A Continuing Series

Wednesday, May 13th, 2015

I’d been this way just a few days before. I knew that I was likely to see the javelina.

Today, along the trail there are incessant gnats and flying pests. I stop to wonder if the swarm has attached to me, the tastiest morsel around, or maybe a population boom occurred in the immediate area. I feel a light breeze gracing my body and they are floated away.

It is very warm, in the high 80F’s and totally exposed to the sun. I feel the heat on my back and shoulders. Many prickery pieces of cactus have been carried, or have blown into the trail. Large barrel cactus hooks, pieces of prickley pear and fallen balls of cholla are a hazard for the exposed foot. I keep my vision mostly down to avoid these dangers, only occasionally looking up to the dry abundance of spring blooms turned into seed.

The air is clear, as I stop to gaze across the valley. I first look through the bright yellow paloverde trees, which are now covered with a mass of small flowers. They contrast so well with the bright green of the interspersed mesquite. This leads my eye further to the magnificent 9000 ft. mountains, all in deep dark green with highlights of exposed whitish grey granite. On some of these, there are still a few spots where the glitter of running water can be seen. These are distant mountain streams, or springs seeping out of cracks in the rock and then down the sloping faces.

Behind the mountains are towering white cumulus clouds. A bank of a weather front of these white puffs sits in the south. These contrast with the many wisps of alto stratus and hues of turquoise blue. It is busy up there.

Yellow Mass of Palo Verde

Continue reading →

2016-10-03

We had come down from the Bradshaw Mountains to escape the predicted cold and rain. This spot in the Agua Fria National Monument had been recommended to us by a gold panning enthusiast a couple of evenings before. We have found comfort in the warm desert in a Mesquite bosque. Tomorrow we will venture through the bottom of the Black Mesa Canyon.

We had stripped our warm night clothing off as the night progressed in our cozy tent. It felt good to not feel the uncomfortable cold of the nighttime mountains, to snuggle together naked and warm.

Continue reading →

2016-07-29

FRIDAY:

Up and alive a 6:45! There’s a large wispy cloud formation changing the light to something like a slight overcast. Naked, I walk out into the large meadow, being careful to stay in the warm sunlight. It was cold last night, but things are changing fast. Standing there, I put my hand up to block the direct glare from my eyes. I glance down the fairway-like meadow toward where the Rainbow Gathering had been. The rays are going through these unusual clouds, creating a small circular rainbow over the site.

As I return, DF is up and gathering her wits. We take a stroll to the springs arm in arm, with cameras in hand.

Continue reading →

2016-10-02

Back to the High Forests

This is the next part of the Free Range Naturist gathering in Dewey Arizona.  After deciding to split up, Ken and Amie head for dinner. Duane , DF and I are off to find a campsite before dark. The beginning of the tale and background to this, can be found here: https://thefreerangenaturist.org/2016/10/07/free-range-naturist-gathering-pt-1-a-trip-report/

We don’t know where we might end up, nor what opportunities might appear. We had abandoned a very good campsite in the forest this morning. These mountains are crowded with campers on weekends and we certainly can’t be assured of a spot. The following morning, our plan is to explore the head waters and the upper Hassayampa River.This is that tale.

Continue reading →

The Bradshaw Mountains

 2016-10-01

On Our Way:

I have been conversing almost daily with some free range naturists on the internet for more than a decade. I have only met a couple out of the clan. There are three of us regulars, who live in this region of the United States, Duane, Ken and myself. DF and I met them in the flesh for the first time on a trip to the Bradshaw Mountains near Prescott, Arizona.  We had the first regional get together, joined also by Ken’s wife Amie.

We left Friday afternoon, heading north. The sunset was magnificent.

We avoided most of the Phoenix rush hour. As we carnuded through the urban sprawl, night fell completely, diminishing any chance of discovery of others on the road next to us. Heading up away from the valley and desert floor, the stars became more frequent and the traffic eased into the flow of the soft bends of the mountain highway.

Continue reading →

A Trip Report: 2016-07-28

THURSDAY:

Up early and out late, again. That morning air-bath and being thawed out by the sun sure has its appeal. We have oatmeal to stick to our guts, as a lasting belly full. I have mixed in a banana and some vanilla yogurt.

Curiously the family that has invaded our privacy and solitude has an extra tent sitting out on the meadow in the sun. Could there be a new influx of intruders? As we pass by, DF figures that it is just getting dried out.

With our curiosity leading the way, not much more, we have decided to try another fork in the same road that we have been down twice now. This one might lead us to the gorge made over eons by the creek. This one might bring us to a creek-side camping spot for the future. It might lead us there and through to the miles in the distance. Perhaps it may lead out of the forest and onto the grassy high plains and vistas looking down into the desert valley to the north. Whatever happens, it will lead to the sense of freedom, connectedness, sensuality and abandon by doing it naked.

Continue reading →

A Continuing Series

04-09-2015

I have left this morning for Havarock. I take my camera, hoping to grab some shots of the foliage while things have blooms. There has been an expected change in the last 7 days that we have been gone. I could see it coming before we left on our vacation in the wilds. The feel of the blooming mass of Spring has dissipated. It is because blooms don’t last forever and there has been no rain. Now, the transition to the succulents, Palo Verde, then Ironwood, saguaro and warmer temperatures will replace the many smaller annuals and biannual plants of earlier spring. This has begun. Buds and occasional flowers are attached to the cholla and prickly pear. The mesquite trees have yellow blooms dangling among the new florescent green leaves. Soon DF’s house in town will have a layer of yellow pollen everywhere, to be replaced by an abundance of bean pods, and thoughts of their healthy brown flour.

Barrel Cactus in Bloom

It is not desolate. There are very many small treats along the trail, but bold color is not as abundant. The light this day is a bit washed out. It began with a high altitude haze and pollutants have taken away the distinctions in the distant panorama. Still, there is much to love.

The insects are busy. A swarm of bees occasionally passes by, putting naked me on alert.

I climb upon Havarock and enjoy my time in the morning sun for over two hours. I have been studying a massage book that DF is sharing with me (we have decided that we need more massage). As usual, I work on my feet, but this time all of the leg gets close deep attention. This activity is good and healthy. I can feel it and enjoy its entrancing mindfulness as various sensations and releases are discovered. I stretch and do yoga poses. I sit, I lay down in the sun and I listen with eyes closed. The colorful patterns on the inside of my eyelids entertain, as the sound of busy bugs fill the silence. For a while, a tiny lizard travels along the branches of the small mesquite bush of a tree. It raised its body pushing up with its legs, gathering the sun’s energy, like me. I sip on precious water.

The Javelina are not in the little cove today. There are no signs of their recent activity at Havarock. The treat is that all along the trail, there are multiple footprints, not only Javelina, but other wildlife! The easier corridor that I created is handy to everyone. I have heard the obnoxious dog next door barking in the night. It was probably the activity of the pack of pigs that excited him.

The day has started simply and well.