Walk on fiery coals in Florida? Sure.

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

Itsa国际传媒檚 been quite the winter for Raleigh, North Carolinasa国际传媒檚 David Richards.

The American visitor went from hot feet to cold shoulders after dipping himself fully into the shallow and frigid waters of Coldstreamsa国际传媒檚 Kalamalka Lake Sunday, Jan. 1, kicking off the new year as a guest of the Vernon, B.C. Lake Plunge Club.

sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檝e never done this before,sa国际传媒� said a shivering Richards, 53, after spending several minutes between ice flows in Kal Lake. sa国际传媒淲alking on fire in Florida was definitely easier.sa国际传媒�

Richards and Leslie Fullerton sa国际传媒� originally from Edinburgh, Scotland, now living in Fort Worth, Texas sa国际传媒� joined Richards in visiting a North Okanagan mutual friend, and thoroughly enjoyed his dip beneath Kal Lakesa国际传媒檚 surface, shouting FREEDOM before plunging.

sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檓 used to cold showers, this is wonderful,sa国际传媒� said Fullerton, 59, who has left behind three decades of IT software work in corporate America to become a life coach. sa国际传媒淭his is definitely an upgrade.sa国际传媒�

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.

sa国际传媒淥h my God, it was refreshing and really really cold,sa国际传媒� smiled Shepherd. sa国际传媒淢y body has never experienced that. Itsa国际传媒檚 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.sa国际传媒�

Shepherdsa国际传媒檚 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.

sa国际传媒淣o. No, no, no,sa国际传媒� 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 sa国际传媒� 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 sa国际传媒� she of her famous ice water swimming photos in Kal Lake, and dunking herself fully into a garbage pail of ice water sa国际传媒� 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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