A Toast on the Cap

On Tuesday we said our goodbyes to Bill and Audrey at the Victoria Guest House and wished Liz and George and their crews good luck while they waited out the weather for their swims. Dave, Heather and I took the ferry to Calais, a much shorter trip than our previous crossing.


The Connecticut Crew (Dori, George and Liz) with Audrey and Bill at the Victoria Guest House in Dover


Leaving Dover by ferry this time


White Cliffs north of Dover harbour


Dave, our beer sherpa

On Wednesday morning, we set off in our Ford Fiesta rental car to see Cap Gris Nez in the daylight. We drove through many cute French towns on our way to the Cap. We stopped for lunch of mussels and pomme frites. We bought a bottle of local beer called 2 Caps (named after Cap Blanc Nez and Cap Gris Nez) to take with us the Cap for a celebratory toast.


The French coast

When we got to the Cap, we had to wait out a brief sun shower at the lighthouse. I had heard from one of the ferry operators that 50 MPH winds were expected. They weren't kidding! We later found out that the ferries were suspended that day.




Blown Away




Celebrating at the Cap


Rocky shoreline under the lighthouse, approximately where I finished my swim

Video of Channel Swim

Viva la France

Thanks for all the messages! I made it to France, to the light house, in 10:13 or 10:16. I left some skin on the rocks for good measure. I was seasick about 3 hours in and left some snacks for the gulls and fishes. Felt much better after that. Crew was seasick with me. I am safe and happy. A good hot bath is in order.

Thanks so much to Chris and his crew and my crew for sticking it out with me when the going got tough and we all had our doubts. Thanks to everyone I met on the beach this week, Freda, Barry, Irene, Louise and Cliff, Bill and Audrey at the Victoria Guest House and the Connecticut crew.

Now I know a little something about the Channel and I'm looking forward to taking the ferry next time.

I forgot who told me about the peppermint tea this week... it was my savior.

Cheers,
Dori

2359 GMT

Email to Channel Group from Michael Oram:

'Just Chris taking Dori & Dave Whyte taking Kevin Anderson left now I think..Both in the North East lane when I last heard.'

Excellent news that Dori is still out there.

Sorry I can't be more specific. No direct contact with the crew. Will post news when I have it.

Tony

2001 GMT

Email from Michael Oram

'Chris (Dori) are WNW of Dover just about to enter the Separation zone.'

The Separation Zone is basically the middle of the Channel that separates the two shipping lanes so Dori is doing really well.

Sorry that I don't have any more info at the moment but communication by cell/mobile is touch and go half way across.

Tony

1856 GMT

Report from crew

Dori OK but a little sea sick.

Tony

Swimming the English Channel... TODAY!!!

I thought I would be posting photos from our little hike along the White Cliffs yesterday. But, it turns out that today I am going to swim the English Channel!! I forgot to set my alarm clock so Dave woke me at 9am with a note that Chris, my pilot had called. I called Chris over breakfast and he said that there a small window of good weather today.

We will be setting off from Samphire Hoe at 2:30 pm BST. There are northwesterly winds today so they will be at my back and hopefully giving me a little push to France.

Hopefully 8.8.08 will be my lucky day.