Monday, January 6, 2014

Polar Bear Swim

 Channel into yacht club at Newcastle on Lake Ontario

Looks like a great day for a swim, right? It was about noon on January 1st, approximately two hours before a few hardy humans were scheduled to jump into the water for a quick dip in the icy water.

 Burning ice-storm debris on the beach

A small bonfire on the beach was handy for warming fingers and toes. Not to worry,  members of the Newcastle fire department were on hand to...

 Chipping away ice so "polar bears" can reach the water

chop away the ice (in the background), creating an easy pathway to the water's edge. I'm guessing the orange cones were about to be placed to show the bathers which way to head.

Ice on lighthouse

But a two-hour wait for the actual happening was too long for me to wait. I was too chilly in my cozy boots, hooded coat, scarf and mittens to feel like sticking around.

More photos from Our World can be seen by clicking HERE.

62 comments:

Andy said...

You still got some good photos... watching those polar bears freeze their buns off would have been more fun. :)

Cindy said...

I can't imagine being or taking part in this other than to take pictures. Your photos of the set up were great shots, too bad we couldn't get an action shot but maybe next time, lol

Revrunner said...

That's all right. I wouldn't want you to have caught me in my polar bear outfit anyway. :-)

Anonymous said...

Well done for getting the shots you did, it looks and sounds freezing!

Darla said...

Hearty souls those Polar Bears. I really like the lighthouse shot.

Darla

Kate said...

Hearty, yes yet I prefer "foolish" as a label! Great winter scenes.

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

Strange things people. Yesterday our local swimming pool was closed because the water temperature had dropped a couple of degrees due to a fault, and now today you tell me of this lunacy!

Buttons Thoughts said...

Your photos are fantastic. I cannot believe anyone can do this I am sure I would never be able to. Good call go home stay warm and imagine the freezing good cause but freezing people:) Hug B

Hootin Anni said...

I'm definitely with Cindy [her comment above] on this activity!! But the photos you took and shared are gorgeous. The fire looks so warm and inviting too.

Billy Blue Eyes said...

Oo nooo I'm with you on that. Brave or mad no way would I jump in Freezing water for fun.

Penelope Notes said...

Lol … too cold to watch the polar bear swim … let alone be in it. I can relate! Our polar bear swim in the West (no ice chipping needed) was almost cancelled. Apparently, many members became too elderly to do the task. But luckily interest was revived and it went ahead in the end. I admire these brave souls.

Birdman said...

... and some say humans are sane?

Rose said...

No amount of money would induce me to do this!

Pamela Gordon said...

Oh brrrrr. That just makes me cold thinking about those brave people jumping into the icy water for fun! The photo of the lighthouse with ice on it is beautiful and really shows how cold it is there. Have a great week!

Cezar and Léia said...

Impressive winter there! The first picture and the last one are so stunning, lovely as posts cards!
Happy 2014 dear EG,
hugs
Léia

Gail Dixon said...

I love the first photo with the blue sky, bare trees and little house. Cannot imagine anyway swimming in waters that cold. Makes me shiver thinking about it.

The Furry Gnome said...

I'm with you. There are far better ways to enjoy cold winter days!

Michelle said...

I can't believe people would swim in that water!

MadSnapper said...

I am thinking anyone who gets in that water is 2 cans shy of a six pack... it is beautiful and i would be hugging that fire and playing in it if i could slide by the fireman

Lisa Gordon said...

They do this here at the end of January, when it is usually the coldest part of the winter. Looks like fun, but I think I will remain a spectator! :-)

William Kendall said...

I like the cold, but polar bear dips are crazy!

Your photos practically feel cold!

Well, except for that fire...

Ruth Kelly said...

There is no way that I would jump in that chilly water - that for the young and stupid in my opinion.

Grandma Barb's This and That said...

Love the ice on the lighthouse! I never understand why people jump in that cold water this time of year. They do that in Minneapolis too on New Years Day.

Lowell said...

There is no accounting for the stupidity of some people. It looks sooooo cold. And snowy. That first shot sure brings back memories of warmer times!

John @ Beans and I on the Loose said...

I was looking forward to seeing pictures of these idio...I mean swimmers but a two hour wait in those conditions? You're excused. I wonder what they were doing in those hours for preparation.

Ela said...

Winter landscapes are beautiful but only in pictures.
Greetings

Anonymous said...

Wow - looks cold and oh so gorgeous!

TexWisGirl said...

i'm cold just thinking about it. no thanks. :)

Anonymous said...

The last photo tells the story ... cold, cold, cold and more cold.

Karen said...

It's so picturesque! I never did understand why people want to jump into frigid water!

Taken For Granted said...

There might be a difference between brave and crazy. Jumping in that water is just crazy. Interesting photos however.

RedPat said...

I can't imagine doing it! Mind-boggling!!

Unknown said...

Lovely vinterphotos.
The last one has so nice iceblue colours!
Greetings
JetteMajken

21 Wits said...

What amazing photos, your first one especially. At first I almost thought it was a painting. Yes we're soon to have that same icy plunge here, and I won't but some of my family members do it. Yikes, not for me!

cieldequimper said...

I know, I know, it's cold. But I love it because it's warm here.

aspiritofsimplicity said...

we had the polar bear plunge on New Years Day here. I was not involved. In fact I only stepped out of the warm house long enough to walk across the street to the beach and watch them jump in.

mick said...

Oh No! Definitely too cold for me to jump into water like that! The ice down the lighthouse is amazing.

Carver said...

Beautiful winter shots but I don't see how people manage the polar bear swim.

Phil Slade said...

Love that first picture/painting. It's so colourful and stark the way you did it.

Laura said...

brrrr…polar bear swim? no thank you… great photos though.

Mersad said...

I love lighthouses, so that last one is really great to me. Love that ice covering everything up. Really amazing!

Mersad
Mersad Donko Photography

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Those polar bears are kinda' crazy! I can't imagine doing that. Heck I almost can't imagine being there dressed like you were. Beautiful snowy beaches though -- honestly I'd never imagined such snow on the coast.

kelley said...

ouch--ice cold water would sting.

kelley said...
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kelley said...
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Photo Cache said...

people jumping in on icy waters always make the news around here. personally i don't know what they're thinking :)

eileeninmd said...

Wow, people are crazy! I would never be able to do this polar bear swim.. We have one here for charity, a polar bear plunge into the Chesapeake Bay!! Loved your photos, the first and last are my favorites.

Elizabeth Edwards said...

i love the ice on the lighthouse. that is wild. ( :

DeniseinVA said...

I don't blame you for not hanging around. I see these Polar Bear plunges everywhere. I can see them being done for charity but for the fun of it? Nuh-uh! ;) I'm too much of get me by the fire kind of a gal. Your photos were great!

Linnea said...

I always wanted to do a polar bear swim, but so far it has eluded me! Love the wintry shots of the water and lighthouse.

Randy said...

I really like that lighthouse shot.

Unknown said...

I have always wanted to try that. I love the cold. Maybe next year.

Stephanie said...

You got some nice shots while waiting around.

Jack said...

There are people in Boston called the "L Street Brownies" who have been doing that as long as I can remember. No, I have never been tempted. Not even close!

Indrani said...

So much of snow actually thrills me!
Great captures. I lapped it up with delight.

Tash said...

Gorgeous x gorgeous!
I don't think I'd freeze my tootsies off with a plunge... those are some brave souls.

Pat Tillett said...

I started shivering just looking at those photos and thinking about how cold that water is. Not me!

Manav Singhi said...

Lovely and Have a Nice Day. . . :)

Judy said...

Lots of ice!!! At least that is looking pretty rather than downing power lines!!

PerthDailyPhoto said...

Oh and I bet those few hardy people were in their seventy's or something :) we have a group who swim every day of the year whatever the weather!

Giga said...

Widzę, że dość sroga zima u Was zagościła. Pozdrawiam.
I see that quite a severe winter has established itself in you. Yours.

Gunn said...

Great documentary / images!

Keep WARM!

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East Gwillimbury is a rural town less than an hour north of Toronto, Canada's largest city. My family calls me CameraGirl because I take my camera with me wherever I go.