Saturday 27 October 2018

Hiking, Naked in Nature

This is my first blog post on the new wordpress page. Still playing around with it so the look and layout is likely to change a few times in the near future. I am also posting to my blogspot page as well until I decide which platform I like better. Any feedback on the old versus new page, or the blog in general please don't hesitate to contact me.
My naturist activities are primarily restricted to our home, with occasional visits to Bare Oaks, Ponderosa, and Port Burwell.  The reality today is that for the vast majority of naturists, we must eventually put clothes on to take part in most day to day activities.  Because of this I do my best to make the most of every opportunity I can however I don't tend to be one to push the envelope as it were, I am no rebel or activist. The only time I have really pushed any boundaries was recently driving home nude from Port Burwell and if you read my previous blog you would know I don't feel that had anything to do with naturism, it was just juvenile fun with my girlfriend.

O
ne of the activities that both my girlfriend and I enjoy, as naturists or textiles, is hiking. In Ontario there are endless trails for hiking at every level, naturist hiking trails on the other hand, are virtually non existent . The two Naturist parks near Toronto both have hiking / nature trails but they are limited at best.  If you enjoy wandering in the forest for fresh air, panoramic views and just immersing yourself in nature, your only real option (legally) is to put some pants on. Recently the weather was warmer than typical for Canadian Autumn and we decided to take advantage of it even if it was a weekday. My work schedule means I sometimes have days off during the regular work week and the timing was perfect. Tara had to be a little devious and play hooky using a "sick" day but it was worth it just to get outdoors a little bit before we started our winter hibernation.

W
e planned for an afternoon hike, giving the sun time to warm up a little.  Sleeping in, taking our time with breakfast, it was almost noon when we got in the car and after one o'clock by the time we got to our destination. There are plenty of city trails where we live, however this time we wanted to see the full fall colours and headed inland to a conservation area we know to have amazing views and a variety of trails. When we arrived it appeared we were the only ones there.
bootsThe parking lot was empty and the front gate was not even staffed. Happy to have the trails to ourselves, and not having to pay an entry fee, we grabbed our backpacks and off we went. To begin with it was just another day hiking. Mostly sunny with only a few clouds, it warmed up quickly and began to feel much warmer then the weather app on my phone suggested it actually was. At this point I decided to be a truly bold naturist for the first time. Knowing this was a remote park, arriving after lunch without another car in the lot, I was confident we were the only too humans around for many kilometres. The isolation combined with maybe a little too much sun put a thought in my head that I honestly had not considered previously, and I asked Tara if she would be comfortable with me taking my clothes off and hiking naked at this very much NOT a clothing optional park? Knowing her as well as I do, this was a silly question, she is never one to hold someone back form being adventurous. I did ask her to join me but she decided against it.  So we continued on, Tara still dressed, myself wearing only a hat, socks, boots and a backpack.  Swimming still ranks at the top of may favourite naked activities, but there is something to be said about hiking without the hindrance of clothes. That feeling of the sun and a breeze on your skin is just amazing. Then there is the absence of sweaty clothes sticking to you, its just so much more comfortable. We mainly stayed to the developed trails with only a short trip on a more advance hiking trail. One of the drawbacks of the more rugged trails while nude is I have a couple of scrapes and scratches in spots normally better protected in some manor. Nothing too serious or sensitive, and I have no regrets, but it turns out clothes can be functional even if not as much fun.

Y
ou will often hear naturists say that naturism is not just about being naked, it's about a connection with nature and that nudity is a medium of that connection. On the surface it sounds like something someone who never made it out of the 60's would say and I was never sure if I fully agreed or disagreed with that way of thinking.  When you get out there and experience nature like this though it can be hard to argue with that logic. It was a great afternoon and it only got better from here.
rattlesnake-hero
One of the reasons we chose this park it that there are multiple trails with several streams and even a couple small waterfalls. Its a very tranquil location in general. When we came across a waterfall that was tall enough to stand under, I took advantage and shedding my remaining textiles of my hat ,socks and boots, and I had a mini naturist shower to cool off. I could tell Tara was really jealous of my nudity at this moment more than any other during the day. I also know everyone has there own comfort levels in life and naturism is no different.  So I refrained from making any comments like "no one is around" or "you know you want to". Also not forgetting I was currently breaking the law and if a nice family with children were to stroll by at any time, I would have some explaining to do.  Instead I suggested she join me, clothes and all, we had plenty of time to dry off before we head for home. In a previous life, one before I was a naturist, this conversation would have been no different. I was never one to miss an opportunity and I have gone head first into a number of lakes, rivers and the like over the years, not worrying about getting my clothes a little wet. It was clear she was considering it so I left her to think about it while I enjoyed probably the greatest "shower" of my life, but also one of the coldest. I could only step in the falling water for short periods before I began to look a little blue toned. I alternated a few times between warming in the sun, and turning blue in the cold water of the falls, and in both cases I was in a state of bliss. As I lay on patch of grass in the sun, Tara finally made her choice and started towards the waterfall. I wish I could tell you she got fully undressed first but it was not to be. She did remove her shirt, bra, shoes and socks before taking the plunge still wearing her shorts. I could not resist, I had to ask at this point "why not just go the 'Full Monty'??". She was having none of my peer pressure though, quickly and rather smartly responded that if in the event we were interrupted, someone would have to remain "legal" and available to bail the other out of jail. For those not aware, it is fully legal for women in Ontario to go topless anywhere a man can so she was not breaking any of the body shaming laws that I was. Tara is not normally one to take advantage of our topless equality laws as the social stigma related to the female nipple still has a long way to go. On a rare occasions she has let herself "shed the oppression" and go topless but they are few and far between. That day, even though we were fairly confident we had the trails and this wonderful waterfall to ourselves, going legally topless was as far as she was willing to push her comfort zone.  When we returned to the hiking trail we both put our shoes back on, but I otherwise stayed fully naked, and happily Tara chose to remain topless.

We continued on until the trail loop we were hiking eventually returned us to the parking area. Our car was still the only one in the lot so we did not bother to cover up until we made it all the way back at the car. As usual, I am always a little sad when a day of naturism ends and you have to put your clothes back on, the laws are what they are for now. I am envious of my European friends, where it is not so unheard of for someone to go hiking in the country without the shackles of clothing.  I imagine even in more rural areas of Canada, not so close to a big City like Toronto, it would be much easier to go on a hike in the woods or the mountains and go hours without seeing another soul. Then the focus of my adventure would be more about the hike, and less about my lack of clothes and the persistent worry of being caught. Maybe one day an opportunity will present itself. The weather is not very naturist friendly outside today anyway, and I am happy to be indoors without a need for clothes, typing away knowing tonight I will have a bottle of wine, a warm fire, and a hockey  game to watch with Tara. 

You can follow me on Twitter here: @NudeInCanadaGet Updates via Facebook hereYou can find out where to be Naked in Canada here

Thursday 4 October 2018

Naked Staycation = Staynakation??? (Part 3)

I recently had a weeks vacation and not currently looking to spend a lot of money at the moment, I planned out a rather wonderful Staycation / Nakacation……or a StayNakakation for Tara and I. We visited my greatest hits of Naturism in the Toronto area and the only time we were clothed was for the brief travel time between destinations (and even then there was an exception). I originally planned this out at as a single blog post but decided I would split it up once I realized how long it was becoming. 

The conclusion is below and you can find Part 1 - here,  and Part 2 here

Part 3 (This is the conclusion I promise):

Thursday / Day 4:

It would not be a true naturist vacation without at least a day trip to Bare Oaks. We initially planned on camping there however it was not in the cards. We were invited to see a movie with textile friends that evening and were unable to think of an excuse to get out of it.  Textiles are people too, it would be wrong to shun them entirely.  We made the most of our naturism time as best we could. Making an early start to beat some of the traffic on the highway, we headed towards Bare Oaks. Unsure how early the Bare Bistro
My favourite swimming hole
served breakfast on a weekday we decided to play it safe and stopped at a Coras north of Toronto before heading to the park.  I have already blogged about visiting Bare Oaks and the Bare Bistro a couple times so I wont go over it in too much detail again. We spent most of the day swimming in the pond which I still find by far my favorite naturist activity. If all they had at Bare Oaks was that pond,it would be enough.  We did a fair amount of sunbathing, reading, and socializing. And of course we had lunch at the Bare Bistro which has yet to let us down. All good things must end they say, and we were back in clothes for dinner and a movie night out which I admit was a lot of fun even with the dress code.

Day 4 time without clothes: 16 hours, 30 minutes - 69%

Friday, Saturday & Sunday - Day 5/6/7:

When planning trips to Port Burwell from the Toronto area, you generally have to plan for an early start. Even from our home well west of the city it is almost a two hour drive. Not letting another late night get in the way we began with yet another early start at seven o'clock and made the typically Canadian decision to grab Tim Horton's Coffee and breakfast on the way. Another thing you have to plan for with Port Burwell Provincial Park as a naturist is the 15-20 minute walk from the parking lot to the park boundary where you can finally be free of those pesky clothes. You don't want to forget anything in the car (much less at home). Planning is therefore key and I feel like an old pro at this now. We packed a couple large water bottles, frozen the night before to keep them cold as long as you can and they double as ice in our cooler/backpack. In the cooler we had sandwiches for lunch, several beers and hotdogs in case we stay late and decide to have a fire. Food that does not necessarily need to be kept cool is always handy as well. Wanting to stay at least until night fall, we packed plenty of carrots, sliced peppers, and some granola bars to ensure we were not tempted to put clothes on before we had our fill. We have also been investing in ultra lightweight and compact or collapsible beach umbrella, chairs and so on. Sadly these things are way more expensive but we totally feel its been worth the expense with at least two trips to Port Burwell each month during the summer.
It was past 10:30AM before we were actually setup and relaxing at the beach. It was another scorcher with the afternoon high hitting 29C and that is not factoring in the humidity which made it feel almost 40C. We were fortunate enough that Lake Erie was very calm that day as we had every intention of being fish for most of the day.  We spent the day swimming, tanning, reading, walking along the shore and even wandered inland to the forest a little bit.  I am not actually sure if you are allowed to hike inland, and if you are, how far it is safe to go, so we didn't venture too far. Overall another typical day at the beach.  Soon after sunset and the stars began to come out, it was still hot enough that it felt great going for a moonlight swim in the lake. It is hard to find a down side to swimming at night. The lake was still calm so you could easily hear the crickets or an occasional owl over the gentle waves hitting the shore. It was so wonderful we completely lost track of time.  We had been in the lake so long we were clearly now the only ones still on the beach. It was actually almost 11PM by the time we thought to look at a clock. The Provincial park was already very much closed, we were unsure if my car had been ticketed or worse towed. And even if not ticketed or towed, we were unsure if the gate would still be open to let us out. Our original intention was to stay late and do some stargazing but our poor time keeping had very much gone beyond that plan forcing us to make a decision. Do we pack up, hope our car had not been towed, and hope we could still exit the parking lot? Or did we make the best of it, spend the night, and hope the car was still there when the park reopened the next morning? Originally I thought bringing blankets to keep warm while stargazing was excessive given all the other baggage we had for a full day and evening at the beach, however Tara had insisted and I was now very thankful for it. It was this that really helped us decide we could survive the night and hope for the best in the morning. 
At first we were a little distressed with the situation. We had been enjoying ourselves so much that we had lost track of time, putting a wet blanket on an otherwise perfect day. Once we decided to stay the night however the stress was lifted and we were back to just enjoying ourselves. As naturism goes, this was about as wonderful a predicament as one could ask for. We spent an entire day at the beach with nothing touching our skin but sun, sand, water and some SPF 35 lotion. Followed by an equally blissful moonlight swim, only to find ourselves completely alone on a beach, naked as the day we were born.  We collected some wood and built a small fire, cuddled together between the blankets and spent the night together under the stars. I will admit that sleeping on a blanket in the sand is not the most comfortable bed I have had in my life, and we both woke up with a few noticeable bug bites.  But it was worth the price of admission when we woke up to the sun rising over Lake Erie and the Port Burwell Lighthouse. We were so relaxed even our granola bar breakfast felt like a 5 star experience.  It was right about then we made another decision. We would not pack up our things and head home. Instead we put some thought into what we needed to do to spend another day.  First we had to put our clothes on for the first time in almost 24 hours, walk back to the parking lot with the hope we still had a car. I am happy to report that not only was my car not towed, it was not ticketed either! I did sadly lose a game of rock paper scissors, which meant while Tara walked back to the nude beach and carried on with our naturist weekend, I remained clothed and drove into town to retrieve supplies for another full day at the beach. 
Our second day was more of the same as the first only this time we were by far the first people on the beach. Another hot day with a brief but welcome sun shower around lunch time. Not risking the same mistake from the night before, when we saw the sun was low, we packed up our things before enjoying another sunset. Only then did we make our way back to the car. Normally we get dressed before heading back towards the park boundary, but after spending the majority of the last two days without clothes, we decided to delay that as long as we could and began our walk with our clothes being carried, not worn. We made it almost the entire way back to the parking lot before we saw in the distance some people at the textile beach who had stayed for the sunset as well. We both put our shorts on to avoid getting in trouble but being as warm and humid as it still was, we were more than a bit sweaty from the hike with all our beach gear, neither I nor Tara put our tops on. This was the second time this week she had gone topless in public though I was less 
I "borrowed" this photo from Google
surprised this time. It was very dark at this point, and we never got close enough to other people that they could possibly notice. We even discussed if we should remain nude right until we got to the car but decided against it for fear a park ranger may be on patrol. As we drove past the park gate I was once again surprised by Tara's boldness.  She had decided she was already uncomfortable even wearing only a pair of shorts, and before I could sputter out the words "you must be joking" off they came.  Not one to be outdone, I pulled the car over and removed mine as well.  I would like to say before going forward that this is not something I recommend, nor can I speak with any authority of its legality in Ontario. I will also say that this had nothing to do with trying to be naturists, or promote naturism, or be any kind of activists if we were to be pulled over by the police. Any naturist will tell you one of the least comfortable times to be clothed is soon after you have been naked for a prolonged period so that definitely factored into our rash decision. To be fully honest though it was for the fun of it more than anything else. A little bit of thirty-something rebelliousness. My car does have tinted windows, and I pretty much drove under the speed limit the entire way home so there was not a lot of risk of being caught.  It was close to midnight when we got back to the house. We waited for the garage door to close fully behind us before we made our way inside, still only wearing our footwear. We shared a well deserved and much needed shower before finally calling it a night.
Sunday was nothing to blog home about. I stayed home until I was due at work that evening. The first day of any work week is never really something people look forward to. Less so for a naturist who not only has to go to work, but has to become a textile again too. Its borderline depressing.  I am ever an optimist though and the memories or our "staynakation", are more than enough to get me through the necessary evil of a textile work world for now. All told we had been without need for clothes privately or publicly, from about 1030AM on the Friday, with a brief intermission for a supply run and the last 5 minutes walk to the car, until I left for work Sunday evening.  Most of it fully in nature. Tara was even more fortunate and was able to continue all the way until Monday morning. An excellent finish to a wonderful Staynakation


Day 5 time without clothes: 18 hours, 35 minutes - 77%
Day 6 time without clothes: 22 hours - 92%
Day 7 time without clothes: 16 hours - 67%

That about wraps up everything I can think of to share from the week. I know there are people who spend days, weeks, and months without even thinking about clothes, that being said, I think as a couple of part time naturists or primarily home nudists, we managed an excellent week of nakedness in nature and new experiences. Next summer I think we will try to take it up level and actually spend a few days at a naturism resort but that stays on the to do list for now.

As always feedback and conversation is welcome, either in the comments below or on Twitter and Facebook.


You can follow me on Twitter here: @NudeInCanada
Get Updates via Facebook here
You can find out where to be Naked in Canada here

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