Wednesday, 30 July 2008

Sunday, 27 July 2008

I did it!

Hi I made it ! Landed north of Calais after an epic 19.46 hours of swimming . My shoulder packed in at hour 2.5 and addef a lot of time and pain to the swim! My chart of the swim looks like a double s shape! The journey was definatly the hardest thing I have ever done and I was helped by an amazing pilot and crew and my support crew without all of whom I wouldn't have made it! They also all white lied brilliantly to keep me going and told me I had an hour to go and it was just around the bend etc just enough to motivate me further ! I kept thinking this mile I have to swim is a bloody long way! I was followed for a long time by a seagull who kept turning up at my darkest moments! Sitting bobbing on the water a foot from my head! There were a lot of scary moments and I lost the plot several times at one point I was so cold I thought I was at school which scared me then I had a warm drink and poured some on my hands and down my front whic seamed to work and the next thing I knew the water started to warm up and I knew France was nearly there and I had to work hard for it ! It was at that point I decided the only way I was getting out was if they pulled me out or I reached the end. Which I did and boy did the sand feel good on my toes! I will write the swim up properly when I can . Thankyou to everyone who has sent me such wonderful messages and once again thank you to the people on the boat who made the swim happen! Dave Whyte and Joan Colin therese Brian Paula laura and abi also Thankyou to Evelyn and David for everything they have done xxx

Friday, 25 July 2008

The big swim

The journey has just begun. Frances has set off from shakesaphere beach at four o clock,
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Off in the morning

Heading to France 3.30am in the morning!!!!!
 
Laura, Abi and Paula will be on the boat feeding me and by the sounds of it singing me motivatinal swimming songs! Yikes!!
I am anticipating it will take at least 14 hours but I am looking forward to swimming into the sunrise!!!!
 
Thankyou everyone for all your support, messages and sponsorship it really means alot to me
Love to you all
Frances xx
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Fw: Live tracking

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-----Original Message-----
From: francesanderson@btinternet.com

Date: Fri, 25 Jul 2008 12:39:33
To: Blog<go@blogger.com>
Subject: Live tracking


You can track my progress live on the shipping which is
http://www.shipais.com/currentmap.php?map=folkstone
My boat is ocean breeze
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Live tracking

You can track my progress live on the shipping which is
http://www.shipais.com/currentmap.php?map=folkstone
My boat is ocean breeze
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Thursday, 24 July 2008

Waiting!

One day to go ! If the weather is right I go tonight ! I will be meeting the pilot at 2.30 am who then takes me around to Shakespeare beach. I swim to shore and clear the water then after they sound the horn I start my swim! Yikes! I am starting to feel a little nervous now! We could see France from the top of the cliffs last night and I stood watching the ships working out where the shipping lanes went and thinking from up here it doesn't look too far knowing that it looks and feels so different from on the boat or in the sea! My pilot thinks I will take 14 hours! Hope so as we have booked a table in a restaurant for tomorrow night and the puddings look good! So today I will do a very short swim. And brief my crew Paula laura and Abi . Shep arrives tonight and my parents tomorrow for the finish! Then its rest for the. Remainder of the day and waiting for the swim to be confirmed tonight !
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