NORDLAND — Big and little dippers braved the chilly waters of Mystery Bay on Thursday, when 76 people greeted the new year with a splash.
Marrowstone’s Tom Weiner, 68, and on his eighth or ninth plunge, said, “You strip down to your swimsuit and grit your teeth and dive in . . . You don’t think about it or you won’t go.”
The oldest dipper at the 14th annual Nordland Polar Bear Dip was Doug Harris, 78, of Santa Barbara, Calif., who was taking his second plunge this year.
“I’m representing Kim,” he said, referring to his daughter, Kim Sands, co-owner of Port Townsend Brewing, who was getting over a cold and decided to pass on the splash.
She still brought a keg of winter ale to warm up post-dip participants in the boat house where hot beverages and cake also were available.
Miss Behavin’, pink parasol and all, brought her extra supply of red lipstick along as she planted kisses on every cheek she could get to before the gun resounded and the dip was on.
She of the pink wig and wild ways is the carefree queen dipper at the event each year.
While the oom-pah-pah tuba-accordian sounds of Chuck Easton and George Radebaugh hummed off the rustic wood porch of Nordland General Store, which sponsored the cold leap, the weather was much like last year’s: Overcast to drizzly, in the mid- to high 30s.
The water temperature was about 10 degrees warmer.
It elicited gasps and hollers from swimmers after they dove and surfaced.
Such conditions failed to dampen the spirits of those ready to run down the slippery dock half-naked and shoot off it like icicles.
Some had to think about it, but then gave in and swam like there would be no tomorrow.
‘Don’t think about it’
Asked why he dips, Greg Lalish, 60, smiled and said, “Because it feels so good. It’s how I’m born again every year.”
A number of youthful dippers showed up this year among the crowd of onlookers estimated at around 300.
Cars lined Flagler Road on both sides for about a quarter mile in each direction from the dock.
Bella Campbell, 14, of Seattle, embraced herself in a large towel after swimming to shore with friends, admitting she felt kind of prickly after the shock of the quick but icy swim.
She was visiting her father, Joe Campbell, on the island.
Jonah Severn, a 14-year-old Marrowstone resident, enjoyed a steamy cup of tea next to the firepit outside the boat house, trying to warm up after his dip.
“I always underestimate how cold it’s going to be,” he said.
East Jefferson Fire-Rescue volunteers used a motor boat this year and tended to dippers on the dock to successfully ward off accidents and injuries.
The event, like all others, went off without a serious injury.
They even stretched two thick ship ropes across Flagler Road in front of the store as temporary speed bumps to slow traffic and protect wandering pedestrians.
Sue Rose, who co-owns Nordland General Store with her husband,Tom, said she was so busy in the crowded store she was unable to get a precise count of those attending the event.
“But I did see the line of cars up the road,” she said.
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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
