Hiking (and sailing) naked.
So far this year I've had four nudist holidays in the Canaries, Spain, Portugal andGreece/Austria andI'm planning three more. Somehow they have a way of being extended. My latest is an example.
I was invited to join a friend and his wifeon their shared yacht off the Greek islands of Kefallonia and Lefkada. My departure was delayed by the need to be in my home village for the Grand Depart of the Tour de France. So I could only join them for the last four days of sailing. It was a four-birth yacht on which three of us were nudists. So the rule was to be naked unless we were in port.
I joined them late in the evening at their mooring in Argostoli. We dined, wined and turned in for the night. The following morning we looked at the turtles that are in the harbour for scraps off the fishing boats, then took on provisions and water. The first day's sailing was up the east coast of Kefallonia. The light wind wasdead against us so we motored. We were exposed to the open sea and, despite the light wind there was a swell rocking the boat 30 to 40 deg to either side. After hours of this I succumbed to sea sickness. Were other days going to be like this? We finally made it to harbour at Asos for my friend's birthday. Being in port We had to cover up. Then we walked up to the castle remains on the headlandconnected to this idyllic village by a narrow isthmus. If I hadn't seen it I would not believe such a fairy-tale place could be real.
The following day we continued north. Wewere soon in shelter between islands and I started taking turns at the helm. The next night we moored in a secluded bay with just a few other boats. Tonight we could stay naked. After mooring we swam round the boat. My recent swimming lessons gave me confidence being out of my depth, with the salt water giving the extra buoyancy. We went ashore for a short naked hike then back in the water for another swim. Dinner and drinks with a friend from another yacht was in the nude.
The third and final day's sailing took us through two narrow channels and on to Our final mooring in Preveza. This was yet another sunny naked day, dressing only to take on fuel and for our final mooring. Then it was time to clean the yacht and it's tender, ready for the next user in the syndicate. The town harbour was full of yachts of all sizes with many doing the same cleaning as ourselves. We went into the town for a meal and to watch a children's dance spectacular late at night. The following morning we took a long taxi ride to Igomenstsa for the ferry to Kerkyra (Corfu).We had ameal and some shopping in Kerkyra town thencaught the plane to Munich for the second part of our holiday.
The three of uslanded in Munich fairly late in the day, hired a car and drove to our destination in Ramsau am Dachstein in the mountains above Schladming, about 63 miles south east of Salzburg. It was 11.30 by the time we arrived but we were enthusiastically greeted by a horde of naked nudists fresh from their meal and an evenings drinking. The week's naked hiking was organised by NEWT (Naked European Walking Tour which can be found at www.naktv.net/newt2014 ). We were allocated our room which slept five - one woman and four men (nudists don't need privacy). One man was already in bed asleep. Regrettably we disturbed him as we settled in and went to bed. He was a character and became a good friend during the week. The following morning we got up, showered, cleaned our teeth and DIDN'T get dressed. Breakfast was a chaotic, good humoured naked free-for-all. This Friendly DIY pitching-in was a sign of the week to come. We were sharing a large house or challet, not staying in a hotel. This communal livinghelped our introductions and friendship. In the daylight we could see we were staying in a beautiful Alpine setting. Everyone had agreed to allow others to photograph them naked and there was a film crew recording the whole week's event.
You will find a summery of my week in this blog. Stay here for the details.
https://www.truenudists.com/members/blogs/view.php?id=6262
Monday was a practice day. My friend had taken the car to get the first day's shopping, including dozens of bottles of wine and cans of beer. His wife and I set off on the morning's hike which was scheduled to last two hours. We'd be back as he returned with the shopping. We had been told to cover up when walking on tarmacked roads but the leader said it was only a short stretch so it was up to us. Many of us stayed naked and stopped for photos at a roadside display. This would have repercussions later. We set off through the woods on a path between the road and a stream and then came to a steep ascent. By this time it was clear that the walk would take 4 hours and my friend's wife was concerned that he would wonder where we were. Another couple thought the climb too steep. All three turned back and I accompanied them. On the way we passed a pond which tempted us in for a swim, except that time was pressing.
We enjoyed the freshly bought beer and wine with some lunch at the Chalet. The rest of the group returned as we finished. Meanwhile others had arrived swelling the number to around 40 from 11 countries across the world. About a third were female. Both the numbers and the female presence would make or naked hiking a bit safer later in the week.
The afternoon's walk was to last 3 hours (it lasted 6). The dress code was Optional but mainly it comprised stout hiking boots with socks, a hat and sun cream to protect us from the sun and a ruck sack to carry water, camera, snacks and any discarded clothing. But we had to set off close to a neighbouring chalet with a coach party.We were to cover up for the moment. This produced an array of sarongs, skirts, kilts and other wraps on the men. The aim being to put them on and off without pulling them over muddy boots. Mine was a flimsy, short sarong, easily lifted by a breeze. The main part of the hike was to follow a river. Therebeing no pathwe fought our way through the riverside undergrowth, being obliged to cross it three times. Clearly we were a group of very mixed ability and one woman in particular found the thicket difficult. So my friend and I offered to act as back-stop to help her. This did the trick and now many of the group were helping her. We achieved our target and returned home for a well earned rest, drinks and a meal.
As the drink flowed we soon got chatting. The meal was chaotic self service but somehow that added to the fun. There would be a rotor for chores like washing up, cooking (under the very able chef) clearing tables etc. so that we each took a turn. Finally, full of good cheer we were ready for bed. We'd been naked all day. Was this going to be a true 24/7 nude week?
We were a mixed group, speaking English, German and Italian, Aged from mid twenties to over 80, Including manual workers, office back room staff, retirees and an atomic physicist. We all had two things in common. We were nudists who like hiking. But our abilities varied from those who would conquer Everest or do the three peaks challenge to those with a more pedestrian approach. We were offered two walks on most days. The fit in the "fast group" were to reach the snow line, play naked in the snow and swim in glacier-fed lakes whilst the "slow group" was to just amble along for a 12 mile stroll, only climbing the odd 1000feet.
On Tuesday we were to depart along the same route, going our two ways later. The fast group were given a 30 min start so as to avoid mixing in with the slow-coaches. I was a slow-coach. There was a little rainBut we agreed that skin is waterproof and walking keeps us warm. We set off at our allotted time. But just a short way in what was this? The fast group had turned back put off by a little rain! So we overtook them and headed into the hills.
The camera crew joined us. They would have to keep stopping to film us passing and then have to catch up and overtake for the next shoot. Even though they were two fit young girls it was easier to do this with the slow group as they had heavy equipment to carry. You can see they joined into the spirit of the week too by being naked themselves. Who could deny them any request?
By lunchtime we were lost. We climbed onto a ridge amongst the stumps of felled trees. They provided perfect seating, but only after we'd posed as an array of statues for the camera crew. After lunch consultation of a map and a walker's GPS got us heading roughly homeward - after we'd descended steeply through a thicket onto the track. We made it home well ahead of the fast group. They had been above the snow line and played in the snow naked but we got first choice of the chilled beer.
On Wednesday we walked along a ridge and down from a summit reached by a cable car. The fast group climbed up to the summit whilst the slow group went up intwo cable cars,the camera crew being in the same one as myself. Two of us tipped them off that we would strip as soon as we left the base station. As usual we were only wearing wraps. So cameras rolled and off came the wraps as soon as we moved off. We stayed naked until the last minute, just before the top station. We waited for the fast group to struggle to the top. The rendezvous was at a children's play park just next to the caf. We were the only ones in the play park. The climbing wall, rope bridge and slide were so tempting. So I tipped off the camera crew, stripped off and tackled all three. I was soon followed by two other men.But I had to do it again for a second take. Then, just for fun, I had a go on the swing.
The others arrived and it was time to go up to the caf for lunch. Someone came up behind me with a nettle so I lifted my sarong and presented my bare bottom. After lunch we walked about 100 yards from the caf and all stripped off ready for the decent.
On the way down we passed the place NEWT had stayed last year. The leadergot permission for us to sit in the beer garden naked. So we each had a drink (a large beer please) before we moved on. That evening was BBQ night. They had the food and the charcoal but no way to light it. So the ex boy scouts took charge. I produced last week's Times and split logs for kindling. The food was soon cooking and the evening's feasting and drinking soon followed.
That completed the third all-naked day. But there was an announcement. The local council had been discussing the sight of naked hikers on the main road! We weretold to behave.
Thursday saw us all taking the same hike. We started through the village so those wraps, sarongs, kilts and skirts came out, but only for a short while. As we climbed up to the Hut the faster hikers often had to wait for the others. We found ourselves chatting to passing (textile) hikers who envied our nudity on such a hot day.Was there safety in numbers or the gender-mix? Lunch was in a high alpine field with a few cows with horns and bells. One fancied our lunch.
The rest of the hike covered a mix of good tracks and narrow paths on steep downhill gradients. Some struggled with the steeper parts and the camera girl twisted an ankle. So someone carried her heavy pack and filming stopped for the day.
We made it down to the hostelry for a rest and drinks. By now the two dogs, camera crew and some slower hikers were finished. But there was another two hour's hiking to do. So the faster hikers were sent ahead to get cars and return to rescue them. I went with them despite having been with the "slow" group all week - I was to use our hire car. Before setting offI did get a stamp to prove I'd been there (it's just above the duck).
Dinner that night was delicious fish barbequed in foil with lemon and herbs, washed down by the usual gallons of wine.
Friday night was our last night together. This time it was "leftovers" and I opted for the delicious fish from the night before. There was the usual beer, wine and chatter but this time we were exchanging emails and contact details. Many of us wanted to meet again..
Saturday morning saw us cleaning up, packing and loading our cars. We were dressed for the first time since the previous Sunday evening. Then someone asked for a group photograph. In an instant we were all stripped naked - well we wouldn't want to be photographed with our clothes on! One man wanted to encourage his wife to come next time by showing her that there were other women there. So he lined up with eight of the women for his photo.
I had my own keepsake.
We decided to stay nearby as our flight to the UK wasn't until Sunday. The chef told us of a nearby naturist guesthouse - Landhaus Luhrmann (www.luehrmann.at). We booked in and simply enjoyed relaxing on its sunny lawns and decking, in its pool and sauna. It was lovely just after a week's heavy hiking.
On the Sunday we dressed to visit a typically Austrian fete, visit Salzburg and catch our flight back to Manchester. But that wasn't the end of my holiday. Part 3 was about to start.
I said part three of my holiday was to come. My friend and his wife invited me to stay with them in North Wales, to help with some chores and do some more hiking. They had also invited Dan, a real US character who we met in Austria and who celebrated his Welsh ancestry with a tattoo that covered his entire back and arms. But he has more the look of Scottish highland worrier, complete with kilt.
I'll skip the details. We had three lovely hikes as illustrated here, then visited the official nude beach near Harlech. We were very lucky as the sun shone all week.
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