Monday, May 28, 2012

Sharing Naturism with Textles

"I personally feel that the only way naturism will gain general acceptance is if non-naturists have more opportunities to see it and get used to it. And that means more mixed venues. I know we worry about losing hard-won nude and C/O beaches due to an influx of textiles. The solution however is not segregation and isolation, but to develop an army of textiles supportive of the option to be nude, textiles willing to speak up in support when some individual complains, textiles willing to tell a complainer to cool it and be tolerant, textiles ready to vote against intolerant regulations and instead be willing to discuss mutually agreeable modi operandi. The change is not just for textiles. We naturists need to be more open, to seek actively and publicly more officially sanctioned C/O spaces, to talk to our neighbors about things like backyard nudity, to be naturist role models that supportive textiles can point out, to sincerely not be bothered if we are seen nude by some colleague, acquaintance, friend or unknown invitee, to engage intolerant people in a patient and friendly way, to work to revise intolerant regulations. We're simply not going to get textiles to recognize the distinction betwwen "indecent exposure" and "decent exposure" unless they've seen the difference themselves. We have a wonderful set of values to advocate, that are in tune with mainstrean themes like gender-equality, ecology. tolerance and mutual respect. It is time to let these out the gates of a hidden "lifestyle". It may seem more comfortable to be safe among certified like-minded naturists, but in the long run we need expand our naturist community to include actively-tolerant textile friends who share our values even if they don't shed their clothes." - Adge

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Two Great Quotes Today

“Thirsty prurience drinks furtive sips, but a strong wash quells the curse and quenches the curious. Too many of us live wrapped up in our customs/costumes when we need to be open to the common gifts of humanity. Too many of us live wrapped up like entourage mummies in someone else's idea of heaven. Too many of us live and die without the fun of nude photos of ourselves doing regular, everyday things.” - Will Forest, Nude Scribe “Where are our nude beaches? Somehow, we have lost something here that has been enjoyed since the dawn of humanity. For thousands of years we humans have removed our clothes to bathe naked in lakes and rivers. . . Not so long ago, in very recent history, someone decided swimming suits were necessary. What happened? As a boy in the 1930s, my father used to skinny-dip in Beaver Creek, north of Slayton in Murray County. As a boy in the 1960s . . . We, swimsuited scouts from Roseville, shared the Wilder pool with grown men, all of whom swam naked. No one regarded either situation as a crime, but our youthful swimsuits were an indicator of America's growing fear of the naked body. Something had changed . . . I think the change was driven by fear. . . that naked equals sex, and sex is bad, and that naked is therefore bad. I believe that many unhealthy behaviors result from this flawed reasoning, ranging from eating disorders to sexual abuse. The repression of natural things encourages them to manifest sideways.” - Patrick Scully

Monday, May 7, 2012

Phoenix to Las Vegas Skinny Road Trip

Yesterday I drove nude with PJ from Phoenix to Las Vegas on our way to work in Utah. As I mentioned previously, this route would make an ideal Skinny Road Trip – what could be better than enjoying a naturist drive/camp/freehike/soak on the way to a fun weekend in Las Vegas? On the way we passed the Burro Creek Campgrounds and Kaiser Warm Springs exits. According the Casa Blanca, this would make idea place to stop as part of an organized Skinny Road Trip along this route: “The Upper Burro Creek Wilderness Area East of Highway 93 offers a mere 27,440 acres of free nude camping, nude sunning/swimming at deep pools connected by small waterfalls, and enough scenery to last a lifetime. Kaiser Warm Spring is MUCH more than just a spring, it's a BLM owned home run with the bases loaded! The walk is just far enough to keep unwasheds out and, verily, was just about absolutely the most litter free spot we've visited in years. There's complete privacy and the scenery beggars description with all manner of desert flora and fauna, several bird songs we'd not before heard,wild burro tracks (and skat all over the place, but we saw no burros), 800 foot high canyon walls, several natural caves, name something. Shortly before reaching the spring, there's even the abandoned Touch Hole Gold Mine, so named because the claim holders kept destroying the visitor-built pool at the spring in an effort to keep soakers away. After the claim was vacated, a couple from Hawaii rebuilt the pool and it's been great soaking ever since; THANK YOU to them. The mine is just before the spring on the right. UNLIMITED nude hiking and free fourteen day nude camping and two tepid tubs a few yards downstream from the warm spring add to this WORLD GUIDE CLASS area, but the icing on the cake is that less than 200 yards from the spring, Kaiser Canyon meets Burro Creek with its sandy beaches, good sun window, MASSIVE red sandstone sunning boulders, the largest we know of, and skinnydipping in the refreshing creek water. Who could ask for more?! Flowing at 12 gallons per minute and 95 degrees, Kaiser isn't hot in our book, but those waters must be HEAVENLY in summer. We enjoyed a couple of nice soaks; an advantage of spring water below about 99 degrees is that one can stay in much longer without becoming overheated; marathon soakers will be at home at Kaiser. According to three sources, clothing (rather, the lack of it) is NEVER a concern at Kaiser, "because that's the way the Indians used it for THOUSANDS of years before we arrived." Words cannot describe the feeling of freedom and sisterhood with nature, one feels strolling down Kaiser Canyon in clothes freedom.” We are definitely interested in joining other naturists on a weekend Skinny Road Trip from Phoenix to Las Vegas. We would plan to stop at the wonderful area described above. Let us know if you are interested in joining us.

Friday, May 4, 2012

Horse Thief Trail Freehike

Driving from Grand Junction, CO, to Salt Lake City, UT, in late April 2012, PJ and I stopped to freehike the San Rafael Swell with our friend Sum Oleguy. It had been years since we’d had a chance to be nude in this area. We started by taking a few photos (see http://imageevent.com/kenandjane/sanrafaelhike) at the abandoned Smith Ranch near the trailhead. Then we got naked and then hiked the Horse Thief Trail. We didn’t bother to take along a safety wrap; the area was so out-of-the-way. Much of the trail crossed slick-rock, so it was good we had a guide to keep us on the trail. Along the way we saw many beautiful red-rock formations. Boob Valley was especially interesting because the name was so descriptive of the rock formations. Spectacular views the norm near the top. Wow, what a view at the final pass where the trail dropped steeply to the valley. I has to be one of the best views in the world. The freehike back was quicker – we wanted to get down before dark. As always, the sun and breeze felt so wonderful on my bare skin, but it was especially gratifying to realize that my old feet still worked. That evening we ate dinner with Sum Oleguy and stayed at his home. Thanks Sum Oleguy for the very memorable freehike.

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Still Naked Me

Yesterday, as I was walking naked down the road (except boots) to work on the tail around Shangri La, I realized how completely naturism has become natural for me. I felt totally natural walking and working naked outdoors. In fact, it took conscious thought to even realize I was naked. Even the idea of working in clothes seemed totally insane. Later at 10:30 pm I was returning from the restroom (nude of course) and stopped to talk for about five minutes about the trail with a lady friend who was out walking her dog. She loved what PJ and I are doing. Afterwards, I realized how amazing it was for a naked guy to approach and talk with a naked woman in the dark of night without a care from either person. I slept naked of course. This morning I’m naked on the computer, and about ready to put on my socks and boots (that’s all) and head back to work on the trail for about five hours. I love being naked. Naked is so completely natural for me now. Naked is how I live! Naked is who I am!! Naked is great!!! PS – Morning, eating a bowl of Raison Bran, sitting under the large Palo Verde tree over my deck, the tree covered in yellow blossoms, accompanied by the buzz if many feeding bees, the breeze light, enjoyable, my next door neighbor stepped out of his trailer to let out the dog. Then Trucker Steve walked by with his dog. We were all nude. Nude is wonderful!

Naked Me

Yesterday, as I was walking naked down the road (except boots) to work on the tail around Shangri La, I realized how completely naturism has become natural for me. I felt totally natural walking and working naked outdoors. In fact, it took conscious thought to even realize I was naked. Even the idea of working in clothes seemed totally insane. Later at 10:30 pm I was returning from the restroom (nude of course) and stopped to talk for about five minutes about the trail with a lady friend who was out walking her dog. She loved what PJ and I are doing. Afterwards, I realized how amazing it was for a naked guy to approach and talk with a naked woman in the dark of night without a care from either person. I slept naked of course. This morning I’m naked on the computer, and about ready to put on my socks and boots (that’s all) and head back to work on the trail for about five hours. I love being naked. Naked is so completely natural for me now. Naked is how I live! Naked is who I am!! Naked is great!!!