Horcules o the harbor

Amazing food… chicken strips didn’t even last long enough for a photo! Great music and atmosphere 👏

Comic Strip Presents....TwoBeardedTits swoop through Yorkshire 😜

Rather pleasant day on tour with swim wife Nick James

First stop in Osmotherley - a beaut of a spot for freshwater paddling. Watched the greylag geese family put the nosebags on before taking the waters - a great stretch of water in equally amazing surroundings. The plastic Yorkshireman finally began his swim rehab today - the usual comedy shakin’ Stevens show afterwards 😂

Post dip, headed into Northallerton for bait and and to bag this season’s wardrobe essential, the tweed flat cap...

Gourmet pies & sweet treats from washed down with coffees & affagato . Shout out to Emma & Abigail for the fab service - if yer ever in these parts, head here for a brewski, you’ll not regret it!

Last stop Yarm for an scoop in the sun - IPA & Ginger Ale shandy - UNREAL!

Days like this are gourmet sosig rolls for the soul!

Nor, it’s not a photie of me Sunday Dinner, it’s a sneak peek of....

THE WORLDS GREATEST CAKE, JAM AND BAKE EVENT!

The wonderful folks of are opening their doors to host their inaugural pop-up event NEXT SATURDAY 1ST MAY 10-2 in their new premises;

Alberts Place, 138 Hight St West. Sunlun SR1 1RD (100m down from Nando’s)

Get yersel’ along to see the kitchen takeaway, meet this amazing team and bag a delicious treat; cupcakes, brownies, pies, scones, cheesecakes, home made Jams. Everything on sale will be made by the amazing team at SCSK.

************************ IMPORTANTLY ********************************* Every penny will go towards keeping this free food service going for those less fortunate in our own city

If you’ve already hit plans, fear not, just drop them a message and they can take orders for collection

Car parking opposite @ Sunderland High Street

(WARNING - for those missing the Y4WN gene, following update may induce sudden and unexpected narcholepsy..... 😴)—————————————————-
“217 is the magic number” - De La Soul, 1989

1,392m paddled today - Just need to go 217 more metres to nail April’s goal of a full mile skinswim - will be super chuffed as it’s still well nippy, as some of you hardy paddlers can attest to.

If I don’t nail the magic 1610m by Friday, I’ve said I’ll MOONWALK from Sue’s caf to Grannie Annies ‘n back in just me swim duds n flip flops ...so through the power of Positive Collective Consciousness, lets ensure no-one has to suffer that horrific vision while out for their morning constitutional.

Also owa the knot swim pace is slowly heading South - knocked 18 secs off since start of month

May goal - 2mile Swim (prep for ) +

Amazing coffee from a little pod in Amble 👏 👏

Day ...Blah Blah Blah

Not sure if I’ve turned into a soft shandy suppin’ lightweight but F**K ME, that watta is caaard, to point only been lasting 15-20 mins recently.

So tonight, shut laptop, pulled on me big boy pants, jumped back on the (sea)horse and wasn’t leaving until had a K on the hickory dickory.

After catching shaky waded in to harbour to be met by wor Jo arms n legs akimbo doing her now world famous impression of a floatin’ starfish - 30 mins in the drink, deep-red North Sea tan and the Gatesheed Wim Hof is chattin’ away after like she’s just had a warm bath - different level!

Not the case for me, twitched violently for whole drive home before setting shower to ‘scald’ - we go again mañana!!

Only popped out for an afternoon paddle and look what I came back with...

First time I can recall we’ve had the whole Saturday Swim Squad present and correct for a Sarruda’ Shwim ( the two late arrivals WILL be doing detention all week) - all ten beauties took to the surf for an Armada-like raid on Cat n Dogs before heading back to pier and before circling back to Grannie’s mothership - one nautical mile on the hickory dickory for the neoprene narwhals.

Water is still just a tad cold for a distance swim but hoping next few weeks to break me skins-mile duck! Weirdly, thing I loved most about this dip was swimming with no watch on...no consideration for distance or the time I’ve been in, just merrily scootching along with the other paddlers gliding alongside, judging time only by how high me town halls have climbed upwards for warmth!!

A gorgeous personalised pic was waiting for me on dry land courtesy of Billy the Fish and The Boss - a lovely gesture from two equally lovely peeps!!

DAY 💯 / 💯 🎉🎊🎉🎊🎉🎊
Raising funds for Sunderland Community Soup Kitchen
£££ raised - £12,744.00

And that folks, is a wrap!

Fitting Sunrise finale yesterday in the harbour and the Sea Gods were in good fettle providing THE perfect flat, glassy water - a”small” gathering came together to celebrate the paddle both in and out of the water - an awesome morning shared with even ‘awesomer’ people!

Lots of folk have contributed to getting to day 💯 for which I am hugely grateful 🙏 to one and all

There are however a specific group of 🌟‘s who merit special recognition - The 💯 Support Squad - these amazing, selfless legends have walked & swam alongside me every metre of the challenge “enjoying” some of the most miserable, cold, bone chilling Winter Swims ever

So in no particular order....

🙌 Mrs 💯 my beautiful wife Donna Arkley
🙌Joanne Underwood
🙌Marie Donnelly
🙌Bill Ginn
🙌Paula Ginn
🙌Dawn ‘Mullieri’
🙌Nick Matthews
🙌Alice Roberts
🙌Bob Langley
🙌Garath Archer
🙌Sean Cope
🙌Chris Lindsay
🙌Andrea Bell & the Soup Kitchen Collective
🙌Sue Parkin Team

Thank you and goodnight!