the unicorn has a rainbow mane," says Bob hastily "And the mini Storms have got unicorn earmuffs, so we're completely on-theme."
"And I've brought these as Bob said that the theme was inflatables," announced Bee who was last seen a few weeks' ago on the beach in a beret, Breton shirt and onions, and was now reclining on the big yellow duck whilst waving an inflatable palm tree and a flamingo.
"You'd better stay sitting on them for now as they're already heading off down the beach in this breeze..."
Suddenly Emma's up by the railings and it's briefing time already:
"OK, listen up. Today is going to be pretty windy. The forecast is for it to gust up to Force 8 later today. That means it could be very 'interesting' by the Ferry Wall. Swim within your capabilities - if you think you can't get back then turn at the Slopey Groyne. Check in with each other and we'll keep an eye on it. If it really picks up then we may need a change of plan to a shorter loop.
Feeds for soloists are as usual - the first feed at two hours, then hourly after that. And no Number 1, the feeds won't be on a silver platter this week!
Make sure you give your numbers in getting in, at feeds and/or getting out. Oh, and the inflatables will likely have to stay on the beach today due to the wind - sorry guys. Absolutely no bobbing! Make sure you've got plenty of grease - if you haven't yet, see Michaela-Jane who's on greasing duty today. Great purple gloves by the way, Michaela-Jane."
"So you weren't meant to be here this weekend, Emma." starts Number 1 "Does that mean you're coming in for a swim with us instead?"
"Let's see if the wind changes..."
As we head down to the shore, I spot a swimmer who I recognise but can't place. Could it be my mystery swimmer?
"Mandi, who's that over there with Bob?
"Oh, that's Harebell something, I can't remember her surname, begins with H... She lives quite a long way from Dover so she can't get down to the Beach very often."
Suddenly a small voice pipes up:
"That's my Mummy, she's a 'Hooligan'"
"Harebell Hooligan?" I turn to Mandi who shrugs her shoulders in a 'search me' expression.
"Yes, that's right, she's a 'Hooligan'" explains her daughter.
Bob and Harebell Hooligan. What a combo! There may be trouble ahead...
So despite the forecast, I'm down for another '7' today. Getting in, the water temperature is ok, but the breeze is making it feel fresh. I try and get up to speed as quickly as possible heading towards the yellow ducks. There are a lot of swimmers today as early season swimmers are getting their last week or two of training in before their tide window opens; the Aspire relay teams are with us as well in their green hats, so it's like a huge shoal of swimmers surging ahead.
Round and round the harbour I swim settling into a rhythm, whilst trying to keep an eye out for others in the breeze. I'm feeling comfortable at the moment, but alert to the fact that this could change at any minute. Naturally, I'm also on the lookout for the mystery swimmer. It's not Harebell Hooligan as she swam past me early on without so much as a flick of a hand. Who else could it be?
At 11:00, us soloists are greeted by the sight of Paul and Mandi on inflatables, trying to remain upright whilst handing out the drinks. Apparently as it wasn't windy enough yet to be an issue with the inflatables, in a case of 'expect the unexpected' the Beach Crew decided to try them out for feeding. Paul wasn't doing too badly on the big yellow duck, although getting close to him to grab the cup was a challenge especially as he was being mobbed. Mandi, however, was struggling to perch herself on Bee's inflatable flamingo ring. There was a noise, a splash, and Mandi disappeared through the ring! Luckily Michaela-Jane and JET grabbed her and the flamingo, taking over the feed while she went to get dry.
Comedy of errors over, it was time to get back out there. Just as we were turning away, Emma appeared in the water announcing that she was planning a couple of hours in the water. Number 1 was nowhere in sight. All of us carried on, definitely noticing the increase in swell, as well as the chilly patches close to the Ferry Wall.
The 12 o'clock feed had a treat alongside the CNP - a mini chocolate Swiss roll. This was hugely popular with almost all the swimmers (guess who would have traded hers for Battenberg though?) as we hadn't been given these in a long time. Swimming away from the feed I noticed that Emma was no longer in the water. How had she got out so quickly? I hoped everyone was ok.
Looking back, I spotted that Emma was now walking along Marine Parade above the Harbour, still in her swimming costume, pushing something in front of her that didn't seem to want to go forward very easily. Surely she couldn't have voluntarily got out already? This was turning into an unusual day!
By the fourth hour, the conditions were starting to get spicier at the far end. I was very glad that I had taken some anti-travel sickness pills first thing in the morning. The chop slapping my face was irritating, as was trying not to drink half the water in the Harbour. Number 1 was still happily surging through to the Wall with Kinky Storm Boots, Princess Doctor Grace, Harebell Hooligan, Michèle, Kev, Wardie and Bob looking like they were having a blast.
"Is Emma ok?" I asked Paul at the 1 o'clock feed.
"Oh yes, she's fine. Just an incident with a bicycle."
A bicycle? This really was a weird day...
The fifth and sixth hours were more of the same - increasing chop, bit of rain and pretty bouncy all around the harbour. In a way the chop provided a bit of mental stimulation as there's no chance of worrying about boredom when you're being slapped in the face by salty waves! Heading round past the Slopey Groyne saw György doing battle with the washing machine again - it really must be his favourite spot in the Harbour as he's always there.
And then it was off to do, in Mandi's words, 'just one more hour'. By now the waves were really smacking into the Ferry Wall. Number 1 just battled on through the washing machine to make sure he touched the wall, but, aware that I was tiring and my goggles leaking a little, I decided to shorten my loops somewhat cheekily using György like a turning buoy at the Slopey Groyne.
Almost crawling up the beach at 4pm, we were greeted by a welcome sight - a plate of amazing rainbow-decorated heart-shaped biscuits in honour of the weekend's theme. Delicious! Emma explains the earlier mystery - she'd spotted a rusty bicycle on the beach by the Slopey Groyne. Feeling that this was a risk, especially if anyone needed to get out there, she got out herself and attempted to wheel it back to Swimmer's Beach. Her heroism meant she now had the grazes to show for it!
Sunday 28th June 2020
The rainbow flags are flying with full force today at Swimmers' Beach. Could it be possible that today would be even windier than yesterday? There are some big clouds looming.
As the countdown is on before people's tide windows start to open, everyone's here today decked out in rainbow kit. From New Sue Pugh through to Midge, Stéphanie, Michèle, Louis and Antonia. Bob, Kev, Wardie and Harebell are in the thick of it, trying to bounce Kinky Storm Boots off the unicorn that he is reclining on. The twins are discussing Decathlon's latest offers and keeping Dickie in their sights as he is itching to get in. Craggy Edge and JET are swapping notes on really being runners. The large pile of moving Dryrobes that Gillian Topsy has just fallen over is likely to be Charles. Andrea, Tomasina and Charlotte are comparing dressing gowns with Pavel, whilst The Guv'nor, György and Northey look quietly on. Princess Doctor Grace and Mrs Kinky Storm Boots are whispering furiously in a corner - did we hear the word 'marshmallow' as we passed? Sylvester and The Grange are exchanging cake tips, with Crispin getting overexcited on hearing the word 'pie'. Adrienne is trying to persuade Emma to give us more Battenberg treats. Frédéric, Michaela-Jane, and the first swimmer from Liechtenstein are discussing the best way to describe 'Unicorn earmuffs' in French. Mandi's checking how many spare sets of dry kit she has. Paul and Number 1 are deep in a technical discussion. Rosario is telling Keith, the CSA Swimmer Liaison Officer, all about jelly fish. Eduardo, Caterina and Donatella are busy chatting to Bee, who is back again with the inflatable palm tree and the flamingo, from which Mandi is now banned!
Emma briefs us that it is indeed going to be windy and that like yesterday we should keep an eye on each other, and listen at feed time in case we need to shorten the loop around the Harbour. We're instructed to turn by the Slopey Groyne if we think we might be get stuck in the washing machine by the Ferry Wall. György looks a bit sheepish at this point. And the inflatables were banned in the water again due to the forecast.
"Emma, you were only in the water for about 45 minutes yesterday. Today must be the day right?" asks Number 1.
"Well, after a spot of 'cycling' yesterday, I've now got all these grazes on my legs..." explains Emma.
Getting in today is hard. Seven hours in the increasingly strong chop yesterday has left me tired and achey. Even more so than last weekend, which I didn't think was possible. The air isn't cold, but the already strong breeze isn't really warming. Still, it's the ability to push through fatigue that's going to make all the difference on my swim, isn't it? As we edge our way in, I'm certain that I catch sight of a familiar swimmer, getting in with arms aloft. The mystery swimmer! Or is it? There's so many people getting in that she's disappeared from sight. This is really annoying me now!
The first two hours go ok. The water is definitely choppier than yesterday already, however, the washing machine effect at the Wall has not really kicked in yet. György looks relieved to have passed it a few times on our initial laps.
There's a treat of banana with the CNP/UCAN drink at the first feed. Already the waves by the shoreline are getting interesting, which could make the next feeds fun!
Hour three is when my fatigue really starts to hit home. I buddy up with Princess Doctor Grace and Mrs Kinky Storm Boots for a little while, but they're just too speedy for me. Rosario looms at one point so I dodge out of the way - I've no intention of making contact with those fists again!
Time and time again I see a flick in the distance. Could it be the mystery swimmer? With the wind and the waves picking up, I'm struggle to move forward let alone chase anyone down.
Arriving for the second feed, I see Mandi in the water again - this time just about on her feet, water up to her armpits trying to get the cups of CNP/UCAN to us without being washed away herself! Getting the drink into my mouth without taking on huge amounts of saltwater and/or losing the cups to the waves proved quite a challenge. Gillian Topsy has already submerged all of her drink. All good practice for an actual Channel swim though, right?
The next hour I join forces with Kev, Bob, Harebell, Louis and Antonia, which raises my spirits as we bounce about in the waves. The sight of György swimming furiously by the Slopey Groyne, suggests that the washing machine is back in force now today.
At 1pm the third feed has a treat of Percy Pig sweets with the warm drink. Anyone else heard the Beach Crew talk about the time the box of Percy Pigs got left out in the sunshine all afternoon, so that it turned into a box of pink goo? That sounded revolting! Luckily no danger of that happening today, instead an impromptu saltwater dunking is more likely.
Looking for some companionship, I manage to get on the feet of Donatella, Sylvester and The Grange for part of the fifth hour. At some point though I lose them in the chop and find myself swimming alone again. As if by magic, there is a flick in the water; right beside me is the mystery swimmer! We swim on and I'm buoyed by her presence. Craggy Edge and Number 1 join us, so we finish the hour with them.
Coming in for the fifth and final feed, it comes to me. The flick I've been seeing in the water isn't a hand, it's a pointy toe/kick. The mystery is over - I'm swimming with Emma! She's been slipping in for swims all the time, just not when Number 1 wants her to. Keith has joined Paul, Mandi, Northey and Michaela-Jane as crew for this feed. He's already battling with the waves when we arrive, then Gillian Topsy stumbles, reaches out to steady herself and drags Keith in too! At this point we hear him shout 'I can't swim!' This time Northey and Michaela-Jane are able to grab him and get him out of the waves. As we swam off for hour six, we could hear Mandi offering Keith some of her extensive wardrobe of dry kit.
So the final hour I swim on with Emma. It's great to have her and Number 1's company. I decline, however, his offer of swimming through the washing machine that's now on fast spin to touch the Ferry Wall, settling for swimming on the spot with György for a bit until Number 1 reaches us again. I'm galvanised enough even to pick up the pace on the way back, meaning that I have to add a little extra loop for my efforts so as not to be early!
I'm pretty tired by the time we clamber onto Swimmers' Beach and make our way through the arch of swimmers. The Pride party is in full swing though - everyone's in a jubilant mood, the sun even peeks through a little. The rainbow biscuits are back, Bee is handing around her delicious banana and chocolate cake, there's enough Battenberg to have Adrienne swooning, Sylvester and The Grange have brought their home-made masterpieces, someone's brought Crispin a pork pie, Princess Doctor Grace and Mrs Kinky Storm Boots have got a bag of giant marshmallows, Dickie's sharing cake made by one of the twins (no, I still don't know the difference!), the Beach Crew have got chips, and Charles even offers me a bit of his tasty bulgar wheat salad. Kev was offering green jelly babies and Fudge too - readers of earlier blog posts will understand my reticence on those!
Suddenly there's a shout - in our jubilation and party mood, no-one's been sat on the giant inflatables anymore. The unicorn has broken free and is galloping across the harbour to join the 'white horses' at the Ferry Wall! Quick as a flash, Kinky Storm Boots has shed his boots and is back in the water in hot pursuit, quickly followed by Princess Doctor Grace, Midge and others. The unicorn is too quick even for this trio and it's not until they reach the Wall, that Kinky Storm Boots is able to grab the errant inflatable as it's blown onto the beach by the Slopey Groyne.
Underwater feeding, scrap metal dealing and runaway unicorns! Whatever next for DCT?
