Encounters...what to do?

[Peter S]

I tried a new walk on Sunday, trying an area I've walked a number of times textile (with others) and each time thought the empty landscape should be FreeRange-Friendly (at the time I thought SN-Friendly, but times change ) )

Having crossed a couple of fields and climbed a hill through a wood with the place to myself, I found myself on the open hilltop heading towards woodland and thinking, I am in the open sunshine and perfectly visible to anyone in the wood but I wouldn't be able to see them as the wood is just a dark area. When I was 20 yards from the wood there appeared a dog immediately followed by its slowly jogging owner. Oops, too late to do anything! So I made like nothing was amiss, nodded a greeting (which was ignored) and carried on, as did he.

An hour or so later, on the return downhill leg, I was sat on a log taking a drink and a breather when dog and owner appeared from the wood behind me. This time, given where I was, I had donned my shorts. The jogger made to pass, looked at me twice and stopped. "Was that you earlier walking around naked up there?" I admitted as much, and said it was only way to be in such lovely weather (sparkling repartee is not my strong point). "Does anyone ever get angry at you?" he asked. No, I said, some people laugh.

And off he went.

peter

[milfmog]

I reckon that when I look back over all my unplanned encounters around 10% of folks are happy to stop and chat. Another 10% look concerned / angry / unhappy and avoid any contact with the naked madman and 80% don't really give a monkey's cuss either way. I'd guess your dog walker was towards the intolerant end of not really caring.

Have fun,


Ian.

[Safebare]

I had 2 encounters this past month that I found interesting.  The first was at the Padre Island National Seashore (Corpus Christi).  I had to be in Corpus for the day and vowed to get my feet into the sand before returning home.  It was late on a weekday and only one car sitting next to a tent near the pilings that mark the beginning of the National property.  The area next to the pilings is often crowded with families getting away from the beach traffic, so you have to cover until you get far enough down the beach not to attract attention.  This time I simply threw a sarong around my waist and headed out.  The sarong only stayed on for a short distance as no one was in sight.  I found a log in the dunes a short distance further and stashed the sarong to continue unencumbered.  I got to a spot where I decided to go for a quick swim before heading back.  I noticed a figure in the distance headed toward me.  No bother, I was going into the water anyway.  As I played in the surf, trying to coax a body surfing wave out of the tide, the young man waved from the beach as he neared.
It was obvious that he was going to wait for me.  I continued playing in the surf for as long as I had planned then returned to shore.  There he was in shorts and me completely bare.  We shared greetings and he apologized for his 'stalking' nature.  He had never been to a Texas beach (from Ft Worth) and thought I might appreciate a spotter while enjoying the surf.  I assured him that I had been doing this since diapers and was confident in my abilities to avoid harm in the calm Texas surf.  He asked about biting and stinging critters and I assured him that he would not encounter any on this day.
He then asked if it was really ok to be naked.  I assured him that no one would bother him there.  That nudity was ok for the most part, as long as you didn't impose on those that would be offended.  He exclaimed 'Awesome!'  We went our separate ways, he stripping off the shorts and jumping in the surf, me the long nude journey home.  Second story to follow.

Be Safe, Be Bare,
Safebare

[Safebare]

The second encounter happened the following week near McFadden Beach on the upper Texas Coast.  I used to live on Bolivar Peninsula and enjoyed this particular stretch of beach over many decades.  This area is very remote and can be extremely difficult to get to.  Different police departments have struggled over jurisdiction ending up with an agreement with the park service to enforce textile compliance, you only need to cover the offending bits.  So the citations do not carry the impact of a judicial case, only a fine.  The park service also enforces a ban on using park roads, making access even more difficult.  This is a distraction from the actual story, but thought you would like to have some background. 
I was in my Mazda 6, not a particularly good beach vehicle, but I'm not easily intimidated.  I pulled up to the first stretch of soft sand and stopped to pee and consider options.  A truck was approaching and also stopped on the other side of the soft sand.  He stepped out in a thong and looked for a good place to get through the sand.  Since he was coming from the traditional nude area wearing minimal attire, I did not cover.  After negotiating the soft sand, he stopped and got out to talk with me, stripping off the pouch of his thong.
I asked about the drivabilty of the beach further down.  He said that another car was down there, but probably drove through the park road to get there.  He didn't think anyone could get down the beach without 4X4.  He then kept exclaiming how wonderful it was to see another naked man.  The whole while, he could not keep his hands off his penis.  Pulling it to and fro, juggling and tugging it.  I just wanted to get on with my day.
I got through the soft sand and actually made it to the traditional nude area.  Everyone was on guard to cover, but there was plenty of open beach.  I carry a sock to don if I suspect the approach of authorities, it also makes a good koozie.  Did not have to wear the sock this day, did not get stuck and got some very nice shells.  A good day. 
The exhibitionists have taken all of the fun away from this section of beach.  They post their activities on line and wonder why they get harassed by the authorities.  Graffiti at the entrance announces the nude beach, but then also states 'NO CHILDREN'.  I explained to the man in the convertible thong that was why I usually chose to go elsewhere (Padre Island, etc.). 

Be Safe, Be Bare,
Safebare

[jbeegoode]

Sorry to read about another of these exhibitionists playing with themselves. They give us all a bad name.

The access to a wide area with remote warm water beach isn't something that I thought existed in this country anymore. You may have just added something to my bucket list.
Jbee

[John P]

I was out with the Singles Outdoor Club in April of last year--I think it was their first walk of the season--and that group normally covers up if they encounter anyone on the path. But sometimes there are situations where someone comes around a corner quickly and catches them unaware. That happened on this walk, where a woman walking two dogs met the group, about a dozen of us, unexpectedly. She shook her head and said, "Nobody will ever believe this" and walked on.

[johnb]

I was out with the Singles Outdoor Club in April of last year--I think it was their first walk of the season--and that group normally covers up if they encounter anyone on the path. But sometimes there are situations where someone comes around a corner quickly and catches them unaware. That happened on this walk, where a woman walking two dogs met the group, about a dozen of us, unexpectedly. She shook her head and said, "Nobody will ever believe this" and walked on.

Your post reminded me of one or two others SOC encounters. Normally one is looking ahead to see if anyone is coming, however on one occasion some back markers were caught up unexpectedly from behind by a couple of women. They were quite happy and one joked that her husband would never believe her.

On a more recent occasion on a narrow section of path in the Boxhill area, we met a woman with a dog as she came around a bend a few yards ahead. We stopped and started to cover up, but she simply smiled and don't worry.

Obviously group encounters with a just one or two textiles, tend to play out differently to a single naturist encountering one or more textiles.

John

[JOhnGw]

While editing my video footage I came across some more footage of my encounter with a dog walker one morning during my boat trip from which this still is taken.
A quick viewing of the footage shows that I tried to make eve contact with him ready to exchange a greeting but he ignored me and there is no speech on the sound track.

[jbeegoode]

JohnGW, that is a very telling picture combined with your description of the encounter.

It would be difficult to tell what a person is thinking, when they offer no eye contact, looking the other way, hiding from any communication.

I have to ask why the avoidance. Is it knee jerk politeness training, that when one is nude, that it is a private moment?  Is it not to cast eyes on sin and remain pure? Is it fear of something unknown? Is it disgust at something is out of place when everything has to be in place? Is it the sexual associations that nudity implies to the sick and he thinks that he has encountered some exhibitionistic character out for jollies? Is he just one of those people who go through life whose standard interaction is without eye contact with passersby, wishing to avoid involvement with anyone, like so many do in the larger crowded cities? When I walk around the University, rarely do people greet, nod, acknowledge, but avoid any interaction. Could it be that he just doesn’t want any interaction with the freak, so as to be sucked in looking as, or feeling as uncool as this naked person? Many would die before being seen naked vulnerable, insecurities, secrets uncovered and this is associating with that projection. Could it be so out of his norm, so out of place, that he just doesn’t know how to react, is confused and is being cautious? “Hallucinations…am I having hallucinations, surely this can’t be real.”

These people who don’t lay their cards on the table are scary. You never know what they are thinking, or what they might do.

All of the above, I see as much to do about nothing. It is unreasonable fears, personal insecurities driving irrational control needs.

 Personal boundaries are set aside and created by all sorts of communication. They are learned over many years and adjusted to circumstance. People get locked up in their comfort zones, trapped like the metaphor of a cage. Sometimes animals get aggressive when you get too close to the cage. Sometimes they bite a friendly helping hand. Sometimes they cower. They are always conditioned by the circumstance and protection of the cage. When we are naked during an encounter, we have disappeared the cage. One of the other animals is loose and the caged ones notice. It is a different world out of the cage.

This is all very human, very complex, very diverse, fear was hardwired into us from a very long time ago.
Jbee

[JOhnGw]

JBee - in my experience the eye contact and greeting conundrum is very much a city v village thing.
In a village everybody greets everybody else as a matter of common politeness whether they know them or not whereas in a city the convention is to ignore everybody except people with whom you already have a degree of intimacy.

The canal towpath generally comes into the village category but, judging from the FRN-craft which I exercised before choosing that particular mooring spot, the dog walker in the picture may well have driven to the nearest canal bridge to walk his dogs on a Sunday morning and actually dwell in the centre of Birmingham.

I have noticed this village/city contrast particularly on the canal in the middle of London where to boaters it is a village while to all others it is a city.

[balead]

But sometimes there are situations where someone comes around a corner quickly and catches them unaware.

Obviously group encounters with a just one or two textiles, tend to play out differently to a single naturist encountering one or more textiles.

I'm not saying this is typical but I was out walking in October when on passing a gap in the hedge, a couple appeared, walking through it. I obviously had no time to react. They had coats on so must have been very surprised to see a naked person. The male said "Are you alright mate?". I just replied with a "Good morning", walked on and they went in the opposite direction. The most embarrassing thing about the encounter for me was when I realised that despite my greeting, it was well gone 2pm in the afternoon!

[Davie]

I must admit that I've been lucky. I know I've always spotted others before they see me. (Well at least tat's my perception)  It's amazing how ones senses are heightened when walking without clothes. I have to admit that I restrict my naked walks to open countryside so I can usually spot if anyone else is about from some distance.

Davie 

[balead]

Yes Davie, that is the safest way, much better than a public wood etc in that respect, especially in the middle of the day.

[eyesup]

The most embarrassing thing about the encounter for me was when I realized that despite my greeting, it was well gone 2pm in the afternoon!

I would view that as a indicator of how confident and comfortable you are walking naked. You were more concerned with their perception of your failure to remember the time of day as opposed to your failure to wear clothes.

That's a good thing.

Duane

[jbeegoode]

Uh oh. An older guy wandering around in the countryside, having forgotten his clothes, and doesn't have any sense of time, seemingly unaware of his predicament! Call the authorities! He is probably lost, wandered off from the Alzheimer care home. His loved ones will be worried. "Hey, old fella, we're your friends. Can you tell us what day it is?"

This ain't the sixties no more and we're not so young to assume and snicker, "Won't he be surprised when he comes down off of that stuff."
Jbeeeeee