This is my first ever blog and this first entry should allow you to catch up with the last couple of years of my naturist lifestyle. I was born a Yorkshire lad, lived in North London for several years and I am now quite settled in Sussex with a supportive non-naturist wife and three kids. Like everyone else I’ve had some early skinny dipping experience in my youth and first experienced naturism in Northern Germany in 1978. As explained in my introduction (see the forum) you’ll see how my naturist lifestyle truly began in the USA in May 2005. My work often requires me to be away from home for a week or so and, rather than work all hours, I often try to relax for a day at least by seeking out the local naturist facilities.
In May 2005 I was given a warm welcome by The Cypress Cove resort near Orlando, Florida. They are a small well-established naturist community with camping grounds and good quality hotel style accommodation. Cypress Cove has two good sized swimming pools, 4 tennis courts, a small boutique selling wraps, hats, t-shirts and so on, a hairdressers, a range of massage treatments, bicycle hire, boules, shuffleboard courts, two hot tubs, table tennis, two restaurants, a lake with canoes / paddle boats for hire and 360 days of wonderful Florida sunshine. What a fantastic feeling for me the first time I was there - I spent from Friday evening until Sunday afternoon totally nude the whole time. Breakfast, lunch, evening meal, swimming, cycling and shopping all done in the buff! Staff, local residents and weekend visitors are all friendly and willing to chat to you and help you join in the activities – fortunately there are no pictures of my feeble attempts at line dancing! I’ve since been back on several occasions and for a relaxing few days I can recommend this resort if you are in the Orlando area; it’s near Kissimmee, about 45 minutes drive from the Disney theme parks. www.cypresscoveresort.com
In mid-July 2006 I walked 10 miles with a mixed group of around 20 people (from the SOC – singles outdoor club) in the English countryside (near Arundel in Sussex) on the hottest day since records began. We were all totally naked apart from strong shoes, a hat and suncream! After the first hundred yards or so from the car park everyone was nude for virtually the whole of the rest of the day’s 10 mile walk across beautiful Sussex countryside with views of Bognor and the channel in the background. After a while I was enjoying the conversation and the scenery, and forgot that everyone was naked (I know it is a cliché but I really did believe this to be true that first day). I felt very comfortable; it was a hot day and I don’t think I could have walked as far fully clothed. A swim in the sea to cool off at the end of the walk was not only a highlight, it made me feel like a kid again as we stumbled (it was pebbly - ouch!) and splashed in the surprisingly warm sea on the South Coast of England. As the group enjoyed a well earned (fully clothed) supper in a traditional English pub after the walk, the conversation flowed with ease and I had to pinch myself to remind myself that a few hours ago these dinner guests were total strangers.