We did it! Some may question the sanity of jumping into a very cold lake in 10-degree weather, but it was a great experience. I just liked the adrenaline rush, while Aimee has now firmly established her credentials as cold-hardy – no one can give her grief about being from California any more.
Aimee made it onto the CBS 58 newscast – check out the full video at www.cbs58.com/index.php?aid=5806.
We started fortifying ourselves around 10 with some Kahlua and coffee (Aimee) and cava (me) and got to Bradford Beach around 11:30. It was crazy crowded, with lots of tents, informal camps, and an equal mix of spectators and participants. Lots of fun costumes and general revelry. Damn was it cold, though! About 20 degrees, but with wind chill about 10. Water was about 30, with lots of floating ice.
(Photo at right is of us pre-plunge)
A couple of shots of Kentucky Vintage bourbon warmed us up a bit (very nice bourbon, actually; we sell it at the shop and I can vouch for its efficacy), and right around noon we stripped down to our bathing suits and shoes (necessary because of the rocks and ice as you’re running in) and headed in. I’ve skydived several times, and this felt a bit like that – as you’re leaving the plane, there’s a pit in your stomach and you wonder why you’re doing this, but then as you jump the adrenaline kicks in and it’s exhilarating.
Ice banks blocked most of the access to the water, so there were only a few access points – I felt like a lemming following people in single file. We splashed around a bit and dunked ourselves (confirming that yes, it’s cold).
We couldn’t get out the same way we came in because of all the people still entering, so we ended up getting out a bit down the beach and separated – far away from our towels and our friend Paul who was waiting to photograph us. Thus, no photos of us in the water or Aimee or getting out, alas. We dried off and headed home to a long, hot shower.
(Photo at right is me post-plunge).
Definitely not something I need to do every year, but totally worth doing.