# Taking the Plunge

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ Wet Clothing Forum - Beach Club ] [ FAQ ]

Posted by LeviLovR on January 04, 2020 at 18:37:30

I had signed up to do a polar plunge today. I registered on line about a month ago and paid my fee and all at that time. I've done this particular polar plunge multiple times in the past and like it because it's usually smaller than some of the other polar plunges and the registration fee is minimal. Of course you can raise more money through pledges if you wish, but I never do that.

I did not attend the polar plunge in Portland on New Year's Eve due to the bad storm. I had not preregistered for it, so no money lost - not that it really matters as it all goes to charity anyway. Last year I registered at the sight just before doing the dip.

Today's dip was held at Gooch's beach in Kennebunkport, Maine. When registering on line it said rain date would be January 11th. Weather prediction for today was light rain turning to snow later this afternoon. Whoopee! More snow! just what we need! When I woke up it was not raining, but just as I was leaving the house shortly after 9am it started to rain. It rained quite steadily all the way on the drive down, but let up as I got closer. Same thing happened last year and they held it anyway. After all, what's the difference. We're going to get wet anyway. I love the drive down, very pretty, especially when you get into Kennebunkport. Beautiful old sea captains' homes line the route to the beach, all very ornate and elaborate. One very famous one is called the Wedding Cake house, built by a sea captain for his new bride. He had to go to sea shortly after the wedding leaving his bride at home. The house was designed to look like an elaborately decorated wedding cake with gorgeous carved trim. Unfortunately as I went by today I noticed its fallen into disreapair and needs a lot of work done. What a shame.

When I arrived at the beach it was obvious the dip was still on. Like last year the rain stopped right before the dip. Fortunately their was no wind blowing in off the ocean. This year the tide was going out and was already quite low, leaving a large area of beac h. Last year the tide was high, with waves almost hitting the sea wall and minimal beach area.

Got out of the car and walked down to the registration tables. Since I was preregistered I didn't have to do anything, just tell them my name and pick up my complimentary sweatshirt. Several people recognized me from past years - hard to miss that cowboy hat - and said how glad they were that I had come back. A reporter from the local newspaper asked for a quick interview. Since I had some time before the plunge I walked down the beach a bit and then turned back and walked the other way. Finally they told people to start lining up for the plunge.

I have to admit I was sort of dreading it in a way. But I was there andpeople were definitely expecting me to go in. One of the organizers and official starter had a large megaphone and announced my prescence to the entire crowd. No way to back out now.

Finally it was time to go in. Most dippers usually run into the water, dive under and run back out. I decided to walk in, letting the the waves gradually soak my clothes. Oh yeah, I was wearing my black boots, belt and hat. I also had on indigo 501s and a wool tweed navy blue suit coat and blue striped tie - all of which had been in the pool New Year's eve. I wore a light blue denim Levi shirt. I figured the wool coat would still keep me warm when wet, which it did. The guy with the megaphone announced that the air temp was 39 degrees and the water temp was 44 degrees - so the water was actually warmer than the air.

I walked slowly into the water. Many dippers had already gone under and were headed out. I just kept walking, feeling the incoming waves splash up against my boots and the bottom of my jeans, then tug at them in the opposite direction as the waves ebbed. Up to my knees, then my thighs, then my waist and then my just. Finally I went and tried to jump into an oncoming wave. My head didn't go under but I was now wet up to my neck. Close enough. I turned and started wading out, surprised that the water and air didn't feel as bad as I thought they would. The incoming waves kept pushing me from behind and then dragging around my feet. I wasn't sure I was going to be able to keep my balance and remain upright.

Once I got back to the edge of the water I turned around. Two young men were still in the water up to their necks. They had promised each other they would stay in for five minutes. I walked back out, hoping to reach them, but only made it as far as my chest before turning around and wading back out. As I was coming out of the water a lady, a fellow dipper, dressed in a very heavy warm robe came running into the shallow water and grabbed me by the arm and congratulated me, saying how wonderful she thought it was. I noticed a photographer with a huge camera taking pictures of me as I was walking out of the water and talking with the lady. Some of those shots should be pretty good, especially with the incoming waves behind me. I have no idea who he was or where he was from. I didn't get a chance to ask him as other people were talking to me. I got back to where I had left my things, slipped on my winter jacket over my wet things and wrapped a good thick, heavy quilted blanket around me and walked back to the car. My boots and my jeans were covered with sand and of course everything was covered with salt. I had actually swallowed a tiny bit of salt water in my failed attempt to go completely under the wave and could still taste it. Once back in the car I turned the heat on full blast and started for home. The dip was at 11 am and it wasn't even 11:30 yet. All very quick. The two young men did manage to stay five minutes. Heaven bless them! That's the advantage of being young. Stopped for coffee once and another time at a small store to buy the daily newspaper, both times going in in my wet, sandy clothes. Not a word from anybody. Home and into a nice hot shower.

All in all it went off better than I thought it would. The older I get the more I hate the cold water. There are plenty of polar dips around. I usually do one in February. Still have plenty of time to think about that one - yet it's only a month away. At least that one has a hot tub to jump into after taking the plunge. We shall see what happens.

Follow Ups:

- Re: Taking the Plunge Neverdry 18:29:16 1/06/2020 (0)
- Re: Taking the Plunge Ry 03:59:59 1/05/2020 (4)
  - Re: Taking the Plunge LeviLovR 08:50:00 1/05/2020 (3)
    - Re: Taking the Plunge LeviLovR 09:36:37 1/05/2020 (2)
      - Re: Taking the Plunge dunked 12:27:31 1/05/2020 (1)
        - Re: Taking the Plunge LeviLovR 15:46:46 1/05/2020 (0)

Post a Followup

Name:
E-Mail:

Subject:

Comments:

Optional Image URL:

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ Wet Clothing Forum - Beach Club ] [ FAQ ]