I DID IT!!!!!  Ok sorry every now and again I feel I need to shout it out and sometimes pinch myself to see if it was real.  Right now it does almost feel as if it was a dream. 

First, I know that I have been lax in updating my blog after the swim, but it has been a whirlwind.  Sunday I made Jane and my parents trek the entire French beach until we just found the exact spot I landed.  Only then could I pop the bottle of champagne, which we did and yes we took photos.  And Monday we met with the boat pilot and crew to review the swim and get my chart of the swim.  Again I pinched myself to make sure it was real.  Then it was off to the White Horse Pub in Dover to sign my name to the wall with all the other Channel swimmers (pinch).  Lastly on Monday we packed up all the gear and headed into London.  We will be spending the next week here on a whirlwind holiday.  It is now time for me to do whatever Jane and my parents would like to do, as they sacrificed so much for me in these past two weeks while in the UK.

Secondly,  thank you for all the support that you all have provided before, during and after the swim.  I have a hunch that I will be writing thank you notes for a while after I return to the States.  Your messages were passed along to me during the last 3.5 miles of the swim when things got really tough.  I couldn’t have done it without each of you.

Thirdly, I know that we all would like to see photos and have an update on an account of the swim.  I promise that I will do just this when I have the time to dedicate to it.  It will most likely be a week or so.

Last but not least, again thank you.  I am truly humbled by all the support.   Stay tuned for updates.  

Well it time for me to say good bye. Sorry about the break, was caught by surprise by the speed of superwoman 

Its been a privilege and an honour to play a small part in such an amazing acheivment. I will keep updating the the site with your comments, Michelle will be resting on the way home, but the next post will be hers. Its been a pleasure to meet you all and to see just how many family and friends she has, she is an extremely lucky lady.

You all have a brilliant day 

Leroy

In a time of 10hrs 2 Minutes Michelle, walked up on to the Shores of France!! picked up some Shells and they are now on the way back WOO HOOOO!!

 I’d just like to say I am Proud and Honoured to call her a friend. damn got a bit of grit in my eye

Thanks for all the mesaages of Support and those good vibes, they worked a treat!!

Just a quick note, Just talked with Kathleen and have passed on about 15 messages of support, from the both the US, UK and Croatia, keep them coming!! this is were it will hurt the most and this is where you support and love, will helpkeep those arms and legs keep moving, when they don’t want to.

This is a picture of the Viking Princess that Meg Macy and Family took when they saw Michelle and her intrepid crew off this morning. The way she’s swiming I reckong that boat is having trouble Keeping up!

Michelle

I Massively ahead of shedule!!! Shes is Two Miles!!! From the French Shore!!!!  YES TWO MILES!!!

However her Sense of humour has Gone!!!  So we need the Messages of support, as this is the final stretch!

PS She was estimating that she would do the swim in 14 Hours, its looking like 10 and a half!

Sorry apologies, had to step out for a couple of hours, so was unable to update the website. Now having some phone Issues, but trying to get contact with the Boat.

However Jane did manage to leave me a Message. About 30 Minuts Ago.

Michelle is still going strong, the English coast is now very phin on the Horizon and the French Coast is looming Large. You prayers and Goovibes, and that Macy Sprit is pulling her ever closer to the French Coast Keep it coming People :D 

Hi Everyone,

 If you are reading this is means we are on our way.  I have asked Leroy to post this after we are away from the computer so Michelle doesn’t edit itJ

 First, thanks to all who have continued to send such positive and uplifting messages to the blog.  You may not think it was much, but it really helped keep the spirits up on this side of the pond when the weather went south this entire week.  Things got a bit stressful at times, and all those good vibes really helped Michelle focused on the end goal.  Martin(our B&B host) loves to tell stories about swimmers and crew getting into huge fights while waiting and I can see how that could happen!  

I wanted to just give a quick description of how this all works, if you have any questions feel free to read on…if you already know the drill you save your energy for the fun updates to comeJ   

We meet Reg at the harbor at 7am, load up the boat and head to one of the local beaches.  Michelle will then have to jump in off the boat, swim to shore and get back out of the water…completely.  A Channel Swimming (CSA) spotter will be on board with us to validate the swim, and once he feels she is completely out of the water he will sound a horn to signal the start of the swim.  Once that horn goes off, NO ONE can touch Michelle until she is on French soil with absolutely no water under her…literally.  If we happen to land on some rocky terrain she will have to climb over the rocks until there is no water seeping below.  Once the CSA spotter is convinced that has taken place, he will again sound the horn to signal a successful crossing. 

Once she lands on French soil she has 10 minutes to get back out to the boat.  If she is on French soil longer then 10 minutes she has committed a crime by crossing a border illegally.  But yes, we will all have our passports on the boat just in caseJ  Depending on the terrain of the landing, we may be able to send a dingy in to pick her up…but if not she has to swim back out to the boat prior to us all heading back to England.  Kind of a cruel trick don’t you think.  But just to be on the safe side, I do have my wetsuit packed and I can go in and pick her up if she literally isn’t able to make it back to the boat(no, I’m not foolish enough to swim in that cold water without my wetsuit!!)  

After we get her bundled up to begin the re-warming process, we will have about a 2 ½ – 3 hour ride back across the channel.  When all is said and done this will probably be about an 18-20 hour day. 

Again, thanks for all the positive energy everyone has been sending our way…please keep it coming until you get the word that she is successfully acrossJ

Jane rang, things continue to go well, she is swimming strongly and is curently 5 1/2 miles into the channel, just coming to the middle of the first shipping lane.

 On a side note, Jane has recorved from her bought of sea sickness, seems a shot of Tequila Works according to the captain

PS

OK So Michelle is doing 64-66 strokes a minute, still a lovely day and calm seas, keep those vibes coming.
For those posting Support at 1.30am US , Randy D well done that man! Its appreciated.

She is now about 3.5 miles out from the coast still going strong.

Apart from the girl of the moment, any spare vibes, can be sent to the crew. A certain young lady
no names mentioned [Cough]Jane[Cough] is suffering from a bought of sea sickness, she is however
ensuring that she visits the other side of the boat, just to make sure Michelle doesn’t see, Now that’s taking one for the team!.  Tom and Kathleen are fine and immensely proud of their daughter.

They are writing your messages and putting them on the board to show Michelle.

PS remember you can follow the track of the Viking princess at http://aisfree.aislive.com/ has a one hour delay.