UK Swimmers prep for Rottnest!

11th Feb 2010. W. A - Perth. (Distance 8miles/4Hrs) - BIG NEWS -

04:30 - Alarm, wash, porridge, drive in ute to Fremantle.
05:45 - Drop off, first stash of food at the 4mile(6.4km) marker.
06:10 - Drop off, second food stash at 6mile (9.6km) marker.
06:30 - Drive to start.
06:45 - Kind random stranger rubs zinc sun block onto my back.
07:00 - Start four hour swim.

"Left the house, a dull and murky day outside.....my mate Bobby just happened to mention, a few days ago, that shark particularly like to feast on humans at dawn and dusk.....AND, ON DULL AND MURKY DAYS!!  Bobby also warned me that getting a grip of the gears on his ute (truck) might not be easy at first......he didn't mention it'd be blocked it in with Lotta's car!!....hand brake off and a push sorted it, Bobby and Lotta blissfully unaware, sleep sweetly on.

Last night I planned the route I'd be taking for this two thirds, Rottnest practice swim; eight miles, to be swum over four hours, with two collection points for my liquid food, at the two and three hour markers (laid in advance).
Sweet lady at the start of my swim applied the sun block to my back, both agreed a tad unusual a request from one stranger to another! Hid my bag under a bush and slipped into the clear blue, warm water, as planned promptly at seven - with Bobby's, and about 90% of the good people of Fremantles views on shark, never too far from my mind, I headed off on my course - North to the mouth of Fremantles 'Success Harbor' (northern tip of 'South beach) - four miles from the start.
Time moves slowly when you start a long swim, the mind is full to the brim with stimuli, gathered from the very moment one wakes; the swimmer must find comfort and normality at this slower pace for both mind and body.
First break from the gathering rhythm......multiple hyper sensitivity to my chest, nipples, backs of my arms....like nettle rash, stinging all over - just swum through a shoal of tiny transparent jelly fish! I spot a Sting Ray as it shrugs off it's invisibility cloak of sand and swims away into the deeper murk......stroke follows stroke, follows stroke, follows stroke..... time passes, thoughts of shark; mind reminds me to keep an eye out for jellys (((((! swerve to avoid one )))))) two......more!!!!! Have to STOP....... hearts racing, right side caught a tentacle, it burns.....I swim around, to avoid yet more.
The water's more choppy here, murkier, deeper, darker, big clumps of sea weed, is this from where the shark will pounce?!!! Stroke.....more strokes....many more strokes.....the body's ok, holding up, no pain.
First food drop at the four mile mark, bang on two hours; as I tread water a guy kindly clambers the rock, brings my bottle of red fluid down, that will help me keep going, I drink it, talk about the jellys and head back from whence I came.
Good pace, happy with this swim, it's comfortable, I worry about more stingers, I forget about shark, I pick up my final feed at the six mile marker (placed at a point with natural markings, easily identifiable - three hours earlier). I spot shoals of tiny fish, they scurry away.

As always the last half an hour drags, I step onto sand, stretch my arms up high, I'm standing tall, proud and happy with what I've achieved.......what a buzz!!!"