Friday, July 6, 2007
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Oxford Blokes
Yesterday, we departed from our beloved channel in favor of London. we met up with john's friend, murray from oxford and had a great afternoon (though dealing with bouts of torrential rain). we had one small objective--as we were to attend a birthday party for another oxford friend (that we rather unexpectedly found out was a black tie affair) we needed a suit and a black bow tie. this is no small task in possibly the most expensive city in the world. with a stroke of luck we were both able to nab somewhat respectable suits for £1.50 apiece with a tie for £9. that's right! (though shoes eluded us so i had to wear my vans sneakers and john his chaco sandals). we left london for the country side and arrived only so see an english chateau nestled in acres of gardens with some of the most elaborate food i have ever seen. john and i were true english aristocracy for one short night!
This morning, we left for the countryside for Oxford in which we arranged to meet an Oxford Ph.D who had swam the channel in 2005. we had some tea and discussed logistical swiming issues and strategies (i.e. working out feeding patterns, mental exercises, and words of advice for the support team on the boat--like throwing up off the otherside of the boat than john). it was incredibly helpful--we want to take all the advice we can get.
(side for k&a: after the meeting, john and i investigated the radcliff camera geocache and found it was still there)
off to have some dinner in college... cheers!
p.s. i don't have my camera cord here in oxford but as soon as we return to dover tomorrow i'll post some more pictures.
This morning, we left for the countryside for Oxford in which we arranged to meet an Oxford Ph.D who had swam the channel in 2005. we had some tea and discussed logistical swiming issues and strategies (i.e. working out feeding patterns, mental exercises, and words of advice for the support team on the boat--like throwing up off the otherside of the boat than john). it was incredibly helpful--we want to take all the advice we can get.
(side for k&a: after the meeting, john and i investigated the radcliff camera geocache and found it was still there)
off to have some dinner in college... cheers!
p.s. i don't have my camera cord here in oxford but as soon as we return to dover tomorrow i'll post some more pictures.
Monday, July 2, 2007
Some Meditations
So why am I doing this? When spending a while in the harbor this morning, coupled with our raw living conditions, I've had time to ponder this question and hopefully more clearly articulate my answer to those of you who still think I’m nuts.
I honestly feel that the philosophy of the free clinic is in my bones; however, who am I to trumpet their amazing service to Iowa City? I was only a student-volunteer. I have no letters behind my name and only 22 years of experience in life. Yet, with a bit of creativity, you have listened and hopefully spread the word about health care access as a limiting reagent in our state and country. I thank you for also physically spreading access with your donations.
Everyone suffers in life, but some more than others. No one deserves to get sick, no one deserves to experience the loss of comfort or security, and no one deserves to go without health coverage. To make a point that people across all strata can be uninsured, Lance Armstrong had to pay out of pocket for his hospitalizations and chemotherapy treatments because he had no insurance when changing cycling sponsors when diagnosed with cancer. When he did get covered under the new sponsor, the disease was considered a pre-existing condition that his new plan wouldn't cover. Funny how that works.
Thus, I have been putting my head down in the cold waters to have a little hope for others who find themselves on the wrong side of luck - and, selfishly, for myself. To be quite honest, I don't swim for the pleasure but rather for the pain. And when it comes to swimming the Channel, there is no bloody reason to attempt such a "feat of idiocy" - except that I need to search the depths of stamina that my body is able to endure. It is really a "contest in purposeless suffering." The intensity and numbness of swimming for hours on end, especially in the Channel's current 55 F waters, makes me feel at peace. The simplicity of monotonous repetitions allow me to stop thinking about the weight of the world and focus on each stroke and kick. I guess I see it as a more holistic approach of treating pain with pain.
Well that is enough of my ramblings for now. Coach appears to be ready for an afternoon tea.
All the best.
I honestly feel that the philosophy of the free clinic is in my bones; however, who am I to trumpet their amazing service to Iowa City? I was only a student-volunteer. I have no letters behind my name and only 22 years of experience in life. Yet, with a bit of creativity, you have listened and hopefully spread the word about health care access as a limiting reagent in our state and country. I thank you for also physically spreading access with your donations.
Everyone suffers in life, but some more than others. No one deserves to get sick, no one deserves to experience the loss of comfort or security, and no one deserves to go without health coverage. To make a point that people across all strata can be uninsured, Lance Armstrong had to pay out of pocket for his hospitalizations and chemotherapy treatments because he had no insurance when changing cycling sponsors when diagnosed with cancer. When he did get covered under the new sponsor, the disease was considered a pre-existing condition that his new plan wouldn't cover. Funny how that works.
Thus, I have been putting my head down in the cold waters to have a little hope for others who find themselves on the wrong side of luck - and, selfishly, for myself. To be quite honest, I don't swim for the pleasure but rather for the pain. And when it comes to swimming the Channel, there is no bloody reason to attempt such a "feat of idiocy" - except that I need to search the depths of stamina that my body is able to endure. It is really a "contest in purposeless suffering." The intensity and numbness of swimming for hours on end, especially in the Channel's current 55 F waters, makes me feel at peace. The simplicity of monotonous repetitions allow me to stop thinking about the weight of the world and focus on each stroke and kick. I guess I see it as a more holistic approach of treating pain with pain.
Well that is enough of my ramblings for now. Coach appears to be ready for an afternoon tea.
All the best.
Dover
I arrived into Dover yesterday and haven't done much today but wake up to a full English breakfast and go for a morning swim. I met with our pilot yesterday, Andy King, a jolly good chap, who will guide us across this body of water. It's looking like I'll be swimming on July 12th at the earliest and the 15th at the latest - but it all depends on the weather. The three swimmers before me are fellows from New Zealand, the US, and a Brit. I had a good chat with them last night at the White Horse Pub. We were all happy to meet other people just at crazy as ourselves.
Our current B & B is real sketchy (smoky and the karaoke bar below played the Grease sound track over and over last night). Restaurants are too expensive - so we've been subsiding on bread, peanut butter, bananas, scones, and digestive biscuits. The water is cold; however, after my digits and face are numb it isn't a problem. I also don't think I'll ever salt my food again - based on the amount of NaCl that I've already consumed. I've gone on a few strong 2 hour swims with Thomas pacing the beach as I get battered by the waves (waves were rough on the windward side of the Folkestone beach but not as bad in Dover Harbor - but a lot more boats). I just finished a 4 hour swim in Dover Harbor and feel fine. I plan to start backing off now for the next week.
We are going to London tomorrow to meet up with some Oxford mates and then have dinner at Magdalen College with my old biochemistry tutor on the 4th. We'll then come back to Dover to splash around some more and get serious for the swim. Cheerio.
Our current B & B is real sketchy (smoky and the karaoke bar below played the Grease sound track over and over last night). Restaurants are too expensive - so we've been subsiding on bread, peanut butter, bananas, scones, and digestive biscuits. The water is cold; however, after my digits and face are numb it isn't a problem. I also don't think I'll ever salt my food again - based on the amount of NaCl that I've already consumed. I've gone on a few strong 2 hour swims with Thomas pacing the beach as I get battered by the waves (waves were rough on the windward side of the Folkestone beach but not as bad in Dover Harbor - but a lot more boats). I just finished a 4 hour swim in Dover Harbor and feel fine. I plan to start backing off now for the next week.
We are going to London tomorrow to meet up with some Oxford mates and then have dinner at Magdalen College with my old biochemistry tutor on the 4th. We'll then come back to Dover to splash around some more and get serious for the swim. Cheerio.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Yet Another Post From Folkestone
Hello again! I know it hasn't been all that long since we last wrote but (as this internet usage is free) we must take full advantage.
Updating yesterday's post (in which John wrote that we were a bit tired and were craving a small nap after being awake roughly 30 hours), we went back to the hotel at 4 pm and fell asleep--only to wake up at 7 am the next morning. One bloody small nap that's for sure.
Feeling fully rested, John and I went for the inagural swim this morning after a full english breakfeast (and when i say John and I, I full well mean John swam and I did a whole lot of watching and throwing stones at gulls). Concerning the water conditions--cold, rough, and salty as expected. And as for the english, chummy like always. "Often licked--but never beaten."
Well...that's about all for now. Righto.
G'day
(As for the adjacent picture, John and I got a kick of it--Dover to Calais with cheese and wine...and only £35! Cloud 9? Please...What weakinglings! Who needs that mode of travel when one can swim.)
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