Anne's Swimming Adventures

If I cover myself with sand nobody will see me

2011-04-29T17:04:00.000-07:00

Look at the moon tonight!

2011-04-16T19:41:00.001-07:00

A masters swimmer was heard to exclaim "dang that's a long way!"

2010-12-27T13:17:00.000-08:00

After the rain...

2010-12-22T16:13:00.001-08:00

I always thought I would make the cover of the Rolling Stone...not the Wall Street Journal. How did that happen?!?

2010-11-12T14:03:00.000-08:00

the white cliffs of La Jolla are brown again...but where has the white stuff gone?!?

2010-09-30T14:54:00.000-07:00

Working late at the office

2010-08-11T19:44:00.001-07:00

Freezing cold wind blowing tonight

2010-05-23T19:58:00.000-07:00

Sunset @ the office 7:05pm

2010-03-27T19:11:00.000-07:00

Sunset @ my office 6:56pm

2010-03-14T19:03:00.001-07:00

If you want to talk to me today come sea me at my office...

2010-03-14T13:14:00.000-07:00

Rooftop View of Boomer

2010-02-03T10:52:00.000-08:00

Windan'sea this morning

2010-01-20T10:17:00.000-08:00

Boardsurfers, Bodysurfers and a Jet Ski @ the Cove this Afternoon

2010-01-14T15:58:00.001-08:00

Low Tide @5:56pm...you'll be able to walk to Take Off

2010-01-04T15:23:00.000-08:00

Last Sunset of 2009 @Windan'sea

2009-12-31T16:53:00.000-08:00

Xmas morning at the Penalty Box

2009-12-25T10:19:00.000-08:00

Set of the Day

2009-12-21T19:26:00.001-08:00

5-7' sets in the Cove occasional 10' faces

2009-12-21T19:23:00.001-08:00

A sea lion is taking a break at Point La Jolla

2009-12-09T16:00:00.000-08:00

Big Waves at Boomer

2009-12-09T15:58:00.000-08:00

The Cove is breaking today

2009-12-09T15:57:00.001-08:00

Not much Surf on Sunday

2009-11-29T11:10:00.001-08:00

Saturday Storm Surf @ Marine Street

2009-11-29T11:07:00.000-08:00

Friday after Thanksgiving @ the Cove

2009-11-29T11:06:00.001-08:00

Victory Lap in the Cove for Chris and Penny Palfrey!

2009-10-07T08:01:00.000-07:00

On September 24-25, 2009 Penny Palfrey of Australia became the first person to swim solo from Santa Barbara Island to Point Vicente in 17 hrs 53 mins

2009-09-29T11:42:00.000-07:00

FINISHED !!!

2009-09-29T11:39:00.001-07:00

Chris swam out to greet Penny at the finish

2009-09-29T11:38:00.001-07:00

Closing in on the finish at Point Vicente!

2009-09-29T11:32:00.000-07:00

Making excellent progress!

2009-09-29T11:29:00.000-07:00

Kayak Guides Tony and Jesse

2009-09-29T11:27:00.000-07:00

Jesse Gros led the way

2009-09-29T11:26:00.000-07:00

...and she's off!

2009-09-29T11:25:00.000-07:00

She's ready to jump!

2009-09-29T11:24:00.000-07:00

Looking for a place to start...there are sea lions all around...must keep Penny safe in case they become territorial.

2009-09-29T11:19:00.000-07:00

Penny is centering herself before her 40 mile swim...and she's ready!

2009-09-29T11:17:00.000-07:00

Mugging for the camera while we wait 'till it's time to start

2009-09-29T11:15:00.000-07:00

Penny is All Smiles and Ready to Go!

2009-09-29T11:13:00.000-07:00

Boarding the 'Outrider' and getting ready for the Big Adventure!

2009-09-29T11:09:00.000-07:00

Fin Whales and Spinner Dolphins on Nick and Sakura's Catalina Channel Swims!

2009-08-02T18:09:00.001-07:00

Nick and Sakura visit the Cove

2009-07-22T14:06:00.000-07:00

Nick Adams and Sakura Hingley went for a dip with us at the Cove this morning, in preparation for their Catalina Channel swims this weekend. Hot, sunny weather and flat, warm seas made for a fun vacation swim for them. The leopard sharks were out in great numbers, putting on a show for us just off of the Beach and Tennis Club.

Channel Swimmer in Training David Gatz is doing his laps at the Cove

2009-06-14T18:52:00.000-07:00

David Gatz is preparing to do a two-man relay swim across the English Channel this August. David is a student at Ohio Wesleyan University and is working in La Jolla at the Scripps Research Institute for the next couple of months...an excellent opportunity to get some ocean training in before heading to Dover. His friend and teammate on the varsity swim team at OWU, Usman Javaid, will be the other member of the English Channel relay. These two young men have dedicated their swim to a very special cause. To find out more, go to: www.channelingpeace.org

"Jaws" Visits the Cove

2009-03-18T17:15:00.000-07:00

Our finned friend is passing by the Cove on the way to the Children's Pool for a snack....a tasty seal kabob....

Ladies 10K Winners

2008-10-28T16:34:00.002-07:00

me, 3rd place

Melinda Cook, 2nd place

Melissa Gorman, 1st place

10K Start

2008-10-28T16:34:00.001-07:00

"Breakfast with the Champions"

2008-10-28T16:30:00.000-07:00

Race Director Paul McCoy introduces Cole Classic winner James Cahill, me, open water champion Kate Brookes-Peterson, Olympian Melissa Gorman and Nerang Swimming Club coach John Papuni.

Start of the 1.5K (sprint) Race

2008-10-27T11:29:00.000-07:00

Getting ready to swim the 3K race....

2008-10-25T17:50:00.000-07:00

I'm prepping on the left and Olympian Melissa Gorman is smiling for the camera.

Me - mugging for the camera before the race

2008-10-25T14:35:00.000-07:00

10K Start

2008-10-25T14:33:00.000-07:00

That's me in the pink hat

(and purple swimming costume)

3K & 10K Swimmers

2008-10-23T19:11:00.000-07:00

Me, ladies 10k 3rd place finisher
James Cahill, 10k 1st overall finisher
Kate Brookes-Peterson, 3k 1st overall finisher
Melissa Gorman, ladies 10k 1st place finisher

Me with my kayak escort, Sedric

2008-10-23T19:09:00.000-07:00

Paul explains the race course

2008-10-23T19:06:00.001-07:00

"Way over there ?!?"

Paul with one of the 10K relay teams

2008-10-23T19:04:00.000-07:00

Race Director Paul McCoy

2008-10-23T19:01:00.000-07:00

Kate Brookes-Peterson with John Papuni

2008-10-23T18:58:00.000-07:00

James Cahill & Oliver Schafer

2008-10-23T18:56:00.000-07:00

2007 Cook Strait Swimmer Hana Wolzak

2008-10-23T18:55:00.000-07:00

New Friends from Australia and New Zealand !!!

2008-10-23T18:36:00.000-07:00

It's Kava Time

2008-10-23T18:32:00.000-07:00

Fiji Ocean Swim - October 2008

2008-10-23T18:27:00.000-07:00

The Fiji 10K swim was an awesome event! Swimmers from New Zealand, Australia, the United States and Fiji gathered at the Plantation Island Resort for a weekend of swimming, racing and socializing. The 10K went off on Sunday, October 19th, the day after a little storm had passed over the island. The skies had cleared, but the seas had not yet settled, giving us some open water conditions to swim in. As we swam around Plantation Island, we started with the wind at our side giving uneven chop, then turning the corner into a following sea we could almost surf in, then on the lee side of the island we swam in flat, warm, shallow water and on the final turn headed straight into the wind. What fun it was in this tropical paradise with not a cloud in the sky and warm ocean temperatures!

This event was such an enjoyable experience for me I have decided to make my come-back and start racing again - at the age of 52!

To find out more about the Fiji Ocean Swims go to:
www.pacificswims.com

Finally - I got to swim!

2007-07-30T14:53:00.000-07:00

On July 29, 2007, I swam the English Channel for the fourth time in 11 hours and 33 minutes.

Getting in....

2007-07-30T14:51:00.001-07:00

I started my swim at Abbott's Cliff, just south of Dover.

Swimming from England to France

2007-07-30T14:40:00.001-07:00

I started swimming at 11:00pm on Sunday, July 29th. It was a cold night, and the icy, howling wind made it feel even colder. When dawn broke at 4:30am, I knew I could finish the swim even though I was chilled to the bone. By mid-morning the sun had come out, but after being so cold for so long the only relief I found was a hot bath after my swim at the Victoria Guest House.

Audresselles

2007-07-30T14:33:00.000-07:00

This is the beach that greeted me in France at the finish of my swim. Audresselles is 3.25 miles south of Cap Gris Nez, where we aim to land. The strong winds, along with the tides, pushed all of today's swimmers well south of our target.

Me, Alison Streeter and Marcy MacDonald

2007-07-28T06:55:00.001-07:00

It's still too windy for a channel swim, but that doesn't stop us from swimming in the harbor. It looks like there may be an opportunity for me to sneak across the Channel mid-day Monday.

The "Big Q" is, if I go for it, will I be able to swim across (and ride the boat back) in time to make my flight home on Tuesday morning?!?!?

Nora Toledano and Freda Streeter

2007-07-28T06:53:00.001-07:00

Channel Swimming Icons at Dover Beach

2007-07-28T06:51:00.001-07:00

Nora Toledano sits with International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame member Frank Richards and his wife, Margaret.

Nora Toledano & Raquel Marquez

2007-07-28T06:48:00.001-07:00

Nora and Raquel have come from Mexico City. Nora has been coaching Raquel for her backstroke attempt across the English Channel.

English Channel "Double Swimmers"

2007-07-28T06:46:00.001-07:00

Me (oldest), Nick Adams (youngest), and Nora Toledano

Irene Wakeham and "The General" Freda Streeter

2007-07-28T06:44:00.001-07:00

Barrie & Irene Wakeham and Freda Streeter volunteer their time and knowledge every weekend during the swim season, rain or shine, helping aspiring channel swimmers to achieve their goals.

Dover Coaches Barrie & Irene Wakeham

2007-07-28T06:42:00.001-07:00

Many of the longer practice swims would not be completed without their encouragement.

Marc Lewis

2007-07-28T06:38:00.000-07:00

Marc has just arrived in Dover to swim the Channel on the next tide. He's one of our La Jolla Cove swimmers, and I'll put my money on Marc to make it across any day!

Friday, 27 July

2007-07-27T09:47:00.000-07:00

The wind in the Channel has gone down to 22 knots and the wave height has dropped to 5'. There is speculation that a small swimmable window may open up late Sunday. It won't be a good day and the tides will be strong by then, but that may be my only opportunity before Tuesday, when I am scheduled to return home. If I don't get to have a go at the Channel by then, I'll still have a swim "on the books"....all is not lost. I must weigh whether I want to swim on a marginal day this trip or save it for another tide/year and hope for better.

I'll post more news as I get it....

Dover Mercury News, March 2005

2007-07-26T07:55:00.000-07:00

The Beach at Broadstairs

2007-07-26T07:44:00.000-07:00

Lance said it was too windy to swim today.

2007-07-25T01:55:00.001-07:00

White Caps in the Channel

2007-07-25T01:48:00.000-07:00

The White Cliffs of Dover

2007-07-25T01:45:00.001-07:00

Saint Margaret's Cliffs

2007-07-25T01:43:00.001-07:00

Ferries going back and forth to Calais

2007-07-25T01:41:00.001-07:00

Dover Castle

2007-07-25T01:36:00.003-07:00

To pass time while we wait to swim, Liz, Marcy and I and our crews did a little "cross training" today and hiked the trail north along the coast to Saint Margaret's Cliffs. We saw a castle, white cliffs....and white caps in the Channel.

Still training in the Harbor....

2007-07-25T01:33:00.000-07:00

and hoping for the weather to allow our cross-channel swims....

It's a bit breezy at Dover Harbor today....

2007-07-25T01:30:00.000-07:00

Dover Docks at Dawn

2007-07-23T05:45:00.000-07:00

Everyone was crestfallen when the swims were called off again early this morning. We had met at 1:30am and although the wind had died to nothing when the harbor gates opened, a gale began to blow from the east, putting a fatal end to any swim attempts for the next few days.

Alison Streeter "Queen of the Channel"

2007-07-23T05:40:00.000-07:00

Alison Streeter, who has swum the English Channel more times than any other person, is known as "Queen of the Channel". She now has her Captain's license and crews for swims. Here she is waiting to assist Marcy MacDonald with her 3-way swim.

Sea Satin

2007-07-23T05:37:00.001-07:00

Lance Oram, my escort pilot, will show me the way across the Channel in his boat, Sea Satin. Hopefully, if the weather clears, that is....

Waiting to see if we swim....

2007-07-23T05:27:00.000-07:00

Four swimmers and their crews met at Dover docks at 3:30pm Sunday afternoon. After waiting around for final weather reports, we all went out into the Channel for a "look see". The wind was up and the swells were huge....no swim this afternoon. We agreed to meet again at 1:30am to see if the wind and seas would allow us to swim the Channel.

It looks like 4pm start this afternoon!

2007-07-22T03:00:00.000-07:00

It looks like a 4pm start this afternoon! Since I'm not a morning person, that's a Godsend!!! Marcy will be starting her 3-way then, too. The sun is coming out and the wind has died down....hoping it stays like that 'till we're all done!!!

I'll get back to you after the swim....

A bit windy again, today

2007-07-21T08:59:00.000-07:00

Right now the wind is blowing at 21 knots. I know I can swim in that, but would really prefer not to this time! Monday and Tuesday look better, but a lot can change by then. This is only the second day of the tide - too soon to panic and take a bad day. Mid-tide is coming up....perhaps I will get to swim during the middle of the neap when the tides are the weakest. It would be fun to see how that is after my spring tide swims....

"Fabulous Fifties"

2007-07-21T06:35:00.000-07:00

Cliff Golding, Sally Minty-Gravett (newly-minted 50, just had her birthday!), Dee (from Jersey and swimming the Channel this tide), me.

Cliff Golding & Laura Lopez-Bonilla

2007-07-21T06:30:00.001-07:00

Laura Lopez-Bonilla & Liz Fry

2007-07-21T06:28:00.000-07:00

Liz Fry getting ready to swim

2007-07-21T06:26:00.000-07:00

Marcy MacDonald

2007-07-21T06:25:00.001-07:00

"Double Crossers" at the Victoria Guest House

2007-07-21T06:18:00.000-07:00

Two-way English Channel Swimmers:
Me, 8th woman and oldest person to swim the English Channel both ways without stopping, 2004
Nora Toledano, Mexico City, 6th woman to swim the English Channel both ways without stopping, 1994
Marcy MacDonald, 7th woman to swim the English Channel both ways without stopping, 2001 & 2004

Channel Swimmers

2007-07-19T07:55:00.000-07:00

Liz Fry, from Connecticut, attempting a 2-way English Channel swim
Me, here for another one-way English Channel swim
Marcy MacDonald, attempting a 3-way English Channel swim
Raquel Marquez from Mexico City, attempting to swim the English Channel backstroke.

We're all staying at the Victoria Guest House, waiting for the weather to cooperate so we can swim!

Marcy MacDonald

2007-07-19T07:47:00.000-07:00

Marcy MacDonald, from Connecticut, is here in Dover to attempt to become the fourth person in history to swim the English Channel 3-ways without stopping.

Too windy to swim just yet....

2007-07-18T13:49:00.000-07:00

Today, I walked to Dover Harbor....the wind was blowing so hard I really had to hold onto my hat!

No Thursday swim....seven foot waves in the Channel today and not much better tomorrow. I'll be checking in with my escort pilot tomorrow evening about a swim this Friday. Not that I'm afraid of a little wind, just would prefer a light breeze....