Success!

They made it! Grit, determination, good humor and the ability to sit for long hours in wet bathing suits combined to produce a successful adventure. As for making it by sunset, they confessed to using a definition of "nautical twilight." What an achievement!

Time to relax and celebrate.

The trashed back of the van where the struggles of the day are still evident.

Racing the Setting Sun

Massachusetts and New Hampshire, accomplished!
Can they make it to Maine before darkness falls????
Go, go, go, fearless Aquanuts!

Sherwood Island, CT

OK, 5 before 5pm is pretty darn great, but. . .

Lots of I-95 traffic between Rye and Westport. Good team navigating the Merritt Parkway. Losing time now, but keeping the shiny side up.

The New York Swim

They paid to park at Playland only to find the beach was closed! Then it was a quick zip up the street to Oakland where they paid to park and then paid $9 EACH to get in the water!
Let's hope this is the only glitch of the day.
A pricey bracelet:

After the swim at Rye.

Gloucester Girl

http://goodmorninggloucester.wordpress.com/2014/06/25/aquanuts-are-at-it-afaik/

Check out a post about the Aquanuts on the Good Morning Gloucester blog.

New Jersey!

Beach three in New Jersey, right on schedule.
New suits, new state, new beach, same smiles:

On the ferry

Sometime around 10am. Light swell, sunshine, dolphins:

The day begins!

It's 7:17 for this guest blogger, but the Aquanuts have already achieved two of their goals and are in transit to the next.

The sun rose on this beautiful day for swimming.

Swims in Maryland and Delaware were accomplished in the early morning light. (Hey, guys, you look great!):

And there was even time for some PC smiles before jumping in the van to head out to the Lewes Ferry:

Rare sighting of gorgeous mermaid

Is this a valiant Aquanut disguised as a mermaid--or vice versa?

And they're off!

The six Aquanuts pose by their trusty vehicle prior to the 10am departure for Maryland where they will sleep soundly tonight and swim their way up the coast to Maine tomorrow.

Eight The Hard Way - Official Merchandising Images

Hey Folks!

Unlike my usual obsession with intellectual property rights, the images below, commemorating the 2014 Aquanut adventure can be downloaded and used freely. 

Make a t-shirt, an apron, a temporary tattoo! Share them with friends!

Don't forget to follow the live updates beginning at 8 a.m. EDT on Wednesday June 25.

(All artwork by my long-suffering and ever more beautiful wife Nan.)

Eight the Hard Way

The Aquanuts return in 2014! We will pre-position the night of June 24 and set off at the crack of dawn. We don't think anyone has ever done this. Glad to hear from anyone who has!

 Eight the Hard Way

Proposed Itinerary

Wednesday June 25, 2014

Sunrise at Fenwick Island, DE – 5:37 a.m.

Swim Ocean City MD  - 6 a.m.

Swim Fenwick Island DE – 6:15 a.m.

Depart Fenwick Island – 7:30 a.m.

Arrive Lewes DE– 8:15 a.m.

Depart Lewes by Ferry – 8:45 a.m. (ETD)

Arrive Cape May – 10:10 a.m. (ETA)

Swim Cape May NJ – 10:45 a.m.

Depart Cape May – 11:00 a.m

Arrive Rye, NY – 2:30 p.m.

Swim Rye

Depart Rye – 3 p.m.

Arrive Sherwood Island, CT - 3:45 p.m.

Swim Sherwood Island

Depart Sherwood Island – 4:00 p.m.

Arrive Salisbury, MA – 7:00 p.m.

Swim Salisbury, MA - 7:05 p.m.

Swim Seabrook, NH – 7:10 p.m.

Depart Seabrook – 7:15 p.m.

Arrive York, ME – 8:00 p.m.

Swim Short Sands Beach, York ME

Sundown 8:26 p.m.