On our spring canoe trips one is always aware of what is called the “Gasp Reflex”. This is when your face hits very cold water. The body’s response is to quickly expel all of the air in your lungs and just as quickly suck back in a lung full of air (or water if your face is still in it).
While we have been in the arctic we try to dip in a river or lake when ever we can to clean up after driving and to cool down from the heat, believe it or not.
We have taken to gauging the water temp based upon the number of times one can dunk their head under to rinse.
Was that a double dunk? No only a single tonight!
Then we found the coldest shower of all times!
This artesian well comes straight from the permafrost
on the ice planet of Hoth (see Star Wars)!
Which brings us back to the gasp reflex; it’s a darn good thing we weren’t in a lake when this water hit the face!
Darrin- want me to share the afghan Melis made for me? It’s warm!!
What about me? My little toes were numb!
I will happily share with BOTH of you- Steve wished we brought it on our trip to Nova Scotia last week!( It was freezing on the 51/2 hour ride over to Yarmouth and we shivered on the beach near Digby on our last day – however, as Vermonters, we were undeterred!! Just wanted our lovely ‘blankie’!)