John,

The Polar Bear Jump Off Festival is an annual event, since 1986, in Seward.  It is a fund raiser for the American Cancer Society and is held in mid-January. The water temperature is usually around 36F, and Ambient air temp. will vary from +40F to -20F depending on the weather.  I was planning on attending this year, but alas, I shall be lying on a beach in Costa Rica then.

It would be a great place to hold Burning Van, but it is a long drive for BenT and his speedo.

Mark in AK

---- Original Message -----
From: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Date: Wednesday, November 24, 2004 11:58 am
Subject: Re: Burning Van...

> BenT,
>
> You briefs and polar bear comment brought so mind an event I saw
> in Alaska.
>
> Ever see the movie "Hunt for Red October"? Opening scene on the
> conningtower of the sub??  All that cold and snow that was around
> that bay
> where the Red October was supposed to be?? Well that scene was
> filmed in
> winter in Ressurction Bay in Alaska. That scene was real typical
> wintertime there.  The town at the head of that bay - Seward -
> used to
> have a  polar bear dive(leap?) off the dock in  the boat harbor
> every year.
>
> One year one gruff old bearded sourdough came out of the hills around
> there somewhere to make the leap. When it came his time to leap,
> he took
> off his parka  --- and there he stood in all his glory.   He had
> on a
> cowboy hat, cowboy boots and red long-handle wool underwear
> .........with a pink ribbon hanging out the front fly. As he
> stepped to
> the mark to make the leap,  someone asked what the pink ribbon was all
> about.
>
> He replied "It's so's I can find my little buddy after I gets out of
> that cold water!!"
>
> The gathered crowd roared with laughter.
>
> True story.
>
> Maybe you need to make a "Longhandles" run, and for cooling contrtol,
> lower and raise the rear flap with a pink ribbon tied to it and tossed
> over your shoulder!!
>
> GAD! What an image <G>
>
> Regards,
>
> John Rodgers
> 88 GL Driver
>
>