Hi All

Finally made it 

Left from Samphire Hoe 28/6/2013 at 02:46:35

Got across in 13Hrs 52 min and 15seconds

 

Landing in France on the west end (Restaurant End) of Wissant beach 

 

 

14/6/13

I am swimming the Champion of Champions on Saturday in Dover Harbour

A 5 Mile swim followed by a 3 Mile swim followed by a 1 Mile swim

Then on Sunday I am swimming the 7th Tom Wheeler memorial 1066 swim in Hastings a 1.6Mile swim and 3.2Mile run  

Next weekend I am swimming the Seahorse swim in Dorset or doing a English Channel Relay

Its possible I could swim both on consecutive days as the date for the Channel is not fixed and we have to go when told by our Escort boat

All of the above is in aid of 2 Charities please sponsor one or the other or better still both  

Links below

They need your support

http://www.justgiving.com/1066SwimRun2013

http://www.justgiving.com/Pip-Barry  

Text PIPS99 using your phone followed by the amount to 70070. e.g. PIPS99 £5

Thanks Pip

Hi

 

See my latest news / diary at the bottom

 

You may think I am mad and you may even think that swimming the channel confirms this

But you would be wrong

In so doing and with your help I will be raising money for Aspire

They offer practical support to the 40,000 people living with a spinal cord injury in the UK

Helping them to lead fulfilled and independent lives in their homes, with their families, & at work places and during their leisure time.

In September 2012 I will be attempting an English Channel swim with a team of 5 other swimmers

So please dig deep into your pockets and donate what you can.

 

So that you get full value for your money I will be doing other mad things leading up to the swim

Loosing 3 stone in weight (not doing well so far)

I broke the ice and swam everyday at Tooting Bec Lido through the winter

No matter how cold or long in the water I will not be wearing a wetsuit 

I do not wear a hat (but will be forced to when swimming the channel)

 

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now!

By either by clicking the button on this page or TEXT PIPS99 followed by the amount to 70070. e.g. PIPS99 £10.

 

November News

26/11/11 Completed lido Crawl with 50 other South London Swimmers

Started 07:30 at Tooting bec 8.5 degrees full of enthusiasm 

Cycled to Serpentine everyone strips off in the open, no changing rooms for the modest gathering.

Quick couple of hundred meters, in a surprisingly clean 9 degrees, then a sneaky swim outside of the barriers.

Cycled to parliament hill lido for a cold swim in the famous metal pool, Temperature who knows? but it was not hot? Used the children’s slide and before anyone asks no I did not get stuck 

Walk across Hampstead Heath to the men only pond shocked the locals as out 40 odd ladies invaded their male only bastion.

I entered the water with a fantastic dive and would have scored a perfect 10  “on the Richter Scale” It was the worst Belly Flop I have ever done deliberate of course

 

December News

1/12/11

Today several people at Tooting Bec lido were threatening to swim either a mile or 2 miles

I intended attempting only a mile as I was sick yesterday

My wet suited often training partner Ian was already in, so I joined him from the opposite end of the pool he found it too cold and got out after 12 lengths (it’s the rubber that makes you cold you know).

Then a naked Nando (excepting trunks) and rubber suited Giles got in, they both completed a mile with me, at this stage I had completed 37 lengths or 3,700 yards & this put me over the 2 miles so I got out

At the same time Small Carl was already attempting his 2 miler and asked me “how far?”  according to his version of events I grinned and said 37. Not to be out done Carl then proceeded to complete 4,000 yards (well done Carl hats off to you, well you should swim without one anyway)

I was about to head off to work content with the fact that I may not have done 4000 yards but had completed 2 miles at just under 8 degrees (for clarity that’s a 7 then)  when the competitive south London bystanders Big Carl & Nando  twisted my arm and forced me to complete another 400yards This brought my total up to 4,100. I think they were trying to wind up small Carl

Foot note on the day only 5 yards of my swim really counts as cold water swimming this is because on entering the pool the 2 time I lost my trunks and was completely naked (do goggles mean was dressed?)

 

Swam a mile with broken teeth again, had teeth fixed straight after. I wonder if sharks get pain when they break teeth? No wonder they are angry  

 

Swam 1200m in 4 degrees

 

Sold sausages to raise money  

 

15/12/11

Early morning swim to clear Works Christmas party hangover

I think the regulars at Tooting Lido were worried about me

I must have looked worse than usual after 800yrds in 3 degrees

Thing is did I look rough due to cold water or cold beer

 

January News

Ode to a January Mile

Oh how we love our January miles the water is so cold it reduces your piles.

At first you get in with smiles and a grin and then the realisation that it’s F****ing cold sets in.

1 length, 2 lengths, 3 lengths, 4, fingers a tingling toes getting sore.

5 & 6 you are in the grove, you know others are watching you try and swim smooth.

7 & 8 there’s no going back your ego’s too great.

Now for 9 & 10 will you ever feel your fingers and toes again

11 & 12 euphoria is here, you’re happy and swell,

Now you’ve gone quite far but not enough it’s clear.

13 and 14 keep reminding you, it’s less than 5 degrees and you are, now questioning your sanity too.

15 and 16 seem to pass quickly by, you are even kidding yourself that you are beginning to fly.

17 is here you are really slowing up, you are now swallowing water like drinking from a bucket not a cup.

18 at last you know you are going to make it but this length the longest you are starting to snake it.

You get to the end ecstatic you’ve made it but it’s not quite the end, can you climb out your limbs begin to wobble and bend

You stagger across frost biting ground 

Now your body starts to tremor and shake will you ever make it to your towel the sauna some tea and cake

The Sauna here but it’s not over by half, will you collapse or shake apart?

Now you are worrying what have I done do I have frost bite my feet are numb?

Now sitting I can’t even feel my bum my body is red fires shoot through my fingers and thumb.

People start talking to you “you look rough how many did you do?”

You try to talk, but just dribble from your mouth you want to say something but just look down south

There are your toes screaming with pain will they ever be the same?

20 minutes have gone by but you’re still shaking wobbling, will you cry?

But now at last you can shout that was 18 lengths at 4.5 degrees and not out.

 

Swam everyday in the month even when iced over

 

 

February News

 

Swam a width under the ice (30 Yards)

 

Swam everyday in the month

 

Ode to a February Mile

Well You’ve had the Ode to January so thought I must follow up with Feb

A February Mile, A February Mile, It’s quite a feat it should make you smile.

The Tricky (Richard Tricker) thing is he beat me to it Although he tells me he wobbled and thought he over blew it.

Now there was I too sick to swim and could only be coaxed from my bed with cake.

So got in the water and set off at a rate longing for my reward of cake

It started fine, and was going well for all to see however there was Jason standing on the side looking cold as cold be

I passed him on my left, and then on the Right,

that’s when it hit me, a bit of fright,

How could I do this in the water so cold, when he is turning blue standing in the sun’s shinny gold?

I look at my watch and I’m 20 minutes in and still maintaining my speed to swim,

This is when I’m starting to think,

Trickys done mile so I must do 20 to maintain my style

I’m nearing the end and feeling great and remember how good to eat some cake

20 done now do I do more? I think not like Sergey Bubka you must leave room for yore

So I get out and see,

The Sunday presentations all complete People are now eating Cake and tea

Off to the Sauna with a swagger and sway

Stop and talk to Kate and Tricky on the way

Do I brag, of course not,

it’s just a quick mention’ and off i trot

I sit in the sauna sands of time ticking by

I’m ok now but the shakes are nearby

I’m offered the hot seat and take my place

a newcomer asks did i race?

He’s says

“I look cold, how far did you swim 1 or 2 lengths now that’s quite a thing?”

“20 I say”

He looked shocked and turned grey

The Shakes are with me now it’s been only 5 minutes and I wobble oh how

Time is against me I must get out,

 the cake is vanishing without shadow of a doubt.

I should stay in for a full half hr

But stomach overrides sensible brain power

Out I get and quick change is me

Then its rush for some cake and some tea

When I get there shock horror Cakes all gone

Oh February mile you done me a wrong

I won’t forget this February you see

I will treat the other months with 21 lengths or 22, or even 23

 

March News

Quiet month Swam everyday

 

However I hear of a successful channel attempt A Man with no arms or legs completed the crossing in record time

Swim Hats off to you clever Dick

 

April News

Swimming daily but unfortunately not swimming well, picked up a bug last month and I have been struggling

Also diet is going terrible putting on weight instead of losing weight  

29 I somehow managed to win the Sunday race those competing will know this was despite being heavily over handicapped

I also leant the following on how to win cups

In the fountain of knowledge which is closed for the foreseeable future (Lido Sauna) I was let in on a highly guarded secret

The trick to winning cups is....

No matter what your handicap is you start with people with a higher handicap...

Each week you look rubbish finishing behind those around you...

You moan and whinge& moan and whinge some more...

 Your handicap gets lowered each week...

Then one of the big races comes along...

You look to your right and see Cyril raring to go...

1!

2!

Your off but you should have gone on the B of bang

No matter Cyril is still standing there

3!

4!

5!

6!

Your half way across Cyril is twitching on his blocks

7!

8!

Cyril is away

8!

9!

Others are starting

You can see this you have reached the other side

Have no fear   

Your handicap is so low that a dolphin on performance enhancing drugs cannot make up the head start you have

Did you bother with a tumble turn

Not likely

Others are now streaming in

But you are on your home run (those of you that like to pick hairs your home swim)

Now for the sprinters kick

A kick from one leg should do

You glide in

Quick look left

No one there

Quick look right why are bothering no one was that side of you in the 1 place 

Look up see the bewildered faces of the time keepers

Remember you are supposed to have put some effort in

Start breathing heavily, be care full you don’t hyperventilate, remember you have not exerted yourself

Clime out explain to anyone foolish enough to believe you

That it was a closely fought race

You thought you had lost it

Your kick just saved you

Etc

Now sort your hair out put on any spray tan / Make up ready for the Prise winning photos

Pucker your lips you are about to receive a kiss from someone awarding the trophy

Big smile hold the cup aloft

Now for the speech

Thank your mum, dad, school , training partners, the Queen, next door neighbours cat,

And sincerely wish your competitors better luck next time (Not)

Lastly

Call in the builders your trophy cabinet will need extra support.

Please don’t all try this it simply won’t work with everyone starting on Zero