Moss Man

From Perry's Ramble Blog: http://perrysramble.blogspot.com/2005/09/moss-man.html

Sounds like something that might have happened at Scenic Hot Springs in the past - Rick



There is an annual ceremony in the Wood River Valley of Idaho, which celebrates one man's journey into a spriritual and physical union with nature. The cermony celebrates a man known best as Moss Man, and his unique outdoor experience. It all started when he hiked out to a wilderness hot springs one cold winter day, saw that other people were in the hot springs drinking wine, so he jumped in, clothes and all. He noticed that he didn't need clothes in the hot spring, so he took them off and tossed them up on the snow to dry. He then partook of all that life and the wine bottle had to offer, and dozed off to a drunken and drug induced nap.

When he woke up, he was the only one in the hot springs, and his clothes were up on the snow, frozen solid. No problem, he was warm, and he still had a nice buzz going. However, when the buzz wore off and hunger set in, he had second thoughts on his situation. Try as he might, he really couldn't see a way out, but it wasn't like he was freezing either.

To get water, he had to venture to the main stream, drink some water, then scramble back to the warmth of his hot spring. The days started to roll by, and he drank water, and soaked in the hot water. He saw a deer killed by a wolf on the snow, and he thought about going over and getting some meat, but the lack of clothes thing still was a problem. He sat in the hot springs and watched winter storms, the stars and the moon. At one point, some cross country skiiers came by and asked if he was OK. Being a little stubborn, and holding out hope of thinking of a way of rescuing himself, he said he was OK.

A few days later, some other skiers came by and asked if he was OK. By then he thought that if he was not rescued he might die, so he asked for help getting to town. They observed that his skin was severely cracked and peeling, and he had moss growing on his back and hair. He had been in the hot springs 28 days.

The Wood River Journal, March 15, 1984, reported it this way:
"A 20-year-old Hailey man was found soaking in a hot mineral pool at Frenchman’s Bend last Saturday after having apparently lived there for several weeks. "Moss Man" [name withheld to protect the innocent] was discovered by two cross-country skiers, according to a Blaine County Sheriff's Department report. The skiers observed that some of "Moss Man's" skin was peeling and that moss was growing on his back. The semi-conscious victim was taken to Moritz Community Hospital, according to the report. His clothes lay frozen on the ground nearby. A Moritz physician estimated that the victim may have lost 60 pounds while living in the pool. [Moss' sister-in-law said that] the man stood six-two and weighed 210 pounds prior to leaving for Frenchman’s Bend, and that he took a lot of amphetamines. ‘His brains are really scrambled’, she said."

The annual festival to commemorate the event is the Moss Man Commemoration and Pagan Fun Fest, and is held at the same hot springs, and utilizes the same stimulants that got Slim into his predicament.

Seattle mini-nude bike ride report [draft]

Thanks for all of you who rode with us today and those of you who were with us in spirit! It was a fun little ride. While we didn't make it naked all the way to the beach we still had a good ride and we learned a lot about several things by talking with the police and meeting together at the beach. We do have some new contacts and projects coming up to work with. That last hill coming up from the beach was quite a workout!

Those of you who participated in today's ride, could you please double check my figures and facts for today's event?

This marked the fourth naked Seattle bike ride! This year the number of naked bike rides doubled in Seattle! I'm not sure how this compares with Vancouver BC's record of bike rides in one year. Although I'm still sure that they have more organized by a single organization in one year.

• Time of departure ~2 PM?
• initial participants 7 at meetup/photo shoot, 1 left, 2 joined us onthe trail, 1 left when police stopped us, 7 made it to beach?
• total of 8 people participated + a photographer?
• 1 non-riding photographer, 1 cycling photographer
• 1 bodypainted
• 1 woman 7 men
• 6 police cars responded? how many officers?

We deviated in our route by going up Thorndyke Ave to Magnolia Blvd., where we got stopped by police around W Bertona Street. Police took down our ID information, talked separately to Daniel. Other summary of dialogue with police? A lot of us were very impressed with how nice they were to us and how direct and honest they were with us. Part of the problem was that they did not know about the event ahead of time. We were asked to dress and continued on our ride to the beach.

Correction: there is a paved path most the way to the beach, despite what daniel earlier stated met at beach and discussed beach campaign, progress, strategies with meeting with park and police officials?

more info?

• total time cycling naked?
• locations of Ty's photo shoots?
• how about reactions from people on our route? Impressions of the
• route and trail itself? Any other comments?

Next events locally (tentative):

• Polar Bare Dip mid Jan 2006 BFC/SFBC
• World Naked Gardening Day Year 2 - earlier date? BFC/SFBC
• Solstice Parade ride! separate event
• Body Pride Ride at Gay Pride? BPR group
• WNBR Seattle 2006 (Ride 4) - Main Event -moving to July? Possibly ajoint event TRP/WLP/BFC & ?
• WNBR Seattle collaborative event - August (Ride 5)? Hint: today's mini ride may have something to do with this. TRP/WLP/BFC & ?
• Mermaid Swim 2006 Sept? BFC/FKKayakers

Cheers,

daniel

Body Freedom Collaborative (BFC) http://bodyfreedom.org

Disclaimer: The views and opinions of authors expressed in this forum do not necessarily reflect those of Body Freedom Collaborative or any individuals who are currently members of this forum.

Rooster Rock Bare Buns 5K Run & Walk Event Report

You all missed a wonderful event on Sunday morning, one that I hope grows into a major event next year. The weather was perfect, mid-70's. The wind was not blowing. The sky was clear and robin's egg blue. All around was the quiet and the majesty of the Columbia Gorge. A small group of us met with Mickey to run 3.1 miles, along the firm sandy beach of (aptly named) Sand Beach at Rooster Rock State Park. There were seven runners in all, six males and one female. The goal was to have a fun run, to pick up garbage spotted along the way, and to donate the entry fee to the American Red Cross for the Katrina relief fund.

We all headed out, at the blow of the starting whistle, at about 11:00 am. The lead was taken, early, by the only female of the group. She ultimately came in first with a time just over 21 minutes. One of our group found a shovel head on the beach and a large piece of metal which he toted back to the finish line. I found an old beer can and some other odds and ends. We left the course cleaner than we found it. Prizes included a $20 gift certificate to McMenamins, some sunglasses, some caps, and some water bottles. In addition, ribbons were given to the top finisher, second-place finisher and top finishers in each age group.

We were a small group, but the enthusiasm was great. We are all looking forward to next summer and, hopefully, several runs like the Rooster Rock BBFR. The nicest, and most sensual, thing for me was to get to run for over three miles with absolutely NOTHING on. There was no need for running shoes and socks. Barefoot was just fine and it felt so good to be so free from "textiles." Not many nude runs can be run that way. Personally, I'd like to see several groups band together to do a large run out at Rooster, next summer, or alternatively for several groups to sponsor a series of bi-weekly runs. The more, the better. Also, runs on personal properties might be considered, if anyone knows anyone with enough land. Or, a longer run along the Pacific Ocean might be organized. Let's be creative.

Brad (posting in ORCOBA)

Rooster Rock 360 Panoramic of Sand Beach

The beach at Rooster Rock was at it's widest expanse that I have seen it for years . . . as one person said, you could land an aircraft on it. Walking the beach on Saturday I took a moment to make a panoramic shot of the beach. The image you see posted does it little justice but if you drop me a line I'm more than willing to send you a copy of the full image.

Since the blogging software will not allow java or javascript to run within the posts, I have loaded a full-size panoramic viewer with the above image of the beach here. It will launch in a new page (or tab) and since the image is 746KBs in size, please give it a chance to load and start scrolling. You may use the navigation button at the bottom of the screen to enlarge, reduce or manually scroll the panorama yourself.

If you are interested in the full-image, you can download it here. Enjoy


As promised, here is an aerial image of Sand Island with the low water line marked on it (yellow), the limit of the hard packed or firm sand on the beach where it meets the softter sand (green), and the red line of the deeper channel of the Columbia River taken from the 2004 sat imagery. As you can see, there was a lot of beach exposed.

Rooster Rock First Annual Bare Buns a Success

Though I wasn't able to make it to the First Annual Bare Buns Fun Run at Rooster Rock State Park this last Sunday, I've gotten word that the event was a success with a good gettogether of fellow naturists taking part in both the running and the beach cleanup that both preceded the event and even during the event as some participants actually picked up the odd piece of trash on the beach as they ran. A unique twist was that the organizers (a loose-knit group on the beach) actually offered prizes based partially on the trash runners picked up during the run. What better way to combine both the fun of the run and a beach cleanup at the same time.

I offer my congratulations to Mickey, Melody and Terry for organizing this event and look forward to bigger events in the future. There is talk of a Hike/Run/Trash Clean-up event in the near future at Bagby Hot Springs. Keep checking their website at www.barebunsrun.com for future updates.

ORCOBA Adopts a Highway (near Rooster Rock)

It was well worth the drive and gas to go on down to Portland for this community event. We show that we care for the community and that we are a full participant in things that do matter. Good will does more to engender respect and acceptance than almost anything else.

And afterward, I got to spend the rest of the afternoon on Rooster Rock walking the flat sands of the geatest expanse of sand that I have ever seen at the beach in years. I will post some pictures of the beach in a day or so when I get some extra time. Rick



ORCOBA (Oregon Clothing-Optional Beach Alliance) members completed the group's first Adopt-A-Highway clean-up yesterday on Interstate 84 by Rooster Rock State Park! Stretching from the Corbett exit to Rooster Rock, this two-mile section lies at the entrance to the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, in a beautiful spot once traversed by Lewis & Clark's Corps of Discovery expeditions through the West.

Following a wake-up gathering at the local Shari's restaurant, the day's crew of fourteen assembled near the western end of ORCOBA's section of I-84 at the Corbett exit. With enough people to clean both sides of the highway simultaneously, we split up into eastbound and westbound teams, and with safety vests and trash bags in hand, we got to work. The weather was perfect; sunny, warm, and not too windy.

It was clear that this section was sorely in need of attention, as is much of our highway system. While it was angering to see the end result of so many uncaring motorists, it was also fulfilling to have the opportunity to reverse months of abuse in just a few hours. By the stroke of noon, we were able to declare our first highway cleanup a success.

Here are some official stats for the day:

Number of participants: 14
Total number of trash bags filled: 54
Other large debris collected: Car bumper, wheel/tire assembly, patio umbrella, surf board, several large chunks of tire tread, lumber and plywood, metal posts, broken tire chains, fiberglass panels, and miscellaneous plastic products.
Duration of clean-up operations: About 3 1/2 hours
Number of sore muscles: Too numerous to count.

Following the clean-up, the crew assembled at the Rooster Rock Exit sign on the eastbound side of the highway for "official" photo ops. A few then headed over to Rooster for the afternoon. Peggy and I took down the "Litter Patrol" signs, and made a final tally of the trash bags and debris piles for ODOT to pick up. Having checked the condition of the highway three days prior, I was struck by the difference made by the morning's work. The highway right-of-way now actually blended into the scenic surroundings, and I became aware of how much trash lines our highways and roads. Day in and day out, we can easily become immune and desensitized to it all, as we drive along to our destinations. But over the rest of this weekend I was finding my eyes drawn to all of the stuff lying on the side of our roads, and resisting the temptation to stop and pick some of it up.

This project was an opportunity to show the community and the "textile" world that naturists care about more than just the right to be naked. We also care about our environment, natural resources and public lands, and in that vein, leaving things better than we found them. And, we recognize the value and benefit of working together to reach a goal. Witness thereto: a few hours' worth of teamwork on Saturday morning made a real difference, to be experienced and appreciated by many.

A genuine thank you goes to Mark Storey & Kathy Blanchard, Jim ("Hairy Homer") & Carol, Rick with the floppy blue hat, Kyle, June, Kevin, Steve, Jim C., Tim, and C.J. for being an integral part of things on Saturday. A few other folks had wanted to be there but were kept from it by other commitments, but their good intentions are just as appreciated. Now that our first clean-up has been completed, ODOT will soon put up our signs on each side of the highway, identifying ORCOBA's adopted section. We will have at least two clean-ups each year, in spring and fall, so future opportunities abound for all. Folks are required by ODOT to attend a safety & orientation meeting held by our group prior to participating in any clean-up event, but we will have several group meetings throughout each year offering the chance to become "certified".

For photos of yesterday's clean-up, check out the Files section of the ORCOBA Yahoo group, under "Adopt-A-Highway Clean-up".

Thanks again to all of the participants, and we look forward to our Spring clean-up!

Yours,

Don & Peggy


And this report from Mark, the Naturist Action Commitee Rep for the Pacific Northwest, who joined us . . .


NW Naturists:

My wife Kathy and I just had a fantastic weekend. Don and Peggy and 13 others of us from Oregon Clothing-Optional Beach Alliance (www.ORCOBA.org) met near Rooster Rock State Park in Oregon for breakfast Saturday morning. We then drove a few miles east to "do" ORCOBA's first adopt-a-highway cleanup of the two mile stretch immediately west of Rooster Rock. I've been on many a beach cleanup and quite a few park cleanups, but this one took quite a bit more work. The 15 of us (by my count) picked up dozens of bags of trash. I was pooped after the three-hour stint, but it was fun. Don did a great job of organizing the entire thing, and it's just one more significant contribution naturists are making to the nude beaches at Rooster Rock and Sauvie Island. There seem to be now at least three nudist, naturist, or otherwise naked groups supporting family friendly use of these sites. ORCOBA tends to attract the folks who are on the beach weekend after weekend, but others are doing great work, too, in making these clean, fun, and hasslefree places to go.

Kathy and I enjoyed some nude kayaking out of Rooster Rock afterwards, paddling toward Reed Island, over to the Washington shore, and back to the officially clothing-optional Sand Island. Rooster Rock is absolutely fantastic now. There is more clean, open sand than I've seen there in over a decade. People could land planes on the nude area, it's so open. And the weather was warm and sunny. Don't think that the nude season is over for 2005!

While at Rooster Rock I spoke at some length with a ranger patrolling the area. He agreed that Rooster Rock's atmosphere has been improving this past summer. We spoke briefly about the contributions group's like ORCOBA (e.g., with their yellow flag program and regular presence) and NW-AANR (e.g., with park cleanups and new bench) were making. He thought they all were great, and agreed that the group efforts were paying off.

Today (Sunday) Kathy and I paddled our kayaks from Seattle's (textile) Golden Gardens to South Beach at Discovery Park. This area continues to see quiet nude use on the weekdays, but today we were the only naked people. We just paddled beyond the bluffs to a quiet beach, and hung out naked for a while. I've found out that its really easy to kayak the Seattle area nude, and that from just about any put-ini on the Sound, I can find a secluded beach for sunbathing
and skinny-dipping (the water is chilly, but I love it). The Body Freedom Collaborative (www.bodyfreedom.org) continues to look for ways to making at least some shoreline section of Discovery Park more available for nude use.

Last week, by the way, I paddled from Golden Gardens to the "nude" stretch of beach north of Carkeek Park. Walking the train tracks can get you a $500 fine, but paddling nude there poses no problems. And once there, the beach is seems secluded enough for easy naturist use.

If there are any other naturist-minded kayakers in the Seattle area, check out www.FKKayakers.com. There are a LOT of cool beaches nearby that naturists can enjoy with ease. FKKayakers is a developing kayak group that is naturist-friendly.

All the best,

Mark

WNBR Seattle Mini Ride - Sat, Sept. 24, 2005 1:30 PM (Update)

WNBR Seattle Cyclists:
Posting in the various Naturism Groups by Daniel Johnson

We have just agreed on a start time for our Autumnal Equinox Mini Ride this Saturday! It is also expected to be sunny with a high of 68 degrees F! It should be perfect weather for our bike ride and beach visit!

Bring your friends and ride with complete strangers on a magical cycling tour through Seattle on your favorite human-powered cycling vehicle for one of the most exhilarating cycling experiences since taking off your training wheels! Its the perfect event to mark the end of summer! Don't miss out!

START TIME and LOCATION:

Saturday, Sept 24, 2005
1:30PM Leave Myrtle Edwards Park, Seattle
~2:15 - 2:30 PM arrive at Discovery Park North Beach

The event is as Bare as you Dare! The World Naked Bike Ride dress code is "Bare As You Dare"... How bare is that ? How dare is that ?...Its all up to you, you decide what you are comfortable with. NO ONE IS EXCLUDED OR DISCRIMINATED AGAINST based on levels of clothing, bodypaint, or anything else, for that matter! PLEASE be creative and colorful! Bodypainting and bike decorating is highly encouraged!

START LOCATION DETAILS:

Please leave yourself plenty of time to get to the meet-up area/start location which will be on the NW side of new pump facility building (it looks like a restroom facility with a funky organic looking gate, but it has no public access) at the artsy overlook area with view of Puget Sound (just south of the large stone sculpture installation area). PLEASE do not dress down until everybody is ready to leave at the same time.

For those driving/carpooling:

There is very limited street parking in the area. Myrtle Edwards Park is a long, thin park and can only be entered from the north and south of park via the Elliot Bay Trail. There are train tracks and fencing on the east which cannot be crossed. There is also construction going on around the south entrance of the park, but the area is open. Please leave plenty of time to get to the meet-up/start location.

There is some parking on 16th AVE W, which parallels part of the Elliot Bay Trail which we will be traveling on (this trail is not shown on the map below). This area is located to the NW of Myrtle Edwards Park & Elliot Bay Park. The easiest way to drive there is go over an 'S'-shaped overpass from Elliot Ave West (Northbound). You will then have about an eight minute cycling trip to get to the meeting area at Myrtle Edwards Park.

See left part of this map to find the area of 16th AVE W and the overpass.
http://tinyurl.com/aby2u

ROUTE INFO:

(tentative - the route may change depending on the group, but it will not be any easier than what is outlined below):

Meet at Myrtle Edwards Park overlook area at pump station, ride through Elliot Bay Park on Elliot Bay Trail, past grain terminal, turn north up 16th AV W trail, slight jog to 20th Ave W (DO NOT continue WEST at junction to Smith Cove Park/marina area), leave the Elliot Bay Trail at that point and go North (right off trail) up 20th AVE to Gilman Ave, then continue to Government Ave and enter Discovery Park's main east entrance.

Once passing Discovery Park's Visitor's Center, keep going up the hill and proceed down restricted traffic road towards treatment facility (there is a sign) and when getting close to lighthouse, go north on path to North sandy beach area, which is NE of the lighthouse on the sandy beach. We plan on going to the very NE part of that long northern sandy beach.

Note:

(1) The gravel path that starts by the lighthouse prohibits bicycles (like all non-paved trails in DP). To avoid upsetting the Friends of Discovery Park (that help maintain it) or the Rangers we are advised not to ride our bikes on that last little stretch to the North Beach.

(2) This ride is a bit more intense hill-wise than the first two WNBR rides. If you found either of those rides to be a bit much, this ride may not be for you. However, this route is considered to be one of the more established, easier routes from the two points we are going between. After leaving the beach, the ride going up from sea level is quite steep, some may not feel comfortable cycling up that road.

(3) Much of the route is planned to be along the water on the Elliot Bay Park Trail and then through the rail yards and then off the trail with a protected bike lane all the way to the entrance of Discovery Park. With the addition of using the restricted traffic lane going down to the beach, this means that for much of our journey we will not have to deal too much with car traffic.

The route to Discovery Park is an established cycling route and can be viewed on the Seattle Bicycling Guide Map. That map can be viewed online at:

http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/transportation/bikemaps/northbikemap.pdf
(PDF file 1.58 MB)

More Park links:

Myrtle Edwards Park
http://www.cityofseattle.net/parks/parkspaces/Medwards.htm
is just south of Elliot Bay Park
http://www.portseattle.org/community/resources/parks/index.shtml

Discovery Park
http://www.cityofseattle.net/parks/Environment/discovparkindex.htm

- - - - - - -

Get the latest news on Seattle WNBR events!

Seattle Discussion Groups:

WNBR Seattle Announcements Only
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WNBR_Seattle2/

OR

WNBR Seattle - general discussion
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WNBR_Seattle3/

Scenic Hot Springs: A Pictorial Visit

Scenic Hot Springs continues to get visitors despite the 'No Trespassing' signs and the gate across FS Road 850. Of course, for the majority of the hike you are not on private property but on National Forest Service land and you have every right to be there. The private property part starts way up higher on the mountainside on the higher levels of the BPA maintenance road that this Forest Service road runs into when it enters the BPA clearcut area.

A shortcut trail or bypass is to be found to the right of FS 850 just beyond the first curve past the gate. You could just continue on the FS road but this steep bypass cuts off a substantial distance.

The second bypass is on the left rise of the BPA maintenance road as we come out of the trees into the sunlit easement area. Often this shortcut is marked by stacked rocks but the best indicator are the tracks. Taking this bypass uphill avoids a large dipping loop segment.

At the top of the second bypass shortcut you're on the final leg of the BPA road that takes you on up to the trailhead near its' end. The hike up to the springs follows the BPA maintenance road for a good third of the trip and there is lots of sunshine to soak in on this exposed road. It's also fun to watch the surprised looks on other visitors. I just tell them, 'Hey, I'm gonna get naked in the springs . . . might as well hike up naked." Makes sense to me and most agree.

Behind me lies the Tye River Valley with Windy Mountain of the left (west) and a hint of Cowboy Mountain of the Steven Pass Ski Area to the right (east). Just beside my left leg you can see a hint of Highway 2 as it makes its last steep gradient to Stevens Pass.

The BPA Transmission Line towers are always fun to play on and make for a good pose (at least I think so).

This is the entrance (or trailhead) to the springs, themselves . . . almost at the end of the BPA maintenance road. From here to the upper springs is another 3/4 miles of steep hiking. Note how the trail has been widened in anticipation of development. This widening goes about a third of the way up before it narrows to a rough trail again.

The property has been signed "No Trespassing" but few pay any attention. The sign is on the tree in the background to the right.

A short distance up you come to the first creek or stream . . . Honeymoon; and to the left 80 feet up a very steep slope is where the Honeymoon springs flow into a small rock pool. Honeymoon is the coolest of the spring areas with temperatures around 80-90 degrees typical. However, these springs also have the larger flow of any springs in the area. They are popular with couples seeking privacy . . . and sometimes people think these are the springs and have no inkling that the best is further up the mountainside.

Halfway up is a special place for the Naked Gourmet of days-gone-bye. This is the NGs Spirit Tree and the new owner was so taken by Robert's passion for this tree that it was spared the bulldozer when the trail was widened up to this point.

I see these more and more . . . trail markers, typically three rocks of descending size stacked atop each other; indications that first-timers are being guided to the springs by the knowledgeble. This marker was at the forking of the trail with a newly brush-cleared logging road from the fifties. A first-timer might have assumed the easier route of the logging road over the very rough-looking trail just ahead and to the left. I left the markers in place. No need to get a newbie lost on the mountainside.

This is easy stuff compared to some of the refrigerator-sized boulders ahead. This is also the steepest and hardest part of the climb. You need good hiking shoes on these ankle-biters

Finally, we reach a switchback on the trail that leads onto a major bench of the mountainside. The hiking gets very much easier. We are close now.

Another few hundred feet, passing a much used and illegal fire-ring, the last-remaining pool of the upper springs (the Monster Tub) comes into view on the slope below.

A closer picture from above of the divided tub with it's crystaline-clear hot waters. The tub is fed from two seperate spring sources, Bare Springs at around 113 degrees and Lobster Pot Springs from about where this picture was taken, at 122 degrees. The divider down the center segregates the pool into hot and scalding hot soaks.

After two years exposed to the elements and vandals, I really am surprised that my sign is still in place next to the tub. It was this sign that got me involved with the new owner of the property and keeps me pretty busy during what free time I have between work and other activities.

Of course, my real dream is to nudge Scenic Hot Springs and the entire 40 acres on this mountainside into a nudist-friendly nature area where we can roam the trails, sunbathe or soak without bother of uptight textile hikers.

A closer view of the removable divider in the pool. Even on a nice sunny day, as today, the steam rises heavily into the air, for the pools are only a few degrees cooler than the spring sources feeding them.

The water level is normally higher but I am in the process of siphoning the pools as I scrub the liners clean with a stiff brush. Algae is quick to build up without this every other day routine and the tarps become very slippery. Fortunately, there are a number of people who take the time and effort to keep these pools as clean as possible.

The cleaning routine: Scrub the pool thoroughly and siphon the water out to be replace by fresh, hot water from the springs. The siphon is the white tube on the left, which we submerge, block one end with a palm and toss quickly over the side to establish a very powerful and efficient suction to empty the pool . . . or in the case of a quick cleanup, siphon the pine cone and needle debris from the bottom of the pool. It takes about an hour to completely empty the pool of all 3,000 gallons. The siphon is self-limiting, meaning that when the water gets to the bottom air enters the tube, suction is broken and the tub begins to fill up again. I often leave the siphon in place after I scrub the tub, knowing that the pool is refilling automatically while I'm hiking back down the mountain after my soak.

Scrubbing is important. The algae is not easy to see and often the only indication is the slipperiness of the tarp surfaces. When you see black algae, the pool hasn't been cleaned in awhile.

The yellow flex hose on the right is the source waters coming directly from the springs (in this case, 122 degrees Lobster Springs.

The soak is always the best part . . . even with the pool barely halfway full with fresh . . . and definitely hotter water. I while away the rest of the afternoon in the pool until I can take no more. The skin is luxuriated and glowing and it feels really sensuous to hike back down the mountainside with the cooling air soothing your overheated skin.



I meet a few couple headed up for the night time soaking and let them know that I have cleaned the pool and refilled it with sparkling clean water. They are always appreciative and promise to carry out as much litter as the almost-full garbage sack that I carry.

Should nude photographs be considered art or pornography?

The News Review, Roseburg, Oregon

TRUTH OF YOUTH
September 12, 2005

"Nude photography is, in my opinion, pornography. From a moral point of view, I think that the naked human body, portrayed in a photograph, incites lust -- which is condemned expressly in the Bible (I John 2:16). The human body is beautiful; it is a work of art in its own right. But the body does not need to be displayed nude to show its magnificence.

I do think differently, though, when it comes to Renaissance art displaying nudity. Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel, which contained nudity, is one of the finest works of art in all mankind, and it was not created to incite lust, but rather, different emotions. Many other paintings and sculptures from the Renaissance contain nudity, but like the Sistine Chapel, the emotions they draw from us are not feelings of
lust . . .

Truth of Youth is a column for teens to express their views. The rest of this column here, along with some dissenting views: http://www.newsreview.info/article/20050912/NEWS/109120030

The cited passage from the Bible:

I John 2:16 "For the things in the world--the cravings of the earthly nature, the cravings of the eyes, the show and pride of life--they all come, not from the Father, but from the world. " Weymouth New Testamont

This commentary is from a high school student attending a Christian school; other students take a different view as do I. Nor do I get the same interpretation from the quoted Bible passage that this student seems to arrive at. They say "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." Whether I look upon the form of Michelangelo's David or a nude beachgoer, I see wonder and art and beauty . . . not pornography. Rick

To All You Citizens Of America - Important!

Found posted in the Yahoo Nudism Group by a regular poster; Dario Western. I chuckled for the longest time and believe me Dario . . . I know how to spell 'neighbour'. Take the post for what it's intended . . . humour. Rick

Update: Seems some of my fellow Americans have no sense of humour at all and I've had to turn on SPAM controls and moderate the really nasty comments made be some readers of this post. Get over it . . . I ain't leaving so ya'all will just have to get used to it. Rick (born in the UK, raised in Canada and a full, naturiliz(s)ed citizen of the U.S.) LOL



In the light of your failure to elect a proper President of the USA and thus to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective today.

Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will resume monarchial duties over all states, commonwealths and other territories. Except Utah, which she does not fancy. Your new prime minister (The Right Honourable Tony Blair, MP for the 97.85% of you who have until now been unaware that there is a world outside your borders) will appoint a minister for America without the need for further elections.

Congress and the Senate will be disbanded. A questionnaire will be circulated next year to determine whether any of you noticed. To aid in the transition to a British Crown Dependency, the following rules are introduced with immediate effect:

1. a. You should look up "revocation" in the Oxford English Dictionary. Then look up "aluminium". Check the pronunciation guide. You will be amazed at just how wrongly you have been pronouncing it.
b.The letter 'U' will be reinstated in words such as 'favour' and 'neighbour', skipping the letter 'U' is nothing more than laziness on your part. Likewise, you will learn to spell 'doughnut' without skipping half the letters.
c. You will end your love affair with the letter 'Z' (pronounced 'zed' not 'zee'), and the suffix "ize" will be replaced by the suffix "ise".
d. You will learn that the suffix 'burgh' is pronounced 'burra' e.g. Edinburgh. You are welcome to respell Pittsburgh as 'Pittsberg' if you can't cope with correct pronunciation.
e. Generally, you should raise your vocabulary to acceptable levels. Look up "vocabulary". Using the same twenty seven words interspersed with filler noises such as "like" and "you know" is an
unacceptable and inefficient form of communication. Look up "interspersed".

2. There is no such thing as "US English". We will let Microsoft know on your behalf. The Microsoft spell-checker will be adjusted to take account of the reinstated letter 'u' and the elimination of '-ize'.

3.
a. You will learn to distinguish between English, Australian, and New Zealand accents. It really isn't that hard. Also, English accents are not limited to Cockney, upper-class twit or Mancunian
(Daphne in Frasier). You will also have to learn how to understand regional accents. Scottish dramas such as "Taggart" will no longer be broadcast with subtitles.
b. While we're talking about regions, you must learn that there is no such place as Devonshire in England. The name of the county is "Devon". If you insist on calling it Devonshire, all American States will become "shires" e.g. Texasshire, Floridashire, Louisianashire.

4. Hollywood will be required occasionally to cast English actors as the good guys. Hollywood will be required to cast English actors to play English characters. British sit-coms such as "Men Behaving Badly" or "Red Dwarf" will not be re-cast and watered down for a wishy-washy American audience who can't cope with the humour of occasional political incorrectness.

5. You will relearn your original national anthem, "God Save The Queen", but only after fully carrying out task 1. We would not want you to get confused and give up half way through.

6.
a. You will stop playing American "football". There is only one kind of football. What you refer to as American "football" is not a very good game. The 2.15% of you who are aware that there is a world outside your borders may have noticed that no one else plays "American" football. You will no longer be allowed to play it, and should instead play proper football. Initially, it would be best if you played with the girls. It is a difficult game.
b. Those of you brave enough will, in time, be allowed to play rugby, which is similar to American "football", but does not involve stopping for a rest every twenty seconds, or wearing full kevlar body armour like nancies. We are hoping to get together at least a US rugby sevens side by 2015.
c. You will stop playing baseball. It is not reasonable to host an event called the 'World Series' for a game which is not played outside of America. Since only 2.15% of you are aware that there is a
world beyond your borders, your error is understandable. Instead of baseball, you will be allowed to play a girls' game called "rounders" which is baseball without fancy team strip, oversized gloves, collector cards or hotdogs.

7.
a. You should declare war on Quebec and France, using nuclear weapons if they give you any trouble. The 97.85% of you who were not aware that there is a world outside your borders should count yourselves lucky. Oh yes, the Russians have never been the bad guys.
b. You will no longer be allowed to own or carry guns. You will no longer be allowed to carry anything more dangerous in public than a vegetable peeler. Because we don't believe you are sensible enough to handle potentially dangerous items, you will require a permit if you
wish to carry a vegetable peeler in public.
c. You will learn to resolve personal issues without using guns, lawyers or therapists. The fact that you need so many lawyers and therapists shows that you're not adult enough to be independent. Guns should only be handled by adults. If you're not adult enough to sort things out without suing someone or speaking to a therapist then you're not grown up enough to handle a gun.

8. July 4th is no longer a public holiday. November 2nd will be a new national holiday, but only in England. It will be called "Indecisive Day".

9. All American cars are hereby banned. They are rubbish, and it is for your own good. When we show you German cars, you will understand what we mean. All road intersections will be replaced with roundabouts. You will start driving on the left with immediate effect. At the same time, you will go metric with immediate effect and without the benefit of conversion tables. Roundabouts and metrication will help you understand the British sense of humour.

10. You will learn to make real chips. Those things you call French fries are not real chips. Fries aren't even French, they are Belgian though 97.85% of you (including the guy who discovered fries while in Europe) were not aware that there is a country called Belgium. Those things you insist on calling potato chips are properly called "crisps". Real chips are thick cut and fried in animal fat.

11. As a sign of penance 5 grams of sea salt per cup will be added to all tea made within the State of Massachusetts, this quantity to be doubled for tea made within the city of Boston itself.

12. From December 1st the UK will harmonise petrol (or "Gasoline" as you will be permitted to keep calling it until April 1st 2006) prices with the former USA. The UK will harmonise its prices to those of the former USA and the Former USA will, in return, adopt UK petrol prices (roughly $6/US gallon - get used to it).

13. Please tell us who killed JFK. It's been driving us crazy.



Tax collectors from Her Majesty's Government will be with you shortly to ensure the acquisition of all revenues due (backdated to 1776).

Thank you for your cooperation.