Views of the Neighborhood – Polar Plunge for Special Olympics

~ John W. Howell

Today, we will witness the second annual Polar Plunge in Support of the Special Olympics at the Lakeway Resort. The idea is to raise money for Special Olympics by committing to a freezing plunge in the pool. The highest individual amount was $3200. We are catered by Intero Restaurant of Austin. Our entertainment is Brad Paisley.

Menu

meat & fish

timballo, smoked wagyu brisket, cauliflower,

risotto, grilled quail, marinated apple, kale, hazelnut

wagyu beef sausage, beet panzanella, spring onion, feta

braised pork neck, carrot, fennel, mandarin, basil

grilled gulf redfish, mushroom, kohlrabi, burnt onion, whey brodo

Pizza from our wood-fired oven

arrabbiata, housemade mozzarella, Texas olive oil, oregano

grilled kale, calabrian chile, chevre, cilantro pesto

housemade ham, broccoli, gruyere, farm egg, green onion

Pasta

tortelloni, duck confit, chile butter,

roasted oyster mushrooms, cambozola, caramelized onion, rosemary

rigatoni, roasted rabbit, roasted turnip, brown butter, pecan

ricotta gnocchi, carrot, grilled calcot, romesco, dill

bucatini, broccoli, sottocenere al tartufo, burnt garlic, chive

mafaldine, house bolognese, rosemary, grana padano

Picture of an old time school bus

Let’s go.

There is the banner telling us we are here.

Registration for participants.

Hot beverages

The ice-cold pool is where the plunge will take place. The air temp is 75 degrees (23.8 C), so the plunge could have been worse.

A group shot of all the wonderful people who raised money for the Special Olympics and who will be very wet shortly.

 

The three finalists for the costume competition. The seventies guy on the right won.

Tom Kilgore, the mayor of Lakeway, welcomes everyone.

The Special Olympic torch is carried in. Law enforcement, Fire departments, The FBI, Border Patrol, and other agencies play a unique role in Special Olympic fundraising. The torch is symbolic of their contribution.

The director of the event is first. She is the big splash. The officer pushed her in and followed suit.

The plunge was done by groups. (I caught them at the moment of truth.)

Hold your nose.

Walk on water. (For a split second)

More noses.

Another group, including the pink flamingo and Seventies guy

Two law enforcement officers.

Time to dry off and for us to relax with the food and music. I hope you have a super week.

61 thoughts on “Views of the Neighborhood – Polar Plunge for Special Olympics”

  12. These are always so much fun, and for a worthy cause. My area has a polar plunge that is held in January. Everyone runs into our local (Susquehanna) River. I don’t think I could handle an ice cold river in the middle of January, but maybe a Texas polar plunge, LOL.

    I’m so glad there was a good turnout and lots of participants. It looks like a really fun event, John!

    Liked by 1 person

  13. As far as polar plunges go, this one is relatively mild. Of course, I would still hold off on the pizza until I was out of the pool in order to avoid cramping. I mean, once everyone is OUT of the pool, I doubt they would be up for a return to it in order to save my ass, LOL

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  18. We have something similar in our community called “The Perilous Plunge.” It’s usually a fundraiser for the Dsicovery Museum, a children’s museum in town. The only difference is people jump into the murky bay.

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  19. 75 degrees? Yeah, okay, we’ll call it a polar plunge 😉 How fun to generate money for the Special Olympics. Way to go all the participants. That menu is causing me some difficulty. So many things sound delish!

    Liked by 1 person

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