Walk on fiery coals in Florida? Sure.

Take a plunge in a semi-frozen lake in Canada? Why not?

It香蕉视频直播檚 been quite the winter for Raleigh, North Carolina香蕉视频直播檚 David Richards.

The American visitor went from hot feet to cold shoulders after dipping himself fully into the shallow and frigid waters of Coldstream香蕉视频直播檚 Kalamalka Lake Sunday, Jan. 1, kicking off the new year as a guest of the Vernon, B.C. Lake Plunge Club.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e never done this before,香蕉视频直播� said a shivering Richards, 53, after spending several minutes between ice flows in Kal Lake. 香蕉视频直播淲alking on fire in Florida was definitely easier.香蕉视频直播�

Richards and Leslie Fullerton 香蕉视频直播� originally from Edinburgh, Scotland, now living in Fort Worth, Texas 香蕉视频直播� joined Richards in visiting a North Okanagan mutual friend, and thoroughly enjoyed his dip beneath Kal Lake香蕉视频直播檚 surface, shouting FREEDOM before plunging.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 used to cold showers, this is wonderful,香蕉视频直播� said Fullerton, 59, who has left behind three decades of IT software work in corporate America to become a life coach. 香蕉视频直播淭his is definitely an upgrade.香蕉视频直播�

The two bald Americans made their way to Kal Beach wearing woolen toques.

Yet another plunger making their cold water debut Sunday was Anastasia Shepherd, originally from Russia who moved with her family to the North Okanagan from Port Moody earlier this year.

香蕉视频直播淥h my God, it was refreshing and really really cold,香蕉视频直播� smiled Shepherd. 香蕉视频直播淢y body has never experienced that. It香蕉视频直播檚 tingling. I just wanted to do something to start this year out of my comfort zone and try something crazy. I want to do lots of new things this year. This was my start.香蕉视频直播�

Shepherd香蕉视频直播檚 son Mason, 11, stood safely on the pier at Kal Lake as mom took the proverbial plunge. He had zero interest in following her into the water.

香蕉视频直播淣o. No, no, no,香蕉视频直播� said Mason.

More than a dozen souls, including veteran lake plungers, took advantage of the overcast skies and warm Jan. 1 temperatures to submerse themselves in Kal Lake 香蕉视频直播� some for a few minutes, some for considerably longer.

Janice Buick went in the water wearing a hula outfit. Gia Mowat was the Warrior Princess,complete with Viking helmet.

Local celebrity, ultra athlete Shanda Hill 香蕉视频直播� she of her famous ice water swimming photos in Kal Lake, and dunking herself fully into a garbage pail of ice water 香蕉视频直播� was fully clothed and above water as she helped those in the water atop her paddleboard pushing ice away from them.

A warming tent and hot water bowl to warm the feet awaited plungers atop the pier.

The Lake Plunge club meets often at their favourite, er, watering hole, and you can follow their exploits on their Facebook page, Vernon B.C. lake plunge.

roger@vernonmorningstar.com
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