NAVAL STATION MAYPORT, Fla. – “Mayport Mitch” the famed base groundhog from Naval Station Mayport made his annual appearance at the beach Monday, leading the “polar plunge.”
The fun-filled event celebrates Groundhog Day.
“Too cold, way too cold,” Mitch said after emerging from the ocean on Monday.
He said we’re ready for spring.
The famed Punxsutawney Phil, on the other hand, predicted six more weeks of wintry weather on Sunday at the annual Groundhog Day event in Gobbler’s Knob, the scene of the largest and best-known Groundhog Day celebration in the United States.
At Naval Station Mayport, though, Mitch took the plunge into the Atlantic Ocean during the Mayport Dunk with dozens of other brave souls.
“Probably the coldest it’s been in years,” Mitch said. “Good polar plunge.”
Despite the chilly water, Mitch told News4JAX he had no regrets.
This was the third year of the event, which is Naval Station Mayport’s unique spin on Groundhog Day.
We’ll see soon enough which groundhog got it right!