Walk on fiery coals in Florida? Sure.

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

It乌鸦传媒檚 been quite the winter for Raleigh, North Carolina乌鸦传媒檚 David Richards.

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

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

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

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

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.

乌鸦传媒淥h my God, it was refreshing and really really cold,乌鸦传媒� smiled Shepherd. 乌鸦传媒淢y body has never experienced that. It乌鸦传媒檚 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.乌鸦传媒�

Shepherd乌鸦传媒檚 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.

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