Polar Bear Swim

There is a yearly tradition in our new town to do the Polar Bear Swim every New Years Day.  In-sane!  Not only is it in the dead of winter (today my car said it was 38 degrees) but it's in the town "pool", One Mile, which is not really a pool.  "The pool was constructed in the late 1920s and provides a unique swimming experience because its concrete decks, walls, and bottom are built to contain Big Chico Creek as it flows through the park."  Meaning, the creek flows directly from the surrounding mountains from snow melt.  Freezing!


So of course we had to check it out.  To our surprise, the streets were packed and there were way more participants than you ever would have thought.  And people of all ages, high schoolers, old, young, all of them.





Just a small section of the swimmers lined up for the swim.



Trying to see over the crowd,












But this year, turns out the water level wasn't even high enough for a swim.  Everyone was able to walk across.  Everyone still seemed soaked after finishing.





As crazy as it sounds, Janet, always up for a bribe and to not miss a fun opportunity, has tempted Donnie and me to participate next year.  She even added babysitting to the deal.  We're thinking about it.  :)