On February 26, 2011, I
witnessed something I have never seen before and chances are
I’ll not see it again. I went to Portsmouth NH to watch Gary
Sredzienski swim, the almost four miles, from Odiorne Point
(Rye, NH) to Whaleback Lighthouse (Kittery, ME) to
Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse (New Castle, NH) to the Kittery
Town Dock at Kittery Point ME. You will see events like this
on TV, read stories and see pictures of it in the
newspapers, but believe me, it is not the same as when you
witness something like this in person.
It was a beautiful sunny day
with calm seas and a slight but extremely cold breeze. About
1:20 p.m. Gary was escorted by Bob Trapani Jr. Executive
Director of the American Lighthouse Foundation (ALF) and
William Marshall from Friends of Portsmouth Harbor
Lighthouses (FPHL) to the water. After addressing the crowd
that gathered to cheer Gary on, he continued and entered the
frigid waters of the Piscataqua River to start his started
swim to Whaleback Lighthouse. The water temperature was
about 38 degrees F while the air temp was 27 degrees F. Gary
was accompanied by the NH Marine Patrol with FPHL Chairman
Ross Tracy on board, the U.S. Coast Guard and his support
boat with Jim Varn, the boat’s operator, along with crewmen
Kent Allyn and Jeremy D’Entremont, as well as Doctor Larry
Schlemann. It was low tide and the strong current forced him
off course forcing him to swim upstream, to Whaleback
Lighthouse. Arriving at Whaleback, Gary was good to his word
(he said he wanted to touch the tower if possible) leaving
the frigid waters climbing up the dangerous rocks
surrounding the lighthouse and touching it.
Now he was heading toward
Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse in NH and it seemed to me that
the breeze started to get stronger and colder making it
necessary for some of us to seek refuge in the lighthouse
itself. As Gary came closer, we left the cold comfort of the
tower walking over the slippery rocks that surround the
lighthouse, cheering Gary on while taking as many pictures
we could. Gary swam his way past the cheering kayakers and a couple of
small boats heading towards Kittery Town Dock at Kittery
Point, the finish line.
Our small convoy then hurried
to make the short but winding drive to the same point as
Gary, only to lose the unofficial race to him. As we arrived
at Captain & Patty’s at the town dock, Gary was alongside
his support boat donning his Creature from the Black Lagoon
mask, to be towed on a boogie board the last 25 or so yards,
giving everyone a good laugh.
Arriving at the boat ramp,
Gary was handed a small accordion as he walked up the boat
ramp into a waiting vehicle. He laid down in the back being
covered up with blankets by his some of his land support
team and drove away to rousing cheers and applause.
Many, if not all of Gary’s
supporters had reservations for the celebration party at
Captain & Patty’s restaurant (it was sold out). About an
hour had passed when Gary arrived to another rousing
applause and started to entertain us by playing his
accordion with his band the Surfs.
I have never seen or heard an
accordion being played like Gary played it. All types of
music were played by him and the Surfs. Believe me, they got
the place rocking. I don’t know how he did it but he played
for about 2 ½ hours taking very short breaks in between. He
left, I’m sure exhausted, but managed to wave thanking the
crowd for coming.
As I said, the day was
something to be witnessed. I’m glad I was part of it.
For a short video of Gary’s
amazing swim, please click on the following link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5y8QKqfSiM
The goal of this was to raise
$10,000 for the lighthouse preservation and education
mission of American Lighthouse Foundation and Friends of
Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouses. With your generosity ALF and
FPHL have raise $9,200. Thank you.
If you
wish to make a donation please or purchase a commemorative
T- shirt shown below, please click on:
http://www.portsmouthharborlighthouse.org/events.php?p=swimshirt
