How was your month for Free Range Naturism?

[jbeegoode]

Davie, there was an option like that on WNHD in Vermont, a wonderful idea.

The turnout sounds good.  I wonder what may happen when the weather happens to be wonderful.

The weather went downhill the last day of January, so I can claim that I have had no new years hike and it is already February. The weather has been off, DF lost a brother to covid and has been back east for weeks helping out. My focus has been getting this sauna garden project rolling while she is out of town.

I got a surprise rental for three weeks during the Tucson Mineral and Gem Show and took the pile of cash. These guys aren't here for the clothing optional stay and have foreign sensibilities, so interrupting a lot of my working outside nude. With the chilly weather, I've been clothed more than in years this month. We had planned a few days at the hot springs, but life got in the way all at once...oh well, this all shall pass, but it does feel a bit odd...no, very odd....
Jbee

[Greenbare Woods]

January has been cold, freezing cold, outside so I've been spending a lot of time indoors.  All the firewood I cut last summer is cutting our heating bills, and the stove is a warm place to hang out until spring.

[nuduke]

DF lost a brother to covid and has been back east for weeks helping out.

.
That's terrible!  How tragic.  Please send my sincerest condolences to her.

I got a surprise rental for three weeks during the Tucson Mineral and Gem Show and took the pile of cash. These guys aren't here for the clothing optional stay and have foreign sensibilities, so interrupting a lot of my working outside nude.

What does all that mean?  What's a surprise rental? Do you trade in Minerals and Gems?  Or is this a lodger you took in - Are you a clothes optional Airbnb??
Is there any limit to your talents!?
John

[jbeegoode]

I have a studio with a kitchenette and breakfast nook that is scheduled to be clothing optional AirB&B. When I began to consult a friend about it, she came up with some guys that are venders from LA that needed a place during the big show It is difficult to find lodging during the show and everything is priced up. We suddenly had a three week stay for cash, which will pay for all of the planned improvements. The thing was, I wasn't ready, not even a bed, so DF and I had a week to put it all together. It was hectic and she had to leave for back east three days into it. They are Indian/Tibet, so the clothing option isn't official until after their stay and some more work, like repainting, some plastering and adding a window...then there is the matter of enclosing the screened-in Arizona room/porch, getting the extensive garden up to snuff, while I finish up the sauna...whew!

Jbee

[Greenbare Woods]

I have a studio with a kitchenette and breakfast nook that is scheduled to be clothing optional AirB&B.
Jbee 

Good for you.   If we come to visit in Tucson we know where to stay. 

[jbeegoode]

You might try to do that, but you and I would probably end up camping in the woods, or desert instead.
Jbee

[jbeegoode]

Bob, I have been researching how to heat the new sauna. Came up with my solution, but looking at your above pictures, I was reminded of a friends sauna out by Safford, Arizona. There is is a large stone/stucco room. There are two barrels used looking much like yours. The contraption makes and industrial sort of boiler sound when we crank it up. When water is splashed onto the outside, the sound resonates sort of an industrial sound.

Does yours make that sound, is it quiet? Why did you choose to use the two stages. Is it just to collect heat? Does a pipe go through it? I will need something to heat my porch/greenhouse when I enclose it with glass. It will be a slight transition from indoors to outdoors to hang out in, naked.

Jbee

[Greenbare Woods]

Does yours make that sound, is it quiet? Why did you choose to use the two stages. Is it just to collect heat? Does a pipe go through it? I will need something to heat my porch/greenhouse when I enclose it with glass. It will be a slight transition from indoors to outdoors to hang out in, naked.
Jbee

My stove is just a wood stove.  The 2nd barrel is for space heating, more surface area.   Works well.  An inexpensive stove solution.  Doesn't make much noise. 

https://www.usstove.com/product/barrel-stove-kit/

[jbeegoode]

I'd been talking to my Safford friend yesterday. Theirs wasn't producing enough draw and the top barrel was disconnected. Theirs was used for a sauna in a smaller room. Have you ever heard of one being modified by packing stones, or firebrick around it to hold the heat longer rocket mass style?

I bought a 1/4 inch steel pipe section39 inches long for our new sauna. Should last forever. There will be a basket for rocks saddled over it to pour water. there is to be a 9 inch pipe running up, then horizontal, then up again to horizontal back before going through the roof. Sort of the same principle as yours. It is modeled after one at the Terra Sante community. When they added the extra chambers in the pipe, the heat output soared.
Jbee

[Greenbare Woods]

I'd been talking to my Safford friend yesterday. Theirs wasn't producing enough draw and the top barrel was disconnected. Theirs was used for a sauna in a smaller room.

Wood stoves have to have enough chimney to draw well.   Mine has 20 feet of 6 inch stove pipe.  It draws very well.   In snow country the stove pipe has to be near the center of the roof so sliding snow and ice doesn't clean it off.  Originally my stove was closer to the side of the house with a sloped stove pipe.  The sloped part let soot, cinders, and creosote accumulate on the bottom of the pipe until it blocked the air flow.  I had to move the stove closer to the center of the house. 

Your friend might have done well to stick on a few feet more stove pipe above the roof instead of removing the top barrel.   Its supposed to be at least 2 feet above any part of the roof within 10 feet horizontal from the chimney, but you can go higher. 

Have you ever heard of one being modified by packing stones, or firebrick around it to hold the heat longer rocket mass style?

Not really seen one like that.  Hot rocks would work.  Sweat lodges generally use hot rocks for heat. 

I bought a 1/4 inch steel pipe section39 inches long for our new sauna. Should last forever. There will be a basket for rocks saddled over it to pour water. there is to be a 9 inch pipe running up, then horizontal, then up again to horizontal back before going through the roof. Sort of the same principle as yours. It is modeled after one at the Terra Sante community. When they added the extra chambers in the pipe, the heat output soared.
Jbee

39  inches doesn't sound like enough flu for a good draw.   Another 3 feet (or more) of regular stove pipe above the roof would be good.   Watch out for the horizontal sections.  They can collect soot and creosote.  Might have to clean it out occasionally. 

The old log cabin sauna at Valley View in Colorado used to have an old wood stove. It may have been made of cast iron.   People always tossed water directly on the stove.  The stove had a crack running up the side, probably from being splashed with water.   The crack didn't seem to bother much.  Their new sauna is all fancy shit. 

[jbeegoode]

18 inch diameter, 1/4 inch thick and 39 long to burn wood in. Then the 9 inch pipe going up with the horizontal fixture. I had two clean-outs built to get at the horizontal parts. The rest just heads straight up through the roof. Haven't decided how long the pipe will be except "to code" over the roof. The horizontal part adds to the overall length. It is there to slow the flow to some degree.The fire will be burning quite hot. The one at Terra Sante works great. I'm figuring this is close to that.

I'm looking at my options to build a heater with a glass window to watch the flames in my soon to be enclosed with glass windows porch. It's to heat the Arizona room, which is a sort of greenhouse effect. I want to come up with a cheap heater/fireplace. I figure a steel contraption and then I'll cover it with some mass, vents and stucco/rock for ambiance.
Jbee

[nuduke]

I haven't been doing any stove pipe engineering this month you'll be abashed to note, stove guys!
Jan / Feb's been a sh** month for naturism for me although I did get a bit of garden time one chilly but sunny day.  I've been so busy with meetings and going places that almost every day has needed clothes.  I've had some hours of domestic nudity though as usual. Roll on the better weather....
John

[Greenbare Woods]

Snow is almost gone.  Just a few shady places left with snow.   It hit 50F briefly this week, but 40s with a breeze is still too cold for me without a jacket.  Spring is coming though.

[jbeegoode]

Now, mid-way through Feb. things are improving. DF got back from back-east, the temperurature is through the roof wonderful sudenly and there are a few more days of this.

The road to the trailhead has been blocked off with a private gate and we had to hike an extra mile to get there. Everything back up there shows little activity, overgrown, few tracks, but we did bump by chance into my pack of Javalina. They were fat, much more numerous and prosperous looking, making my heart soar and giving me chuckles.

We went to Tortolita to de-stress DF and hike, yesterday. It has been over two years. Things had changed. I left just in time. There is a new driveway road and two building pads up on the ridge behind my  old house. One looks down on havarock. The Javalina are still habitating there, now that the destruction has stopped. Laying on Havarock for probably the last time before it becomes someone's backyard, had me well up. Between DF's woahs we wanted to escape from and the harsh changes in the neighborhood, it was an emotional, but healing day.

The thing was, that was the first naked hike of the year, due to circumstance, a phenomena in our lives. I wrote the story in detail. A trip report will follow in time.
Jbee

[jbeegoode]

Just not great weather and so much to do. I have felt the frustration of our short Arizona winter weather extending into spring. I have been making the most of the heat of the sun in the afternoon to further this project, but often protective shoes and a sweatshirt keep me warm. We had to cancel at the last minute, plans at the hot springs due to DF's daughter's moving away and needing help, so there is no spectacular outing to report for the last half of February. We discussed Zipolite, but there is too little time, but we made a list of trips to look forward to, as the weather will be improving soon. There was one day topping 80F and a couple more coming up this next week.

We did have a pleasant day at a nude music fest at Mira Vista Resort last weekend. Lounging, dancing in the pool and around it, seeing friends. There is a windbreak effect there and the sun was keeping the temps pleasant in the low 70's.
Jbee