Solstice Stupidity 2012: polar-bear dip

OK, so a sunrise hike up Palmer, hiking in the Gorge and a 5K race is stupid enough, right. Nope!

We got right in the car after our race and tried to beat the sun to the ocean.

I think we all filled with a little dread as we anticipated our next stupid adventure: jumping in the water at Oceanside. The original plan was to go crotch deep, but we all decided that if we were going to do it, we were going to go all the way!

We parked just after sunset and jumped out quickly before losing our nerve. I really really really wish we had pictures, but it all happened too fast.

As we stripped down to our running shorts (plus sports bras for the ladies), a man and his son (10ish?) asked excitedly if we were going in. We looked like we were working up to it, they said. Yep!

Shouts of both terror and joy escaped our mouths as we took off running for the water, which was a long way out because of the low tide. The boy from the parking lot ran alongside, yelling, "They're going in! They're going in!" to make sure everyone on the beach was aware of the stupidity.

Honestly, it felt great! Refreshing and invigorating!

We drove the couple blocks to Ma and Pa's beach house to quickly drop the cars and get the oven heating for our reward pizzas. Then we ran (mostly) up, up, up to the top of Maxwell Point as our final act of stupidity.

Heading out (they were doing some little dance of delusion):

Look at that... sunlight was still peeking over the horizon!!

Our mission was complete :)

We did it!

Trying for a silhouette picture:

Under the tiny moon sliver, we walked down to the house for showers and mass quantities of pizza. We chatted sleepily until just after midnight, concluding our day of stupidity.

I'd never met Rachel and Jonathan before Saturday, and I knew Jeffrey only in passing because of Brad's Mount St. Helens climb in drag. I had a great time getting to know everyone, laughing and playing outside.

I can hardly wait for more adventures!!

We slept in a bit Sunday before eating cookies for breakfast, straightening up the house and heading home. 

But first, one last summit shot with the gang:

Awesomely stupid! :)

Previous Solstice Stupidity adventures: 2011, 2010, 2009