Final Days Before The Swim

We have all spent the day site seeing in Gibraltar.

Gibraltar - Viewed From The Inner Harbour

The winds have abated a little and the seas have appeared to calm, but after our briefing this afternoon with Rafael (the swim organiser) this is not the case in the middle of the Gibraltar Strait.

Rafael Giving An Overview Of The Swim



A Vantage Point Overlooking the Straits To Morocco







During our briefing we were advised that there is a 4 - 6 knot current sweeping into to the Atlantic. Thursday, 16th September, is the earliest, with the possability of the swim being moved to Friday, 17th September being the optimum day to do the swim.

As a result this means another day in Tarifa, drinking Mojitos (for some)!!!!

Donations - Melanoma Institute of Australia

We would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone for their kind donations to the Melanoma Institute of Australia, where we have currently raised $13,919.00. This is certainly a charity which is well worthwhile, so we thank you for your generosity. You can see your donations at http://www.everydayhero.com.au/hero_pages/view_posts/gibraltar_strait_swimmers.

Good Luck!!

Good Luck Dunc.
There are quite a few of us wishing you the best.
John Newcomb

Wishing you all the best

Hi everyone,
Just a short note to let you know that I am thinking of you all and wish you the very best for a safe and enjoyable trip and a successful crossing.
Take care,
John Newcomb

Cordoba & Seville

Cordoba is a town of approximately 17,000 people, with some of the narrowest streets and alley ways, which for an Australian attempting to drive was near impossible requiring mirrors to be folded against the car and guidance by the rest of the team.

We stayed in a quaint hotel opposite the Cathedral, which was a combination of Islamic, Christian and Jewish faith, originating in Muslim construction in the year 785 AD.

Staying in the centre of the oldedst part of the town allowed easy access to all of the most fantastic highlights which one would certainly want to see.

On departing for Seville, we took in two small walled villages, which were in typical Moorish style of architecture.

We arrived late afternoon in Seville, to tempratures in the high 30's and decided that walking was out of the question so we again attempted the "Jump On, Jump Off" site seeing bus. After discovering parts of the city we took in the El Toro Stadium, which is one of the active bull fighting arena's in Spain.

Today we have been on a river cruise where we viewed some of the worst architecture not in keeping with some of the beautiful sites already seen in Spain. This was building left over from the 1992 World Expo, which has now been abandonded.

Tomorrow we leave for Tarifa, to join the Team.

Sam the Slipper

Not quite sure how this could have happened but Sam the Slipper has broken through the BBC Gibraltar Swim Blog Fire Wall.

If anyone knows how Sam may have gained access to the BBC Blog Site, it may assist in understanding how we can protect the username and password against any future infiltration!

Sam the Slipper - The Bronx, New York City

Hi there guys and dolls. I am most grateful to the French Aristo for tipping me off about this piece of action in Gibraltar. Talk about easy money! The Ironman is attracting a lot of interest on account of his great training program in Sydney. But the public don't know he is distracted by some committee rumble, so I am avoiding him. What is it with you guys and committees? I am only just getting over the Fortitude Plate committee. Now the Ironman has hired my collecting guys to rustle up some proxies. The foist time we collect such things, but it seems the same as calling in markers.

I am also not touching Creme Caramel and Creme Catalana. They are favourites with the Las Vegas and Chicago bookmakers, but I happen to know the Cremes are distracted by this committee thing too. Asked them if I could take care of a couple of candidates, but it seems they prefer to do it by the book.

The public is greatly confused by this Superglue dude. Great record, and way out there in the odds, but the public are thinking he will come unstuck with all those cervezas. I had a word to his trainer. Seems that Superglue needs these cervezas to avoid setting too early. Too risky for a flutter.

The Spiderwoman is carrying some very good form from the Plate, and is timing her arrival perfectly. But Big Fish had a whisper to me. Seems she is susceptible to some Spanish Fly, so I am avoiding her too. I am laying some scratch on Swampy and Jack Flash. Some protection for my big wager. Swampy is the master of tapas and will be in total command as the field works its way through the trials. And Jack Flash the steadier has the best sea legs in the business.

But in the end, it all comes down to the X Factor. This kid is a fantastic athlete, but has been fooling handicappers and the public for too long. Stevie Baby tells me he is up for a big one. He looks the goods. I am calling in all my markers to lay a motser on the X Factor. Forget the committees, the tapas and the cervezas. X Factor is the thing.