A golden sun is beaming into a few clouds. Dawn is breaking.
We’re off to experience a memorable point of time, a moment in our lives. Just down the sandstone slope is another level of shelf spanning out before our camp, a huge patio.
Wrapped in a thick old Colman sleeping bag, we have had a cozy and warm night. My hoody trapped the body heat from escaping, the wind and fresh air giving that special cool quality to each breath as it cruised across naked faces.
Now, the chilly wind is nearly howling at us. We don jackets over the thermal and wind breaking clothing that we fell asleep in.
We casually stroll off excited for the anticipated morning light and grand vista. Yet at this point, we couldn’t possibly imagine the epic quality of that coming vista.
Getting together a system for camping for a month is no light chore. When packing up, every purpose must be accounted for and each item’s accessibility considered during daily routines. The SUV, a second gen Toyota 4runner, had to be divided into sections. The huge cooler, which is insulated to keep us away from civilization’s grocery stores for a week at a time, takes over the back seat. The other goods, most of the food that we would need for a month is crammed in front of it, leaving just enough room for my bag and its minimalist wardrobe. We expect to be in nature, or driving nude. A light kilt for me and DF a sundress, or two, is enough to stay legal when others are about. We have packed some warmer layers and a set of street clothes for shopping, etc.
I put two large grey bins in the back, one for the portable kitchen and one for tools, axes, camping equipment, etc. Around this, I placed two five gallon water bottles, plus two smaller gallons and four liters in our hiking bottles. I then had to utilize every square inch of space, packing the tent and sleeping gear. It works like a Chinese puzzle, shifting this to get at that. The tailgate is a work/cook bench and we did bring a portable table. We had spent weeks in advance organizing and planning this trip to be better embedded in the outback. The duration is to be open ended, but probably lasting around a month.
The first morning, packing is getting frustrating. It all just didn’t fit! Something HAD to give.
I had been studying the southeastern portion of Utah for months and still couldn’t know what to actually expect and had few solid goals in mind. You can only get so much education from books and online when the goal is to be left alone freely nude. We had yet to secure the solitude, or the magical the secrets. We had some friend’s experiences helping us. One couple told us anecdotes of how they had often found lesser canyons, just as amazing. He had explained, “I walked around a corner and there was a dinosaur in the cliff wall!” Books tell about popular places, but often, crowded places. I had no idea how many other visitors to expect in each area. I had received the advice that around Moab there would be many more and heard the term “crawling with people” for the entire month’s visit. Even Edward Abbey’s Arches National Park now requires reservations. We will have to let things unfold and adjust our schedule as each intrigue comes up.
“Even after years of intimate contact and search this quality of strangeness in the desert remains undiminished. Transparent and intangible as sunlight, yet everywhere present, it lures a man on and on, from the red walled canyons to the smoke-blue ranges beyond, in a futile but fascinating quest for the great, unimaginable treasure that the desert seems to promise. Once caught by this golden lure you become a prospector for life, condemned, doomed, exalted. One begins to understand why Everett Ruess kept going deeper and deeper into the canyon country, until one day he lost the thread of the labyrinth; why the old time prospectors, when they did find the common sort of gold, gambled, drank and whored it away quickly as possible and returned to the burnt hills and the search. The search for what? They could not have said; neither can I; and would have muttered something about gold, silver, copper…anything as a pretext. And how could they hope to find this treasure which has no name and has never been seen? Hard to say…and yet, when they found it, they could not fail to recognize it. Ask Everett Ruess.”
Quote: Edward Abbey, “Desert Solitaire: A Season in the Wilderness: A Celebration of the Beauty of Living in a Harsh and Hostile Land. Page 272.
Having not set a definitive destination as we had embarked on our journey, I now stop, smile and exclaim, “Well, here we are!”
Quote: Jbee. From somewhere in the wilds of southeastern Utah
Have a wonderful World Naked Hiking Day!…
…on this Thursday, June 24th, 2024
I am on the forum of FreeRangeNaturism.com often, if you would like to converse.
It may be that we have one life to live, one chance, just one go at it. It would seems to me, foolish to squander such a gift. Now, what to do with this? How do I know that I am making the most of it? This life is to experience life and I may ask, “Am I?”
It may be a challenge, it may, or not, be exquisite, or perfect, but there are those times that pop up and one just knows that a life is being well lived.
We’ve been in Bears Ears National Monument for the past month. Nearly all of that time without internet, or phone service. Now, we’re back. Much to follow.
We are embarking on a three or four week, yet open-ended, tour of Southeastern Utah. It will be in many very remote areas, so, I can’t be promised internet connection and, so you may notice a missing week or two of posts. I’ll try to get at least one, or more posts in from some tiny library in a tiny town, but no guarantees. If you feel like it, I suggest reading, or rereading, some of the hundreds of past posts.
We will be back with a pile of photography in exotic places and hopefully several more interesting tales to tell with insights in the land of Edward Abbey’s “Desert Solitaire.” I’m sure to have a few quotes from him with illustrations and our own naked take on his literature’s perspectives.
“Open the garage door. Let’s go!”
Thank-you so much for tuning in and enjoying yourself for all of these almost “nine” years!
Jbee and DF
I am on the forum of FreeRangeNaturism.com often, if you would like to converse.
A week ago Saturday, we got back from a month long cross country road trip to DF’s mother’s 100th birthday gathering in Georgia. We traveled through New Mexico, the Panhandle area and Missouri getting there, stopping off at some fun spots to hike walk and visit. On the way back, we took a couple of weeks traveling down into the south. We crossed Texas and the Big Bend area. We’ve got stories to tell about hikes, canuding, sailing, beaches, resorts, retreats and more adventure as naturists to last some months to come.
I have several personal projects that must be accomplished the next 6 weeks or so, which have to do with money. Then, there are many pages of notes from the trip to preserve and a couple of thousand pictures that I’m sorting out. With being very busy and also that aforementioned catching up to do, I’ll still do my best to get some quality posts out each week. Some may be smaller projects.
Carnuding II
Several years ago, I posted an article about “carnuding.” It is time for an update. I’d like to invite you to revisit the first article here:
There were a few useful insights in the comments section of that article
“Carnuding” simply means driving, or riding in a car while nude. Since that article, DF and I have logged in about 13,000 miles nude and incident free in just two cross country road trips. We have also driven nude to and from every one of the short adventures in the stories given here. We often don’t get dressed driving through town, unless getting dressed, or undressed, at either end is a hassle. It is just practical, or sometimes liberating. It has been all incident free…just sayin’.
To be accurate, we carry a cover-up just in case of an emergency, or spontaneous change in plans. A cover is easily placed in a lap to avoid breaking laws. Most often just a wad of cloth across the lap will do. DF has to cover breast in this state, Arizona.
DF has logged less carnude mileage than me, because the seat belt eventually gets uncomfortable when nude. I’ve seen wadded up clothing and pillows under her straps. Also, because of the additional requirement of covering her breast, just a top covering may be used.
All in all, few look and few of those would care. Someone might enjoy a giggle. If some weirdo were to get upset, which hasn’t happened, it is a great deal of trouble for them to take action.
Generally, people are busy driving, seeing the sights, or looking for a McDonalds
During the long drives, I am very grateful to not be bunched up, perspiring in a hot pair of pants. I feel comfortable. When we slow down and the windows are open…we’ll isn’t that part of why people buy convertible cars… to feel the air?
At stops, I have taken to wearing a light Velcro linked kilt. It slips on and off easily. Often, I just wear a kilt as I sit down and undo it, casting it to the side to remain nude. I’m simply and casually at ready to pull it closed with no effort. DF with a light sundress, can place it over herself and be legally covered and slip it on quickly at public stops and get out of the car.
I have gotten a few snickers and double looks from people in small towns when wearing a kilt, but have enjoyed many many more compliments and accepting inquiries. Once at a truck stop in Oklahoma and once standing in line in a store in Fort Davis, Texas during our trip, did I hear an insulting verbal remark, by someone whose opinions I neither respect, or care anything about. It is my comfortable world, even if the fashion sense might be seen in a Walmart YouTube video. I figure that a light Hawaii shirt with the kilt, probably won’t interest the girls, but there are other options that some will be attracted to.
In addition to comfort, Carnudling can make a mundane trip feel more adventurous. If you are out for a sense of freedom, or a getaway, being nude in the car will add to that. It adds a whole new dimension when an intention to stay nude is added.
Being bare as much as you dare on a trip, outside the car, will also raise the bar. Your photography will certainly not get boring. Just be careful, think ahead, and have a backup plan.
The Free Range Naturist 