Countdown to Dover

Hard to believe that in 30 days I will be back in Dover for another English Channel swim (knock on wood). This time I will be attempting a double crossing of the English Channel by swimming from England to France and back to England.

White Cliffs, Dover England

After taking some time off from training after my channel swim in August 2008, I struggled to find motivation to keep training. I didn't swim for a month after I got out of the water in France. It was a few more months before I was able to make it through a whole workout. Amazing how I could swim 10 hours one day, but not be able to swim for an hour in workout the next.

By the time I moved to Sydney last July, I was ready for a new challenge. I decided to take on the challenge of a double channel swim to give myself something to work towards and help ease into a new life down under. Maybe 'ease' isn't the right word to describe training for the Channel, but it definitely keeps me busy.

Training has had it's ups and downs the past year, but I feel really strong and ready to go. I am looking forward to seeing the other channel swimmers on the beach in Dover, drinking a pint at the White Horse and enjoying the Northern Hemisphere summer.

Ain't nothin' better than your own backyard

Since moving to Sydney 10 months ago, I've been able to enjoy some of the greatest swimming spots, all in my own backyard. Living a block from Bondi Beach means I only have to walk a few minutes to swim laps across the world famous beach while backpackers on holiday bake to a bright red in the sun. I break up my laps to dive and play with fish that I have only seen in aquariums.


Bondi Beach

Now that it has turned to winter, I have been spending more time at the Bondi Icebergs club. This 50 meter ocean pool has a great view. While swimming laps I can look over the edge and watch the surfers catch waves. Laps get increasingly challenging with the high tide as the waves crash over the sides of the pool. I have on more than one occasion ended up in the next lane.


Sunday races at Bondi Icebergs

Still winter...

The mountains said I could find you here
They whispered the snow and the leaves in my ear
I traced my finger along your trails
Your body was the map, I was lost in it

--"Your Rocky Spine," Great Lake Swimmers

American Falls, Niagara, NY

Pay no attention to the giant feline

Mt. Mansfield, VT

Gondola at Stowe, VT

Apres Ski, Stowe

Winter in Michigan

My heart's in the ice house come hill or come valley
Like a long ago Sunday when I walked through the alley
On a cold winter's morning to a church house
just to shovel some snow

--John Prine,Bruised Orange (Chain of Sorrows)

The Mighty Mac and Lakes Huron and Michigan

Riding the chairlift

Favorite run

St. Louis Blues

"I hate to see that evening sun go down
I hate to see that evening sun go down
'Cause, my baby, he's gone left this town

Feelin' tomorrow like I feel today
If I'm feelin' tomorrow like I feel today
I'll pack my truck and make my give-a-way"

--St. Louis Blues, W.C. Handy

Photos from Albuquerque, New Mexico, St. Louis, Missouri and Ocequeoc, Michigan.

!Ay, Caramba!

So many sombreros, so little time.

Old Towne Albuquerque

St. Louis Arch

Downtown St. Louis from the top of the Arch

Christmas presents

Making snow angels

Lake Huron, northern Michigan

Get Your Kicks

Would you get hip to this kindly tip
And go take that California trip
Get your kicks on Route 66

Well goes from St. Louie down to Missouri
Oklahoma city looks oh so pretty
You'll see Amarillo and Gallup, New Mexico
Flagstaff, Arizona don't forget Winona
Kingman, Barstow, San Bernadino

--Bobby Troup, "(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66"

Snow outside Barstow, CA

Cafe on Route 66, Winslow, Arizona

Route 66, Winslow, Arizona

Grand Canyon, South Rim

Grand Canyon in Winter

Snowman, Grand Canyon

Twin Arrows, Arizona

Petrified Forest, Arizona

I Left My Heart...

"It seemed like a matter of minutes when we began rolling in the foothills before Oakland and suddenly reached a height and saw stretched out ahead of us the fabulous white city of San Francisco on her eleven mystic hills with the blue Pacific and its advancing wall of potato-patch fog beyond, and smoke and goldenness of the late afternoon of time."
-- Jack Kerouac, On the Road, Part 2, Ch. 9

Lombard Street, San Francisco

San Francisco treat

Alcatraz and beyond

Swimming at Cal

Crossing the Bay Bridge

Trying to get the last drop

Hustled at Blooms Saloon

#2 (Double double, fries and a coke)