So a big congrats to my (and everyone’s) buddies… Lynn and Stacey! They made it across the Northumberland Strait! They swam a couple of the fastest times (in wetsuits), getting across the 12.7 km Strait in about 4:45 and 5:00, respectively. Unfortunately the third member of the group, Melanie Price, wasn’t able to swim with them… she, Bill and the kids had major car issues on the drive out to the Maritime and only got there about when Lynn and Stacey were about to go! Tough break Mel… maybe I’ll join you when you go back and try it again!
Great work battling the tides, chop, current, jellyfish and images of sharks with human teeth (see pics below!)!
Below is Lynn’s story… and below that is Stacey’s story…
Cheers,
Rob
LYNN’s story…
Stacey Van Wart and myself, Lynn Rodgers, completed our swim that we have been training for for months. We crossed the Northumberland Strait, from New Brunswick to Prince Edward Island. We did it to raise awareness for diabetes.Stacey has diabetes and I am in complete awe of her ability to manage this condition, complete the incredible athletic endeavors she sets her sights on, be a mom to three fantastic kids, and be a supportive an amazing friend. I’m so lucky to know this woman.
The swim was not easy, and we both had a different experience. Here is mine.
We met Captain John and Captain Chris early Friday August 16 at their homes in Cape Tormentine, NB. After a quick briefing, we suited up and headed to the boat launch which happens to be the former site of the ferry to the island. Captain Chris used to operate the ferry between NB and PEI until “someone built a bridge.” He then retrained as a paramedic. Stacey and I felt that we were in good hands.
It was chilly in the morning so Stacey and I were doing jumping jacks on the boat launch trying to keep warm. Stacey’s dad, Paul and her husband, Steve, would travel across on the boat.
Captain Chris loaded all of us in his jolly little fishing boat (I’m spoiled after cruising on the Exhale catamaran for Madhu’s Lake O crossing) at around 6:50 am and headed to the base of the bridge. We were informed that the water temp was 68. For most open water swimmers, that temp is not a problem, but when I heard that, my stomach did a little flip… which would be the first of many. But Stacey wins for stomach upset. More on that later.
We were dropped off on the east side of the Confederation Bridge in New Brunswick and we needed to take advantage of the tides. Meaning we had to start swimming immediately! Unfortunately, that is where we ran into our first glitch… none of the kayaks were ready to go. There were 3 kayaks that had to be lifted over a highway guardrail, and lowered down a drop off to the beach… all over giant boulders with no discernible path.
The mosquitoes were bad and the clock was ticking. So as the saying goes, time nor tide waits for no Woman – off we went without kayak support, and with the vague yet obvious instruction to “follow the bridge!” from the boat captain.
Stacey and I set out at about 7:05 am. The waves were crashing around us but the water felt warm. The start was hairy for sure. High waves and a strong current pushing us west. Murky water and imposing bridge pillars to our left. We stuck together with the fishing boat to our right and all the kayaks and kayakers, my husband Kevin, my niece Annelies and her boyfriend Stijn from Belgium and Stacey’s sister, Carrie… on the BEACH. Sigh. There went our feeding and navigation plan out the window from the get go.
We managed to stay together for the first hour, fighting the current and waves and keeping to the right of the bridge pillars. After almost being dashed against a large boulder at the base of a pillar, I finally yelled to the boat captain, do we need to stay on this side? To which he replied, “You really have no control over that.”
All righty then.
So Stacey and I let the current sweep us to the other side of the pillars with still no kayaks in sight. And that is about the same point where we got separated. The fishing boat was now out of sight for me and if I wasn’t so busy trying to sight the bridge and not take in any more salt water, I might have started freaking out.
When Kevin, Stijn and Annelies appeared I was so relieved. Kevin said that they had quite a struggle trying to catch up to us. I was desperately thirsty, and drank a bunch of water before having a gel. It was very difficult to stay put for the kayak and myself, so very little chit chat and off we went. Since the initial navigation plan (boat leading – kayakers sight boat – swimmers sight kayaks) was history, my new navigation plan was to sight the bridge. Which is a good plan if there are no currents. I basically swam at a 45 degree angle towards PEI for the remainder of the swim.
About this time the fishing boat sped up to us and the captain gave us a thumbs up. I asked him if I needed to stay with the bridge, and he said, “Forget the bridge, swim for the island!”
I cannot tell a lie. Our response was, “What #€%£ing island?” But they didn’t hear that and the boat sped off west, where Stacey was swimming. We were so far apart across the strait, we couldn’t even see each others’ kayaks.
My neck and shoulders were really starting to ache at this point, so I asked Kevin to take over navigating and I could just keep to his right. He saw a barn roof in the distance and we stuck to that destination point, still keeping fairly close to the bridge. I was starting to also feel very cold and the shivering started. I found out later that Stacey also started shivering at this point in the swim as well, but she thought she was shivering from lack of nutrition since she had started vomiting after the first hour of the swim. Yes. She had some good, old-fashioned sea-sickness to contend with on top of everything else!! She continued to throw up for the entire duration of the swim. I personally do not think I could have completed the swim if I had to throw up for four hours straight, while attempting this crossing.
Finally, the shore came into view, the water warmed and the tides started to come in. It was still tough, but I reached the island, just to the west of the bridge at around 11:50 am. Stacey landed on the east side of the bridge, about 15 minutes later.
I guess if it was easy, everybody would be doing it.
STACEY’s story…
I wanted to just wanted to add my perspective to Lynn’s story.
This swim was a huge learning experience and provided me with many memorable moments. The adventure began when Lynn and her family arrived at my parents cottage Monday evening. It was comforting know that I would be able to share my uneasiness about the swim with someone who was feeling a similar way. It was also a lot of fun to have three families together preparing for one goal. To have some fun.
The morning of the swim there was a wind blowing which I was hoping would go away but it never really did. We all piled into Kevin’s van and began our approach to the bridge. There was some small chatter amongst ourselves but as soon as we began crossing the bridge, heading towards the start of our swim, there was silence until Annelies said “this is a long drive over the bridge”. Everyone was quickly to hushed her but she just said was everyone was thing.
We met our captain and realized we were in good hands because he was very familiar with the water, had medical training and had a good understanding of diabetes because he and his two sons are type 1 diabetics.
We boarded the fishing boat and headed towards our swim start. As we moved closer to the starting point my nerves continue to increase but Lynn continually reassured me that we were only going for a nice long training swim helped me keep it under control.
Once we were at the starting point of our swim and realized the kayakers needed more time, I so realized we may hit some rough patches a long the way. I underestimated how rough that would be. Lynn and i decided we would start and stay close together and near the bridge until our supports arrived. tar e began our swim and struggled to stay close to the bridge and together. It was much harder to do this then I expected. It was like swimming in a washing machine. Eventually I gave up and allowed the tide to push me under and away from the bridge. By this time my sister, Carrie, had arrived a bit flustered but was happy we were finally together. The waves were big and the current was strong which made it challenging for me to test my blood sugars and keep any of my feeds down. After my first feed that nausea began and never left until I set my foot down on the other side of the bridge. Because we had vague navigation instructions, my sister took it upon herself to choose a bearing to follow. Luckily it worked out well. We swam in somewhat of an arc formation which helped us use the tides to our advantage. The waves were relentless and so was the sea sickness. My nutrition consisted of diet ginger ale, ginger chews and ginger gravel. And even that would not stay down. I persevered and kept going. I figured if others can do this so can I.
Being directionally challenged i was terrified to ask if we were 1/2 way yet. Instead I asked if i was going to have enough before time to get to the half way mark before the tide change. That was essential if I was going to be successful in this swim to a easier swim. My sister happily said we were about 300m past the 1/2 way mark. I was relieved to know i made it in good time and concerned if my nausea was going to prevent me from completing the swim. At that time I began to shiver and not sure it is was because i was cold or because I had been so sick. I was happy to know it was due to the cold according to Lynn. It was also at that moment the waters were calm. Carrie said this was our “slack” water which meant the water was still before the tide would shift. I had relief for 15 mins. no waves. Yeh. But they came back in full force and so did the nausea.
As we went along i noticed that the bridge was getting bigger and I could see some land. I knew I was getting close but to afraid to ask how close. On one of my stops Carrie said that my pump was not longer working. It deactivated. Normally i would panic and figure out a plan. Not this time I was to sick to even care.
Finally I could see some rocks and a beach where I could land. It didn’t matter it was on the wrong side of the bridge. All I cared about was putting my feet down in the sand and stop the sea sickness. Eventually I saw the last pillar of the bridge and asked if Carrie if I could touch. Carrie kindly said “not yet sweetheart you are almost there”. I took about 50 more strokes, saw the bottom and put my feet on the mushy sand. I stood up and celebrated that i no longer felt the need to be sick.
It was definitely not an easy swim. It reminded my of all things that can go wrong and right during an open water swim. Without the support of Lynn, Carrie and the rest of our family it would not have been possible.
