Christopher Swain Checks In While On Cape Ann During His Canada-Washington DC Swim

Hi,
I am swimming the coast between Maine/Canada border and Washington D.C. working on Cape Ann right now…
Got your name from Bob at Dogtown Books.
C
Christopher Swain

You can view the field reports from my swim here:
http://www.changents.com/christopherswain.

From the site-

Swim For A Healthy World

 

Some of my earliest childhood memories are of swimming in the Atlantic Ocean. As a kid, I loved to wade, snorkel, bodyboard and run in the waves. Now, I swim the entire length of dirty waterways like the Hudson, the Charles,and the Columbia Rivers, in order to put the problems facing our water planet squarely in the public eye.

In the process, I have survived collisions with boats, 12-foot waves, lightning storms, class IV+ rapids, giant storage dams, industrial chemicals, nuclear waste, oil slicks, raw sewage, toxic blue-green algae, and repeated Sea Lamprey Eel attacks.

Swimming in the Columbia River 
Near the Port of Vancouver, WA

Stories about my environmental adventures reached a worldwide media audience of more than two billion people, but the bulletins I sent back from the big wet world weren’t always uplifting: high levels of CO2 were acidifying the oceans, manmade toxics were spewing into rivers, and fisheries were collapsing as factory ships scoured the seas.

When I was a boy, this was business as usual, but now there is a worldwide scientific consensus that we need to change our ways before our planet becomes a place where we can no longer live.
My 1,500 mile swim from Maine to Washington, DC, isn’t just designed to raise awareness of the challenges facing the ocean, but to sample the water at over 5,000 locations along my route to measure and map the effects of pollution and Climate Change, and to challenge over 50,000 schoolchildren to launch projects designed to improve the health of our ocean planet.

As usual, it is not easy. I have to deal with frigid water temperatures, nasty currents, severe storms, and dangerous fish. But if I want my daughters to inherit a healthy world, this is the least I can do.
When the effort ends, I hope it will have benefitted more than just my children. I hope there will be tens of thousands of kids leaning on their parents, teachers and caregivers to protect our ocean planet.

Blackburn Challenge 2010 Slide Show

Blackburn Challenge 2010
Click Photo for Slide Show
click photo for slide show

http://www.FrontieroGallery.com

Go See- ANNIE, opening August 10 and running through August 15th

Hi Joey :

Jane Deering here, for the Annisquam Village Players.   Our summer musical this year is ANNIE, opening August 10 and running through August 15th.    Could you list the info below all the what/where/when/how.    Thanks, Joey!

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What :   Annisquam Village Players presents the musical ANNIE

When :  August 10 through August 15, 2010

    Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday performances at 7:30pm

    Friday, Saturday & Sunday performances at 8:00pm

Where :  Annisquam Village Hall

     34 Leonard Street, off of Route 127 North

     Annisquam, MA 01930

Ticket prices :  $15 General Admission

              $30 Reserved Seating, ordered only online at www.annisquamvillageplayers.org

General Admission tickets can be purchased at :

The Bookstore of Gloucester, 61 Main Street, Gloucester MA 978-281-1548

The Annisquam Exchange, 38 Leonard Street, Annisquam MA 978-281-0358

Lula’s Pantry, 79 Main Street, Rockport 978-546-0010

Sea Fair in Annisquam Village only on Saturday July 31st

and online at http://www.annisquamvillageplayers.org

The Annisquam Village Hall is air-conditioned and handicap accessible.

Refreshments available at intermission.

The Captain Novello

I took a little liberty with the editing to make it look like an old postcard. Didn’t add those seagulls in but to me they look too perfect and I wouldn’t blame someone for thinking that I did.  Love the way it came out.

click for the larger version-

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363 Days to the Blackburn Challenge 2011

Yesterday was a nice day to go for a paddle. Down the Annisquam with over 250 other boats was amazing. These people were serious. The high performance kayaks blow by then those six man outriggers, hut!, Hut! Felt great past Andrews point and wife and daughter can’t hail me because I am ahead of my schedule and off into Sandy Bay when they spot me.

Then I started hitting the wall. Sandy Bay seemed to take a bit of time and the finger and toe muscles started getting all twitchy. Gap Cove, Whale Cove, Folly Cove and out into the chop. By this time the west wind had kicked up and in a kayak it seemed like a washing machine with the echoes of waves crossing the predominate swell. Milk Island on my left would not go away. Paddle paddle paddle, look over and I can still see the damn gulls sitting on their eggs. Am I stuck on a lobster pot? Nope, I’ve blown a seal. Have you ever been to the Boston Marathon around Heartbreak Hill and watched someone crash and burn? They look like they are moving right along but then go all twitchy, bounce around trying to get rid of a muscle spasm and end up splayed out on someone’s front lawn? That would be me off Cape Hedge but there was no lawn to flail around on.

Ellen Degeneres in “Finding Nemo” kept playing in my head, “just keep swimming, just keep swimming”. Turn the corner at the end of the breakwater I felt like I spent a day getting down Gloucester Harbor. The frozen pea plant refused to get bigger. From Good Harbor to Gloucester Harbor I passed three boats which I think each one bailed once I blew their doors off. DNFs. I did finish, the lovely ladies on the committee boat cheered me on and I could still paddle on to Pavillion Beach. Getting out of the boat was another story but by the time I got to the beer keg there was plenty left and a yummy pork sandwich to boot.

363 days until Blackburn 2011. Both my boat and the occupant are going to upgrade by losing a few pounds. And I might get out there more than once and kayak some distance. I made it in a tad less than 5 and 1/2 hours. I can beat that.

I thought I would wake up this morning and not be able to move. But I actually feel great except for the very tops of my thighs that got royally sunburned. One place I forgot to spray sunblock. Went down to Andrews Point and took a few casts at sunrise but nothing happening. Sandy Bay looked different though as I could connect it up to the shoreline of Cape Ann from Annisquam all the way around to Gloucester Harbor.

Paul Morrison Eaten By A Shark Photoshop Contest Poll

It’s rather unfortunate that Paul didn’t get eaten by a Great White as that would have made some great Blog material and I’m sure our viewership would have greatly increased.  But I guess the sharks weren’t all about eating the monkeybread lined intestines as I thought they would have been.

Vote for your fave in the poll below.

Beth Swan’s entry-

Paul, a Kitten, and a Shark

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Our Chum Paul Sent In By Jim Hughs

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Old Hippie’s Submission-

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My Submission- Oh Shit!

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Triple Pincher Clawed Lobster Landed At Captain Joe’s Video

I’ve seen double pincher clawed lobsters, I’ve seen triple and quadruple clawed crabs, albino lobsters, half blue lobsters, all blue lobsters, yellow lobsters, speckled lobsters, you name it but never one with a claw like this.

For more of the mutant sea creatures I’ve documented at our dock click the link-

mutant sea creatures landed at Captain Joe’s

Laurie Lufkin Dinner Service Auction At The Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce Video

This is a video showing Laurie’s Donation of Dinner Service Being Bid On At The Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce Auction Last Night

Laurie’s Dinner service actually auctioned off for more than the appraised value.  Check out the clip showing how high the bidding went.

No pressure Laurie but you better deliver now that they bid over the appraised value. 🙂

That Laurie Lufkin brings the big bucks!

The Fabulous Deb Clarke and Friends Enjoy Some Shade On Rocky Neck

pic from the Rabbit

check out Deb Clarke’s posts here on GMG By Clicking This Text

shade at rocky neck, originally uploaded by bmanpitt.

More Sea Creature Oddities At The Dock- Triple Pincher Lobster

Video Coming Tomorrow

Add this to the list of lobster freaks I’ve never seen.

Here’s the video-

click the pics for full sized versions

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The Next George’s By Night Event Scheduled For Saturday July 31st

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Dean Salah writes in-

Our next nighttime event is Sat. July 31st. Tickets on sale at Georges starting Sat.July 17th
$25 per person/advance sales only. This is a BYOB event featuring a full course Hawaiin Chicken
Dinner and the music of Michael Zaitchik. Mike is quite a talented musician and we are very fortunate
to be able to host a night with him. Mike has toured professionally with the James Cotton Band as well
as his own Zaitchik Brothers Band. Mike has settled down here on the North Shore and is ready to spread
his talents around the area. This promises to be a great evening of food,music and fun so get your friends
together and reserve a table  or come and meet some new friends. As always tickets are limited so don’t miss out!!
                           See you soon,  Dean

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Introduction to Bookkeeping & Accounting Classes At CABI

Hello Joey,

Desmond & Associates Accounting in conjunction with the Cape Ann Business Incubator is hosting another class in their series of financial management courses.

This is the Introduction to Bookkeeping & Accounting. It covers the basics of journal entries to creating an income statement and balance sheet. It is a must for any entrepreneur who wishes to get a better understanding of accounting.

Date / Time : The class is on Wednesday July 21 from 11:30 am to 1:pm. .
Location: 33 Commercial st 3rd floor side – CABI office.

Please call to register

978 282 7779  x101

Mr. Morrison’s BIG Adventure

I caught Paul at the Staging area for the Blackburn Challenge earlier today. He gave me a quick Geology Lesson and his stratergy for finishing the Race. Did you know there are Salt Dikes here on Cape Ann? Neither did I. I’ll have to do some Research. Paul is prepared for everything. He’s got his compass attached to the Bow so he does’nt end up In Portsmouth. His Iphone with his Family monitoring his position so he does’nt stray to the nearest Martini Bar and plenty of energy bars and Bananas.

The most important thing I learned was how to fill your Kayak up with water, PEE, Then pump the waste water out. That will also help keep The Great White Sharks Away.

 Goodluck Paul! See you at the Finish Line.

Paul at the Staging area Representing GMG
Paul was sweating out last nights Martinis before the Race began
Annisquam River Starting Line

July 15,2010 Seafood Throwdown At Cape Ann Farmer’s Market Pics By David Cox

Click Here For The Slide Show Including ALL The Pics

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Vaughan and Ann Hawley Gallery Interview

Vaughan and Ann Hawley Open Their  New Fine art Photographic print Gallery In Gloucester’s Beautiful West End

Visit Vaughan and Ann at 48 Main St Gloucester MA, 01930

also their website www.hawleygallery.com