View Full Version : The English Channel
doritotex
09-22-2011, 17:10
I am swimming the English Channel next year. Should I learn to swim first or should I first buy a bathing suit? I want to save the new suit for the salt water! Any help would be appreciated!
Should I teach my dog to swim, or do you think he already knows how? He won't tell me, maybe I will find out when I throw him in the water.:confused:
4eyedbuzzard
09-22-2011, 18:43
Not enough info to comment. Are you NOBO, Calais to Dover; or SOBO, Dover to Calais? Is your swim supported or unsupported? Wet suit, speedo, or au natural? What breed is the dog? English and Shetland Sheepdogs, Irish Setters, etc are not welcome in France, and Poodles are thrown back off the cliff in Dover.
4eyedbuzzard
09-22-2011, 19:01
"It's just swimming.":)Maybe so, but I bet against her.
Maildrops are going to be an issue.
aaronthebugbuffet
09-22-2011, 19:25
How are you going to keep your cheese dry?
jerseydave
09-22-2011, 19:36
waterproof matches
I'm sure you'll never make it if you don't have the most expensive wetsuit and swim cap set on the market.
BobTheBuilder
09-22-2011, 20:00
What is the record?
BobTheBuilder
09-22-2011, 20:01
You better keep that dog on a leash when you come upon other swimmers, too.
Are you going in the water untreated or are you using a Steri pen, or other purification?
hikerboy57
09-22-2011, 20:10
forget goretex, too many have found it doesnt work well in the Channel.. I suggest flippers and flotation device for the dog, its not his swim its yours.dont bother with swimming lessons, you'll figure it out soon enough.try and regulate your gasping into a regular rythym. PS maps should be waterproof.
4eyedbuzzard
09-22-2011, 20:11
Are you going in the water untreated or are you using a Steri pen, or other purification?
I'd suggest Aqua Mega
Old Hiker
09-23-2011, 07:21
At least the topography looks flat.....ish.
You going to carry a gun for sharks or just a can of shark repellent?
Where will you hang your shark bag? Not to mention your hammock?
Shelter or bivy sack?
Talk about blue blazing!!!
njordan2
09-23-2011, 07:37
All you need is a hammock, G.I. poncho and a woobie. You'll never get wet and stay toasty warm.
I am swimming the English Channel next year. Should I learn to swim first or should I first buy a bathing suit? I want to save the new suit for the salt water! Any help would be appreciated!
Should I teach my dog to swim, or do you think he already knows how? He won't tell me, maybe I will find out when I throw him in the water.:confused:
You are crazy for even suggesting this. You will never make it.
SYOS (Swim your own swim)
Doc Mike
09-23-2011, 08:05
I would assume you are going no-cook(stoveless) since fuel may be hard to find.
hikerboy57
09-23-2011, 08:14
after completion of your thruswim, you may find it hard to readjust to normal life as your skin begins to unwrinkle.your legs may feel wobbly for the first few months. you may miss having those chance encounters with trail angelfish."chum" has taken on a new meaning.it may be a week before you realize you're still wearing your swim goggles.You may experience an aversion to seafood for a while, as well as irritable bowel syndrome.If you should experience shortness of breath, remember to both inhale and exhale.within two months, you will begin planning to thruswim the amazon.
Are you following the official path or taking alternate routes? While some people view the Channel as a corridor, other people with a more lawyer-like bent may take umbrage at the idea of a corridor approach. Rumor has it they may research your swim and publish a PDF about it.
Doc Mike
09-23-2011, 09:09
I would assume you are going no-cook(stoveless) since fuel may be hard to find.
hikerboy57
09-23-2011, 09:15
are you bringing a phone?
are you bringing a phone?
Then the question of where to recharge????
Rain Man
09-23-2011, 09:40
, other people with a more lawyer-like bent may take umbrage at the idea of a corridor approach.
I take umbrage at the gratuitous lawyer cheap shot! Lawyers may be the very ones arguing to the jury of his peers that the "law" can be interpreted more than one way!
Rain:sunMan
.
WingedMonkey
09-23-2011, 11:14
If you take Warren Doyle with you you can ford the channel and won't have to swim.
Rocket Jones
09-23-2011, 11:22
On the plus side, no one ever referred to the channel as the "Long Green Tunnel" so your solar recharger should work.
Which guidebook are you going to take? They differ SO much in information that the right guidebook is important. Do you want information about the mileage or information about the boat "town" visits along the way with complementary maps. Don't forget to put it in a ziplock.
Buffalo Skipper
09-23-2011, 11:29
And of course this leads to questions about waterproof gear.
1) Will you use a backpack cover, or a waterproof liner on the inside?
2) Will you go with a waterproof swimshoe, or one designed to be a quick dry model?
3) The purpose of a full rainsuit becomes, well all washed up.
Tennessee Viking
09-23-2011, 11:34
Be sure to go from England to France...Because it would downhill to France.
Make sure you unclasp your waist belt.
When you come to one of the ECRB (English Channel Row Boats), be sure to ask for a work for stay. Maybe they will give you free soup.
your tent--remember to pitch at least 200 yds. off trail.
or will you hang a hammock? might be able to find some good trees way down deep.
Old Hiker
09-23-2011, 13:04
......................If you should experience shortness of breath, remember to both inhale and exhale..........................
We were taught in Boy Scout Lifeguard training: "Water bad, air good", just this summer.
And just for encouragement: keep your chin up!
This has GOT to be one of the best humor threads to date.
I take umbrage at the gratuitous lawyer cheap shot! Lawyers may be the very ones arguing to the jury of his peers that the "law" can be interpreted more than one way!
Rain:sunMan
.
Settle down Francis.
I was talking about a very specific lawyer (http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/291803)about a very specific issue that happened recently. The lawyer in question very much does not interpret the English Channel thru-swim in multiple ways. He may very well write s 200+ page PDF about taking alternate routes on a thru-swim, therefore invalidating claims.
Out west, alt routes are accepted for thru-swims of the Colorado River for example. :)
Have you given thought to what you will do after the thru-swim? How will you live, will you still have your land legs? How will you get home, do they have shuttle boats available?
Out west, alt routes are accepted for thru-swims of the Colorado River for example. :)
I am shocked you are promoting cheating.
Umbragella might not work. You are gonna get wet anyway.
daddytwosticks
09-23-2011, 15:57
When you get to the other side...wave...:)
the ultimate aqua-blaze. have fun, and watch out for pirates and armadas.
I read somewhere that in the event of bad weather there is a blue blaze they call the Chunnel - in case you don't want to get wet
hikerboy57
09-23-2011, 16:16
instead of bringing your dog, maybe a catfish to keep away channel mice and wharf rats.theyve been known to swim 20 miles just to get into your sushi bag.
Buffalo Skipper
09-23-2011, 16:24
Oh yea, I almost forgot. For a warm up, you might try to hike some sections of the Florida Trail, especially down south.
Sarcasm the elf
09-23-2011, 17:27
If you've never been swimming before, make sure to plan a shakedown swim in the fall to see how all of your gear works.
Trailweaver
09-23-2011, 22:20
Hope you don't snore when you swim; other swimmers may be disturbed by this and ask you to swim away from them.
Are we going to be reading a book about how you didn't make it and that you didn't like the Frenchies?
paistes5
09-24-2011, 09:18
I'm waiting for your gear list so everyone can critique it. The gram weenies will tell you you need a cuben speedo.
Surplusman
09-24-2011, 10:25
Be sure you bring along your cathole trowel and a ziplock bag for used tp.
Top Ten English Channel Comments
10) Dry Bag, otherwise your down will get wet
9) Do your "business" at least 100 yards away from the trail and water sources, unless you are going to wag bag.
8) Sea snakes are fairly docile so shouldn't have to worry about them
7) Jelly fish are not good on toast
6) Thank the trail maintainers they are doing the best job they can with the white cap blazes
5) By phiysical law fires are prohibitted
4) Are you slack packing??
3) Practice your rest step... um stroke
2) LNT
!) Unlike the NOBO AT you don't have to walk back down the mountain when your finished
Odd Man Out
09-24-2011, 14:30
What kind of gun are you going to take to protect you from the sharks and homeless swimmers?
Also, just to be clear, if you stop at the channel islands for more than a week, technically it isn't really a thru-swim.
OnlyJohn
09-26-2011, 16:32
Are you going to swim naked on June 22?
hikerboy57
09-26-2011, 16:35
once the channel swim is done, when will you be planning your cuba to fla swim?
hikerboy57
09-26-2011, 16:36
if you pee in the water, is it considered yellow blazing?
once the channel swim is done, when will you be planning your cuba to fla swim?Supported (in a shark cage) or Unsupported (without same cage)???
hikerboy57
09-26-2011, 17:37
Supported (in a shark cage) or Unsupported (without same cage)???if the shark cage constiutes support, an unsupported hike has a much lower completion rate.
water wings would also constitute a supported hike.and of course, no O2 tanks.
Forget about a compass, just follow the white caps...
I'm gimpy
09-28-2011, 22:16
Don't forget the rain gear! I hear it rains alot over there.
Wise Old Owl
09-29-2011, 00:31
How does rain gear help when you are swimming or close to drowning?
Old Hiker
09-29-2011, 06:48
How does rain gear help when you are swimming or close to drowning?
Several ways I can think of:
1. Take off the pants, tie the legs off and inflate. Fairly decent PFD as any Scout who has taken swimming or life saving Merit Badge can tell you.
2. Use your tent poles and hiking poles as ribs and you can make a coracle. Not sure what to use for a paddle, other than your hands, but it should work.
3. If nothing else, get a bright yellow rain suit. Your body will be much easier to spot by the searchers.
XCskiNYC
09-29-2011, 07:40
Will you Shark Bag or keep your food close?
Remember to follow strict *LNW principles. This includes wearing a bathing suit in a subdued sea green so as not to impinge on the experience of other Channel Swimmers.
* Leave No Wake
evyck da fleet
09-29-2011, 14:57
Make sure to test your gear in the bathtub before you go.
Will you be asking for money to support your swim? And if so. where should we start sendiing it?
Sarcasm the elf
09-29-2011, 23:09
You didn't mention what kind of shelter you're using, I'd recommend a tent over a hammock since you will be below treeline for most of your thru. I've been eyeing this Nemo to replace my Eureka, it might be what you are looking for:
http://www.nemoequipment.com/nemo2011-isopod300-tent
Pedaling Fool
09-30-2011, 17:53
Forget the swimming, you can row-to-the-pole since it hasn't been done yet. Some have claimed to have done it, but it's been proven as a non-accomplishment. But you gotta do it before all that ice melts:D
Check under the tail and make sure that you have a "Lap Dog", just in case he turns around.....
Will you be asking for money to support your swim? And if so. where should we start sendiing it?
Though my first name is Johnny, you can just use my last name "Cash" and pm me for an address.
Just Jack
10-01-2011, 12:14
Boots or flippers?