How was your month for Free Range Naturism?

[jbeegoode]

Seems like only yesterday when I last wrote, "Another month has come and gone?!"

When, I look back, it has been long and full. Not always naturist pursuits, but a holiday season. Mother's Day, our personal Anniversary, the sweats first anniversary, and then a multitude of birthdays. We celebrated several Taurus parties as well as our own B-days and the new grandaughter's. Every couple of days, it was cake and ice-cream and then left over cake and ice-cream in-between! It started with a fundraiser party in April and then Taurus hit. Oh woah is me. As I assess the damage, it could be worse. I'll exercise and eat healthy again. Christmas season does now come twice a year.

We did host nude sweats for recovery Sundays, six or seven sweats during the month. The first party was nude, we were nude at the hot springs in-between our birthdays, yet May babies were found there as well and we all shared four cakes the entire time. I love cake, I have found that quite apparent!

I have been busy at the homeowner projects and tending foliage around the house. I spent most mornings squatting naked harvesting weeds, but, ya know, getting close to nature naked and that garden is a fine thing on any sunny morning.

I attached the portable cooler out on the porch, so the hot afternoons can often be more out of doors and cooled. I added speakers filled with music. It is becoming a wonderful spot of transition from indoors to outdoors. a compromise, with more controlled heat and no bugs, when the monsoon comes.

So, naked most all of the time, dressing festive to party and dance in the evening and the stubborn Taurus reputation pulling us through to persevere, we have had a good month.

The original plan to visit a slew of slot canyons has been postponed, but we are making ready for a very free ranging series of trips in the coming weeks.
Jbee

[Safebare]

May started out, . . . interestingly.

I had taken Jbee and DF to Lake Somerville for a Free Range Experience as they past through Texas (https://thefreerangenaturist.org/2023/02/22/somerville/). This is a little paradise I have been enjoying clothesfree for decades now, but I am always interested in sharing my Free Range Naturist experiences.

A 'burner' friend has a birthday in June and was interested in an 'out of the way location' for his party.  I suggested a deserted island, and he took the bait. We paid a visit in early April to scope out the beach and agreed to take a boat ride to the island in May to actually camp on the island. This would give us enough information to decide whether an overnight party on the island was doable.

The idea of using my sailboat to transport a bunch of burner hippies to the island along with all of their overnight necessities, was optimistic at best. But, who am I to cast doubt on an idea that was mine to begin with?

I had scouted out the legality and logistics of such an enterprise and received a luke warm response from the Corp that was in charge of the islands and parks. Asking if we could camp on the island, their response was, "Why would anyone want to? You know one of the islands is called Snake Island for a reason!" I took that as an implicit YES!

The closest boat ramp was reserved for paying campers only, so we would have to pay for a campsite to use the ramp. But, the next ramp over was a 24hr, public ramp, free to all who want to use it. I asked about leaving a truck/trailer overnight at the public ramp and was given an answer I had heard before. "Yes, but who would want to do that?"

So, on May 1st, I decided to put the pieces together. I would launch at the public ramp, travel to the island and scope out the camping options. We would test out those camping options later in the month, this was only a reconnaissance mission. My burner buddy, Angie, agreed to accompany me on this adventure.

We found the public ramp without any difficulty. It is set up for fishing boats, but that didn't stop me from pulling in like I owned the place. The various fishing boats came and went while I was rigging up the sailboat. They gave me many a sideward glance as they passed by, not quite knowing what to think about this kilt clad hippie rigging up a sailboat on their ramp, but everyone was cordial.

Fishing boats drive on/off their trailers, my boat takes more hands-on maneuvering and Angie was not experienced in the necessary operations, but she did provide welcome company. So I had to self launch the boat, drive it to the dock, walk back to remove the truck/trailer from the ramp, park appropriately and walk back to the dock.  Nearby fishermen were obviously entertained, hanging around the area throughout the operation.

Once on the water and under sail, I doffed the kilt and proceeded in long tacks toward the island. Angie felt a bit more exposed in the open water with various boats in the distance, but soon got equally comfortable.

We beached on the leeward side of the island, very near the area where Jbee, DF and I frolicked last year. There were no rocks or logs in this area, but the wind was light, so I simply beached the boat in the shallow reeds. I could/should of pulled out the anchor, but I am not one to be intimidated by fate.

Angie was better prepared for this part of the journey, as every experienced burner has a sturdy pair of hiking boots at all times. Me? I had my trusty flip-flops. We both wore sunglasses and carried cold beverages as we explored the island.

Amazingly, there was nobody fishing the shores of the island. Much of the island is covered with nettle, brambles, poison ivy/oak, and other hazards to civility. But we did locate 2 clear meadows, the best of which was overlooking the main body of the lake, with a clear view to the dam and the town of Somerville on the distant shore.

After surveying the island, we headed back to the boat. Or back to where the boat was left. It had by now floated 1/2 way to the opposite shore.  I hollered to Angie before jumping into the water to retrieve the boat.

The boat was probably 100 yards away at that point and I swam like there was a chance I could catch up with it. It didn't take long to realize that the boat would be resting on the distant shore before I would be able to catch it, so the nautical sprint became a marathon.

After the ~200 yard swim, I was safely on the boat, catching my breath and retrieving a cold beverage from the cooler.  I glanced up to see poor Angie on the distant shore, hands firmly planted on her bare hips, with a look of 'what now?' on her face. Her clothes and other belongings, except for the boots and sunglasses, were with me, on the boat.  So I decided it was time for some quick, manly action, fired up the kicker motor and headed back across the lake.

Not long after, we hoisted sails and headed back to the ramp. The return trip was fairly uneventful, with good winds, I was able to sail on a reach directly to the ramp, donning the kilt as we doused the sails. The day was nearing its end and the ramp was not nearly as populated at this point, but I kept the kilt on so I could focus on rigging down without worrying about more fishermen's sudden appearances.

I doffed the kilt again as the sun set as we headed back to the house.

I returned for the camping trip on May 20th and will complete that part of the story soon.

~Safebare

[Greenbare Woods]

We beached on the leeward side of the island, very near the area where Jbee, DF and I frolicked last year. There were no rocks or logs in this area, but the wind was light, so I simply beached the boat in the shallow reeds. I could/should of pulled out the anchor, but I am not one to be intimidated by fate.

~Safebare

Leaving a boat on a beach can leave you stranded.   If the tide comes in, your boat floats away.  If the tide goes out, your boat is high and dry on the beach.

One evening many years ago some friends and I beached our boat on an uninhabited island near Seattle, and spent the evening around a fire cooking and eating the fish we had caught earlier in the day.  The sun was going down when we went back to the boat and found it about 50 meters up the beach from the edge of the water.  It was a fairly heavy 17 foot fiberglass boat with large outboard motor.  It was starting to get cold as the sun went down and we didn't have coats for a cold night.

My friend and I looked around the beach and found some driftwood poles and logs.  We used the poles to leaver up the boat and slide small logs underneath. After a lot of prying, moving logs, etc., we managed to roll our boat back into the water.   I suppose it was better to have the tide going out.  An incoming tide might have left us stranded on an uninhabited island.  I learned that the beach is not always a safe parking for a boat.

Glad you were able to get your boat retrieved.   

[jbeegoode]

"Safe" bare!!!
One Robyn Carouso, stranded on a desert island, no provisions, even cloth!

Fun different kind of adventure, great story. Look forward to more. Glad to have been there, I can picture it all.

Jbee

[nuduke]

A hairy moment indeed, Safebare.  Not so safe mooring it seems Nevertheless a very entertaining report and one might conclude that you are a very strong swimmer!  Glad you managed to make it.  Had you not retrieved the boat, what would you have done?
John

[nuduke]

My month for FRN has been quite good.  Several warm days have coincided with days I am not too busy so have irritated the wife by being naked as much as possible.  She's definitely getting more used to it and I'm more used to saying no when she tells me to get some clothes on!  On Saturday she sat outside and read her book whilst I mowed the lawn naked.  Usually she goes inside if I'm outside doing stuff naked.
Last Thursday I had some planned textile activity on a very warm day that took place half way between my home and the locale I have been intending to try out for naked walking since last year and this year waiting for a decent day when I am available to go there! 
The opportunity finally arrived after my activity of the morning and early afternoon so off I went to this locale.  In the 15 minute drive there the sun went in, a chill wind blew up, gradually dark clouds appeared and it started to drizzle with rain.  "I'm made of sterner stuff than that, doesn't have to be sunny for an FRN ramble" I remarked to myself and pressed on.  The locale is the grounds of a once stately home which is now deserted and derelict and gone except for traces.  The extensive, overgrown grounds and surrounding woodland and lake survive and make it a picturesque place, which I have walked twice, clothed, with a friend.  There is nowhere to park in this manor which is fronted by huge gates which are usually closed to traffic by a barrier but open to walkers, so one parks just outside the perimeter and the gates provide access.  Not only had the weather turned on me, I noticed that the gates looked different - a load of additional new, heavy gates and a prominent new 'Private' sign now denied access to the estate!  So my plan was foiled.  I was extremely disappointed.  Another very promising FRN venue evaporated.  I get precious few opportunities for a naked ramble these days and this was just a waste of one of them. I went home dejected, threw off my clothes and sulked in the garden in the sunshine which believe it or not had once again emerged.  That's UK weather for you - raining on one side of the street, sunny on the other and no telling which side is which on any day.  One feels that there are unseen, evil powers that work against one.
John

[Safebare]

Yes, John, Karma (aka Loki) can be a mischievous devil, often spoiling a perfectly planned adventure, while other times providing joyous surprises.
You asked "Had you not retrieved the boat, what would you have done?"
This was not a large body of water, but if the wind had shifted 180⁰ the boat would have floated a considerable distance further. I guess the worst case scenario would be to swim to a fisherman asking for help, and a towel!🤪🤣.
Your story reminded me of a time in my youth that I was free hiking around a small lake in East Texas and came across a hunting cabin. It had an old ice box refrigerator, where the block of ice goes into the top and food/beverages below. I was probably around 10yo.

Greenbare, it is a lake, no tidal issues there. I enjoyed your story, and have beached overnight on a deserted Texas beach. Luckily, the tides here are less dramatic than most other places.

~Safebare

[jbeegoode]

DF wants to know if there was more water in the lake.

She also thinks that it is fun to know exactly what it looks like where it took place.

Glad the bigger boat doesn't leak.
Jbee

[Fellsnude]

Well, I know it's not halfway through June yet, but it's going pretty well. Two long days on the beach - could have been more if we didn't have so much to do. I had a couple of good walks in southern Scotland while Mrs F was on a music weekend. Also some nice lazy afternoons in the back yard at home. It's even warm enough to stay naked all day today unless I have to go anywhere.

Nuduke - are you getting opportunities? Anyone else in UK?

Fellsnude

[nuduke]

Yes, Fellsnude,
Apart from various appointments and a few other things, I have not dressed at home this week and told my wife to stuff it when she objects!  At mealtimes I wear a tiny bit of cover up for her benefit such as a loin cloth or my tiny towelling skirt or thong swimwear. 
being parchment white of skin, I have to be careful in the sun so I've been indoors a lot.
In a few minutes after I finish typing this I am on a zoom meeting call so I'll have to put a shirt on for an hour or so!!
Too hot to hike!
John 

[Fellsnude]

Just don't absentmindedly stand up during your Zoom, Nuduke!

[Fellsnude]

Strange - I can post on this thread but when I try the Nude in Public thread I get a 403 Forbidden message....perhaps there's a forbidden character in what I wrote because it won't post here either if I paste it in.

[Fellsnude]

Sorted now - a sentence I thought quite innocent must have triggered something. I took it out and the rest posted fine.

[Greenbare Woods]

Strange - I can post on this thread but when I try the Nude in Public thread I get a 403 Forbidden message....perhaps there's a forbidden character in what I wrote because it won't post here either if I paste it in.

That just happened to me a few moments ago.   "You don't have permission to access this resource.  403 error." 

My post only complained about cold weather here lately.  Strange.

[Safebare]

Yes! Jbee and DF, the lake level is back up to normal. The area we drove on to launch the canoe is now under water.  I did seal the canoe leaks after our adventure though I have not put it back into the water yet. I have acquired another, fiberglass canoe to add to my fleet.  Now all I need is time to get out on the water again.

On May 20th, Mumbles, Cat Snakes and I headed back to Somerville for our overnight camping adventure on the island. We reserved a spot at the campground nearest the island so we would have access to that boat ramp. Very glad that we did not stay at the campground as the reserved spot was in a highly populated, sparsely vegetated, camping circle.

The boat ramp had only one trailer in the lot, on a Saturday, proved this was not a highly active ramp.  We set about rigging up and loading far too much gear into the boat. Mumbles has boating experience so I positioned him in the boat for the launch, Cat Snakes was to hold onto the bow line and I was to drive the truck.

There is a large cottonwood overhanging the ramp, but I felt there was ample room if I hugged the north side of the ramp. Cat Snakes' one and only job at this point was to make sure the mast and rigging did not interfere with the tree limbs.  I positioned him just outside the truck window as I backed to ensure easy communication.

He guided me past the limbs successfully and declared the boat clear. Then, 10 feet further down the ramp all hell broke loose.  A huge (5" diameter) branch caught up in the upper rigging, throwing the windlass from it perch at the top of the mast. Forest would have been in harms way from the branch except the it hung up in the upper rigging.

We placed a ladder on the cabin and Forest climbed up to the hanging limb while I held the ladder, but the limb was far too heavy to remove from the spreaders. We ended up using the main halyard (hoist rope) to pull it free. Of course I was positioned in the cockpit pulling on the halyard when the limb freed and came crashing down on top of me.  No personal harm done as I rolled to the floor of the cockpit and the limb came down small branches first, leaving the heavy end to fall onto the cabin.

We had to re-balance the rigging and sail without the windlass, but otherwise found no damage to the boat.  We heaved the limb off the ramp and proceeded to launch. Once the boat was free of the trailer, I was concerned that the motor was revving at high speed, with no movement of the boat. Cat Snakes was judiciously holding the bow line with concern that mumbles was having trouble getting the boat to respond to his intentions. All worries were satiated when he remembered to put the outboard into gear.

Made the quick journey to the island, landing on the North, windward side, being sure to solidly secure the anchor. There were 3 fishing boats at the NE point, but otherwise we had the island to ourselves.  From dawn to dusk this NE point was occupied with various fishing boats, often with very noisy occupants. It must be the most popular fishing spot on the lake.

I had been nude since leaving the ramp and was not planning to get dressed unless absolutely necessary. Problem was that the prime fishing point also had the best camping meadow.  We had beached the boat far enough away from the point that I was comfortable enough to stay clothesfree, but would avoid getting any closer.

Occasionally a boat would motor closer to us, bringing prying eyes to check out the island hippies. I didn't want anyone to file a naked man report to the lake authorities, so would step behind the boat or cover with a towel or other object. This only occurred when we were on the Northeast side of the island. The rest of the island was free to explore as nature intended.

The South and East side was covered in thistle and nettle. Not accommodating to bare skin and very difficult to navigate in flip-flops. My companions, being of burner blood, were decked out in proper burner gear, including heavy hiking boots, long sleeves and trousers.

The water was just as luxurious as previous visits. There were no perch nipping or catfish incidents, just warm, murky water to relax in. My companions easily stripped their heavy gear to join me in the water, but were usually dressed as soon as they dried off.  Oh well, to each their own.

I intended to sleep on the boat, so Mumbles availed himself to my tent.  As the sun set, we made some roast chicken sandwiches along with hummus, cream cheese dip, avocados and veggies. I built a campfire and we filled the evening with tales of adventures and admiration of the star filled sky. We could see lights and hear the music from across the lake.  Apparently there is a live venue near the town of Somerville that was having a big night.

My night on the boat was not pleasant.  I should have moved it to the leeward side of the island because the incessant banging of the waves on the stern and movement made for a restless night. I have slept on the Amanda Lou only a few times, never was it the relaxing, sensual experience I thought it should be.

As day broke Sunday morning, I was up stoking the fire and making coffee. Of course there were several boats on the point. I guess "the early angler gets the fish." I put on a shirt to collect firewood nearer the point, but otherwise stayed nude.

I walked completely around the island and found a beautiful crone oak near the Southeast side of the island. She had a wound where a ranger cored her at some point to get her age and history. I knew this from my own forestry studies and experience with the Texas Forest Service in my youth. I am sure she is on a registry with the Forest Service, though I'm sure she doesn't hold any records. A magnificent tree in her own rights, I'm very pleased that she avoided the fires that were so prevalent in 2021.

Mumbles and Cat Snakes were starting to join the living as I returned to our little camp. So I started on breakfast.  It's one thing that I love about camping. Nothing beats a campfire, country breakfast.  Bacon, onions, peppers, garlic, red potatoes and eggs cooked in cast iron over an open fire.  A morning dip, drying in the sun, then eating a scrumptious meal.  There isn't a better way to start the day.

By this time the sun was high in the sky and we were ready to break camp for the return sail. The point was busiest Sunday morning, making me feel more exposed than comfortable, so I was happy as we turned stern toward the beach and sailed out into the lake.  We sailed across to the other island to see what it held for camping opportunities, but did not see any likely meadows, only woods and steep shore access. More partiers on this side though. Jet skis, party and powerboats were more plentiful than the typical fishing vessels we saw on "our" island.

Not much to report from there on to the boat ramp. The only other vehicle that came by while we were rigging down was a ranger. I was securing things in the truck and was surprised by a woman's voice in the distance.  She was just checking on the toilet block as Mumbles was visiting it.  I simply threw on my kilt and continued what I was doing.

An easy clothesfree drive back to the house completed the adventure.

~Safebare