The ferris wheel stands still and the only sounds are those of wind and waves on most February mornings at the boardwalks of New Jersey. The sky is an icy grey and the smell of coconut tanning lotion cannot be had. 

But the bars are open and the smell of beer and food wafts through the air. The marquee still welcomes the Bennies, our summer visitors from the northern nether regions. Benny stands for the stops on the train going into New York City (Bayonne, Elizabeth, Newark, New York). Most of the souls on the boardwalk today are locals. 

 They're not here for clowning around or rides, although the atmosphere is festive. These fine folks are here for a Polar Bear Plunge.

The lights are off and no ice cream is being served. The cold treat is about to be had and before the participants take the plunge, they parade the boardwalk, bringing their own color and style. 

 Mardi Gras was last week, but this group of friends are still partying like the temperature were in the eighties, not in the low thirties.

Armed with pink plungers, these ladies are ready to plumb the depths of the frigid surf.  

Puffing up his chest in anticipation of his icy bath, this man surveys the sea and contemplates whether or not he brought a change of clothes.

 I stopped these two cowboys on their way to the sand. They graciously posed with their floatie rings and matching bow ties. 

The Red Wig Brigade is in full force here today. 

Pipes and Drums of the Jersey Shore, Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh marched through the crowd with their eager fans cheering them on. 

The dress code is apparently almost clothing optional. Here, a young man models a "slingshot" for stunned onlookers. One girl commented, "He's gonna end up on YouTube!" 

The bathing caps are a reminder that spring flowers, and warmer weather are to come. But not today. 

The crowd awaits the signal for the Plunge to begin. Gooseflesh abounds and the mood becomes serious. 

A roar goes up from the crowd as thousands of the underdressed and over costumed head into the Atlantic Ocean. 

Wave after wave pounds the beach but the bathers are undaunted and keep running for the open water.  

They emerge victorious from the maw of the sea. They managed to raise money for New Jersey Special Olympics by their crazy visit to the beach in February. About $600,000 was raised at last tally by this group of Polar Bear Plungers for NJSO. They have reason to feel warm inside, even though hypothermia is likely setting in. 

My husband's mood after the plunge is serious and turns to matters of getting warm and getting food and getting all this sand off his feet. I am there as the support team. I take pictures and hold up the towel so he can try to hide while getting out of his wet swim trunks and into his dry pants. He doesn't dress in costume...yet.

The beach clears out until warmer weather arrives. 

A local with his pet African Grey on hand to witness the revelry. 

And finally the beach belongs to the seagulls again until summer. And when summer arrives, the beach will still belong to the seagulls.