Safebare

[Safebare]

Just stopping is to say Hello! and thanks for creating this wonderful site.  I have been a Free Range Naturist all of my adult life, just didn't call it that, and can trace it back to about 8 years old or so when I would skinnydip and wonder the woods, barefoot all over, at a neighbors lake house.  My friend and I called it 'going bot'.  Not sure why. 
Been going to the beach since diaper days and still find an occasional opportunity that I will share with everyone here.  I also am a recreational sailor (22' MacGregor).  Often to be found on the waters in and around Texas.
I too avoid the crowds and look for simple places to connect with nature, a few close friends and perhaps friends that I haven't met yet.  Been a card carrying member of TNS for about 25 years now, but not a member of any resorts or clubs.  I look forward to getting to know others here and maybe crossing paths on a trail, bay, beach or lake.  Until then,

Be Safe, Be Bare,
Safebare

[milfmog]

Hi Safebare,

And welcome to our little corner of cyberspace. It sounds like you will fit in well here, so feel free to jump into any conversation that catches your interest.

Have fun,


Ian.


(Edited to correct some gibberish that had inadvertently been allowed to sneak into my post - Ian.)

[nuduke]

Yes, hi from me too, Safebare.  From your short description you sound like an experienced FRN!
Looking forward to hearing your stories and participations in our discussions

John

[jbeegoode]

I'd like to hear about the boating and beaches.
Got any fun anecdotes or yarns?
Jbee

[Safebare]

Boating a beaches??  Yes, I have some stories to share.

The latest boating story was on Galveston Bay about a month ago.  My brother was racing with the Houston Yacht club and I promised to challenge them in my 22' MacGregor.  Actually, we were just going to maybe take some photos of the action.  Those plans were changed once we got out though because the thought of having to wear clothes on such a fine day just didn't float with me.  The GF and I set out around 10 am, sailing out near Kemah.  This is a great place to watch different sailboat types, kinda like people watching at the mall.  You see these magnificent boats that never hoist the sails.  They motor out and motor in, calling it a trip.  What??!!
Anyway, I had thrown the shorts through the forward hatch while raising the jib, that would help me forget them as we enjoyed the day.  It was calm and the temperature was fantastic.  I kept threatening to hoist the Genoa (larger jib), but my GF convinced me that we were moving along fine without it.  We had a pod of dolphins follow us for over an hour.  Coming up to the side, breaching, playing and rolling over to give us a wink. They were truly interested in us as much as we were in them.  I regret that we didn't douse the sails and join them in the water.
There were many other boats, powered and sail, in the area, but plenty of room for everyone.  I didn't flaunt my (and GF) clothing choice, but didn't go to great lengths hiding it either.   I noticed a tri-hull a couple of times, but never was close enough to take notice.  When it was time to call it a day, we dropped sails and jumped into the warm, murky water.  When we were back on board and getting everything ready for the final trip in to the ramp when I noticed the tri-hull headed straight toward us.  I had cranked the outboard and didn't want to get in their way.  They apparently noted our turn towards shore and tacked port.  It was then that I noted that they shared our idea of proper sailing attire.  They went on their way, we on ours.  Maybe we will run into them on our next adventure.
My brother was upset that there was little wind for a race and they didn't fair so well.  It wasn't hard to brag about the day we had.

Be Bare, Be Safe,
Safebare

[JOhnGw]

Wonderful boating post.
I t makes me quite discontented with the naturist restrictions imposed by "ditchcrawling" our canals.

[Greenbare Woods]

Texas has great weather for beaches and sailing.   Some years ago I visited the naked area north of Galveston.  It was the off season so it was kind of chilly but we enjoyed the day anyway, pretty much by ourselves. 

Bob

[jbeegoode]

My boating in the Miami area, had me checking out every boat, gotta love 'em. It seemed that the sail boats had the skimpiest swim suits and lack of. It got so whenever I saw a sailboat, I assumed. That was my limited sampling, have you noticed that?

I thought that power boats were oriented to getting A to B and fishing, whereas sailboats have a sense of nature and a sensual awareness. Just projecting and surmising without any hard data.
Jbee

[Safebare]

Sailors are a different sort of boater, for sure. I wouldn't assume that they all share the distaste for fabric as ourselves, but would expect them to be more understanding and tolerant. Not unlike wilderness hiking.
Don't forget the boaters that are neither out for sport nor transport (A to B) but are out to burn petrol and infringe on everyone else. Those partiers are the ones I most avoid.

[Greenbare Woods]

Sailors all have to be focused and in tune with nature to make the boat move.   Power boaters often ignore nature and force their will.   So sailors tend to be more conscious of their own nature and bodies than power boaters.  Being a sail boater is all about being in tune and in harmony with nature. 

[eyesup]

. . . the boaters that are neither out for sport nor transport (A to B) but are out to burn petrol and infringe on everyone else.

This isn’t SN related, but bad power boater behavior is an experience we had on a canoe trip in my son's Boy Scout Troop.

We had probably 15 or so canoes with scouts and another 4-5 with the leaders. We were headed downstream from the dam and in the hot season the powerboats are allowed upstream. I was in a canoe with another leader at the back of the pack and two speed boats passed the trailing canoe at high speed.  It was the last canoe with scouts and they passed on either side, one up and one down stream. The waves crossed each other and the combined waves were 2-3 feet high. It swamped the canoe.

A boat of day trippers stopped and rendered aid and told us that they saw what happened and it was intentional. The water there is about 57D F. There are good and bad boaters out there. We were fortunate that day.

Duane

[jbeegoode]

I always keep next to the shore, not allowing power boats in between. It's more interesting there anyway. It often makes for better naked time. How wide is the channel there?

It is difficult to nail down intentional, stupid, callous or ignorant acts, but if I thought someone swamped a group of kids on purpose in the middle of a deep lake....
Jbee

[eyesup]

Where the incident occurred, the width was probably 100 yds. or so. Plenty of room to avoid a group of scouts. The fact that the two ski boats passed that close going opposite directions was in itself an indicator. We were trying to pay attention to the scouts and take in the vertical canyon walls at the same time so I didn't see the boats until they were right in front of us. Canoes are slow to maneuver so there was no way to avoid them.

Besides, boating etiquette requires you to slow down when near anyone else no matter the conveyance. We were lucky another boater stopped. They grabbed the scouts out of the water and allowed them to sit on deck in the sun and warm up while we flipped the canoe and bailed water. One scout was older and extremely p***ed at the boaters, the other was a 1st year 10 yr. old that was scared out of his wits.

Scouts are not allowed to go on any kind of trekking activities until they have earned the Merit Badge for that activity, not even if a parent is along. Life vests were mandatory and in this case did their job in the cold water. Try flipping a canoe full of water and camping gear while in the water and/or another canoe.

As I said, the other boater group was a blessing. They were among the good guys.

Duane

p.p.s Wow!  Retelling that story got my blood boiling all over again a those guys!

[nudewalker]

It might have been on this site when last summer I complained that the watercraft officers on a certain lake were adamant about canoe and kayak paddlers wearing a life jacket. As much as I also try to stay near shore or in no wake zones there have been a number of times boaters have done some questionable things. If only you had a camera and could have got the registration numbers. Myself, it would be nice to have had a hand held torpedo or two!