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Before the dip, participants and spectators try to keep warm near one of the fires next to the water.
Photo credit and thanks: Don Dunbar at EasternMaineImages.com Viewed: 1319 times.
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Almost time to go in and the brutal cold is nearly unbearable.
Photo credit and thanks: Don Dunbar at EasternMaineImages.com Viewed: 1460 times.
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Wearing a padded suit, a member of the safety team prepares for the dip. These folks make sure no one is injured during the dip.
Photo credit and thanks: Don Dunbar at EasternMaineImages.com Viewed: 1424 times.
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The anticipation is nearly as painful as the actual dip. The air temperature was 9 degrees and the wind chill -30 to -40 at times.
Photo credit and thanks: Don Dunbar at EasternMaineImages.com Viewed: 1332 times.
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This gentleman kicked off the dip by diving in from the pier. As soon as he hit the water, everyone else rushed in.
Photo credit and thanks: Don Dunbar at EasternMaineImages.com Viewed: 1311 times.
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If you had any intention of staying in the water for an extended period of time, your mind would be quickly changed. The cold is instantly numbing. Notice participants already on the way out on the left of the picture whild others continue coming in. I am in the left part of the picture wearing a white t-shirt and green swimming trunks heading into the water.
Photo credit and thanks: Don Dunbar at EasternMaineImages.com Viewed: 1457 times.
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To the left of the last photo, more participants continue to file into the water. Some people dress up in various forms of attire. The theme this year was "Mardi Gras."
Photo credit and thanks: Don Dunbar at EasternMaineImages.com Viewed: 1291 times.
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Some folks venture a little farther out than others but you quickly will wish you were back on shore.
Photo credit and thanks: Don Dunbar at EasternMaineImages.com Viewed: 1285 times.
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About 15 seconds would be all you could take in this cold water. Unfortunately, someone knocked me over and I had to struggle to get back to my feet in waist deep 36 degree water. I'm 3rd from the left in the white t-shirt headed out. From here, it was about a 200 yard run through snow to get to a warm car - nearly as bad as the dip itself!
Photo credit and thanks: Don Dunbar at EasternMaineImages.com Viewed: 1365 times.
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Some of the first folks out get near a very hot fire to try and recover.
Photo credit and thanks: Don Dunbar at EasternMaineImages.com Viewed: 1223 times.
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Dippers head out next to the pier.
Photo credit and thanks: Don Dunbar at EasternMaineImages.com Viewed: 1269 times.
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Here's a great shot of Polar Bear Dip action! I'm right in the center of this photo headed out.
Photo credit and thanks: Carol Smith
Last comment 04/10/07. Viewed: 1347 times.
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Once you are in, your only thought is getting out. Your feet feel like concrete and it seems that you are in slow motion trying to escape the cold!
Photo credit and thanks: Carol Smith Viewed: 1193 times.
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Some of the final dippers on their was out. Over 250 people went in and the crowd numbered in the thousands.Photo credit and thanks: Carol Smith Viewed: 1252 times.
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Until next year...
The dip raised around $35,000 for the Ronald McDonald house in Bangor, Maine. An amazing effort for the folks from Washington County, Maine and Charlotte County, New Brunswick.
Photo credit and thanks: Carol Smith
Last comment 04/10/07. Viewed: 1934 times.
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