NORDLAND – As the “Polar Bear Dip” enters its 14th bone-chilling year, Nordland General Store owner Tom Rose jokes that hundreds have survived to tell their stories.
“I don’t think we’ve lost anybody yet – that we’ve found anyway – although the crabbing has been better during some years,” Rose said.
The dip will be at noon Tuesday on the dock across the street from Rose’s store on Marrowstone Island’s Flagler Road.
He wastes no time telling a reporter he will never know the true story until he takes the icy leap.
Rose never knows just how many might turn out to dive off the dock.
“Anywhere from 90 to 130,” he said.
