My legs were cold. Very cold, in fact. So cold that I could no longer feel them. The numbness pangs were making me giddy. Or maybe it was the adrenaline?
Either way, I had just run into the freezing Firth of Forth (AKA the River Forth) in South Queensferry, Scotland, in nothing but a bikini and a highland cow hat. In January. And yes, it was voluntary.
I think I may have a problem.
You see, when I read about something crazy — something most other people won't do — I see it as a challenge. You say there's no way you're running into a frigid river on New Year's Day? WELL THEN I'M DOING IT.
This was how I volunteered myself to take part in the Loony Dook, a Scottish New Year's tradition.
But what exactly IS a Loony Dook, you ask? I asked, too, when I first saw the event listed as a possibility for me to participate in during my time in Edinburgh for Hogmanay. So let me help educate you.
The Loony Dook takes place each year on New Year's Day in South Queensferry, with the extremely photogenic Forth Bridge (or Forth Rail Bridge, depending on who you ask) as a backdrop.
In this case, “Loony” means what you'd think — crazy; mental; lunatic. Some say this word is part of the event description based on the fact that participants dress in the silliest costumes they can come up with. But I'm pretty sure it refers to the nutters who are doing the “dooking.” Which brings us to the second part of the name. A “Dook” basically means a “dip.” In this case, it refers to the fact that all participants — in their fancy dress — dive into the freezing River Forth on New Year's Day.
On January 1, 2013, I was one of these nutters. I was a Dooker!
The event began with a 20-minute drive from Edinburgh. I had convinced 2 of the other #Blogmanay bloggers to join me in my crazy quest, and a few others to come along to spectate. We arrived at the Firth of Forth about an hour and a half before the event would begin, and spent the time registering, warming up with some tomato soup provided by sponsor Heinz, and pumping ourselves up to strip down to basically nothing to parade through the village and then jump in a river.
By the time the Dookers Parade was set to begin at 1:30 p.m., we were ready.
Along with about 1,000 other Loonys (and a few thousand more bundled-up spectators), we paraded down High Street, our final destination being the Dooking area, which was full of Viking screams, more photographers than you could shake a stick at, and some… erm… interesting costumes (please, fellas, no more Borat-style mankinis, mmk? My eyes hurt.).
Nadine, Jane and I clasped hands as we neared the water, began screaming, and dashed into the river with the rest of the crazy people. I can only think of a few other times in my life that I've laughed that hard. Yes, it was cold. But it was also one of the most fun things I've ever done.
So call me crazy if you want. But I don't regret my Loony Dook experience at all!
(Check out the video below for the full Loony Dook effect! This is definitely an event that photos just don't do justice to.)
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Would YOU participate in the Loony Dook?
This campaign is brought to you by Edinburgh’s Hogmanay and is supported by VisitScotland, ETAG, Edinburgh Festivals, Haggis Adventures and Skyscanner. The campaign bloggers were sourced and managed by iambassador. As always, though, all opinions are my own.
Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Dangerous Business Travel Blog. She has traveled to more than 60 countries on 6 continents from her home base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and thoughtful travel through the US, Europe, and rest of the world. Amanda only shares tips based on her personal experiences and places she's actually traveled!
This reminds me of (on a smaller scale) my senior year of college I jumped into Mirror Lake on OSU’s campus before the Michigan football game. There was snow on the ground, but it was so much fun and somehow the excitement made it possible to not freeze to death running home. I am so glad I participated in the tradition at least once… and we won the national championship, so it must have been because of me.
Haha well clearly it was because of you! 😉
And yeah, the excitement and laughter and pure adrenaline keep you from freezing to death!
If I was with the right bunch of people I think I probably could. Though I went out to the Forth Bridge in early May (did a boat tour thing) and it was really cold even then!
Doesn’t look like many people submerged fully?.. : )
Yeah, I don’t imagine the water ever gets very warm in the UK!
And there were a few people who dove in properly, but I think most just kind of went in waist-deep!
I would only do this in Antarctica haha! Love the hat!!
Fair enough! And thanks! That hat may be one of my favorite travel souvenirs ever!
That sounds like it was crazy fun!!!
Which also means of course that I would do it, hands down, no question 😀
Whoo hoo! Another crazy nutter like me! Really, though, it WAS tons of fun.
I love it! This is crazy 🙂 I am getting cold just by looking at your video! Minute 1:12 to the end rocks!
Thanks! Glad you liked the video. 🙂
For sure…I wish I would have know about this…I would have come right up…I was right down the street…well, in London.
Next year, Michelle!
Hahaha brilliant! But you didn’t even get your hair wet! Good on you, Jane and Nadine for being the only brave ones to do it 🙂 I would have come with you if we were there.
I decided wet hair in freezing temperatures probably wasn’t the brightest idea…
I love and respect your kind of crazy, but no thanks for me. Well maybe when I was your age.
Well as long as you love and respect it. 😉
Looks like a blast! I did a polar plunge in Canada years ago for a fundraiser but it was nowhere near as crazy as this! I would do it.
I really didn’t have any sense of just HOW crazy the Loony Dook was until we started heading down the steps to the water. Then I was blown away by how many people were taking part!
This looks like it would be so much fun. I could not think of a better hangover cure on new years day than this.
So true! Definitely a good hangover cure.
That looks like a BLAST! Just give me a couple of beers and I’m ready to go!
You should have been there! For the longest time, NOBODY wanted to do it with me!
looks like so much fun, great photographs! I don’t think I’d do it though, brrrrrr! You have gallons more adventure in you than me 🙂
Or maybe I’m just a tad bit crazier than you? 😉 The good news is people can go watch without participating!
Fun, fun, fun!
It definitely was!
It’s like practice for the polar plunge! I must be equally as nutty because I went snorkeling on New Year’s Eve. In Iceland.
Yay for us nutty people! 😉
Uh… nope, no way, no thanks. Never in a million years! Not even if you paid me!
I feel colder just reading about the Loony Dook, never mind actually jumping into a freezing river.
Haha, fair enough. I suppose it’s not for everybody! I sure had a lot of fun, though.