PNW Bacon Blog

 Clearly, there is some inherent danger when nude in a working kitchen.  The first time I fried bacon nude, it didn’t take long before I put on an apron.  What’s an apron, you ask?  Our grandmothers wore them, but how many of us have one anymore.  Trust me; a nudist NEEDS an apron now and then.  Bacon is deadly, as you can imagine. 

And then there was the time that I took a tray of cookies out of the oven.  As I held it aloft with the oven mitt, I reached over the burners to the back of the stove to turn off the timer with my other hand. The searing hot pan sizzled across one particularly tender place on my chest… Yeah, those got in the way, resulting in a burn about two inches long, red and painful. The blister itself was half that length.  I immediately put ice on it and the pain subsided a bit.

For a time, the stark redness was obvious, but within days the blister didn’t show much.  It still hurt the most when I had to wear clothes. Gradually it faded.  I wore that reminder for about a year, although it wasn’t too apparent after a couple weeks…

 And, typical of the behavior among nudists, no one commented negatively or otherwise.  They accepted me, with all my imperfections as I accept them… including the now faint scar in THAT place of all places.

In order to set a World Record as “the most persons skinny-dipping at once” we needed certifying judges.  So, we need someone, a respected community member?  I thought of Jeff, a patrol cop in a small rural jurisdiction near here.  I clean house for Jeff and his wife each Friday. 

I nervously asked him first if he would be free that particular Saturday six weeks hence.  He could possibly arrange his schedule to be available, he mused.  Then, I dropped the bombshell.  

 His dinner-plate sized eyes accompanied a shriek as he bounded for the garage, tossing his newly loaded service pistol onto the counter next to me.  His wife was in the garage chatting on the cell phone, smoking, the only place she allowed herself to enjoy the bad habit.

 “She’s a NUDIST!!!   Did you know she’s a nudist?” he yelled, interrupting her. 

His wife shouted into the cell phone, “Our cleaning lady’s a nudist!” 

 Returning a moment later, Jeff picked up his pistol and put it into the holster, as he’d just about done before the shock of my revelation.  “No, I don’t think I could handle that,” he said, red faced.  Out of the corner of his eye, he scanned my clothed body, some 230 lbs of it.  I don’t think he’s ready for nudism even now more than a year later.

Allegra, still cleaning his house, but not in the nude, out of respect for his feelings.

Early on at LARC, I noticed a significant problem.  Names.

I have a hard enough time remembering names, as it is, but it was worse at LARC.   I found that I didn’t have the body image clues to recalling a person’s name.  One would remember “Matilda” in a flowered voile dress and portrait hat forever, regardless of what else she wore.  One would remember Hector in cut off jeans and a white button-down shirt, even if he changed to a tuxedo. 

With no clothing clues to associate a name and face, that has been a problem for me.  I analyzed this one afternoon while broiling my bacon on the sunning lawn… who was that lady putting on the sunscreen?  Who was there in the group by the campfire?  Who was over there playing chess?

I’d had some wonderful conversations with my new friends, but as it turned out, it wasn’t until I knew more about them that I could recall their names with consistency. I discovered that I watch their faces as we talk, particularly their eyes.  I’m actually listening to them better than I do “normally”. I don’t pay attention to their bodies.

Yes, I know many of their names at LARC now, and as I learn more about them, it’s a wonderful cross section of personalities, talents, interests, differences and similarities.

 Allegra

AllegraPNW@gmail.com

When one drives along Highway 9 east of Mt Vernon near Lake McMurray, the sign at the mailboxes is easy to miss unless you are looking for it.  The white sign with green letters doesn’t give a clue about the nudist resort across the road.  Neither does the planting area with a larger sign, but if one follows the driveway around the curve, one knows to expect nudity further on because of a warning sign. 

 The office on the right past the gated entrance is the only place that clothing is required, since some people do arrive unaware of the nude opportunities further along the road.  Yes, we even have events AT the office parking area.  We’ve scheduled a “yard sale” and had dozens of non-nudists come in and shop. We’ve been the rest stop for car and motorcycle groups touring along Highway 9 on their event rides.   For some individuals, it’s been their first introduction to LARC and the nudist recreational opportunities available locally.  Still, it is prudent and a courtesy to not expose our nude selves to those who would be offended.

 The far side of the office parking area has another welcoming flower bed. Our “garden club” at LARC maintains these beautiful plots of flowers there and elsewhere throughout the grounds.  Beyond is the lower part of the huge sunning lawn, studded with mature cedars, especially along the roads. 

 Drive to the right and the road forks.  The “outer loop” leads to RV lots, rented for personal RVs.  Most are seasonally occupied; some are the permanent homes of members.   These lots are tucked in among trees or overlook an expanse of well tended lawn which is also a location for tent travelers.  Shower and laundry facilities are located near the top of the hill, convenient to the cluster of lots.  Return to the office area down the hill along the one-way outer loop. 

 Take the inner loop and pass several “park model” RVs that one could rent for a short stay.  Or, notice the numerous pull out spaces for a stay in your own RV.  Most are surrounded by trees and forest vegetation and offer a secluded spot convenient to the main sunning lawn, the activity tents, and other amenities of LARC.

 At the top of the inner loop hill is the center of activity.  The main tent has a stage and a dance floor, a large space for tables and chairs.  On one side is an open sided tent area with picnic tables.  Either area is a good place for impromptu conversation and activities.  The food tent is close by, with a grill and BBQ, a food prep and storage area.  We have frequent meals centered there.  The tents are only up from mid-March to the end of October because of the prospect of heavy snow.  Close by on one side is a sandy volley ball court and a lawn area for other games like croquet and horse shoes.  On the other side are the campfire pit and the hot tub.

 These areas are all at the top of a gentle hill sloping down to the south for full benefit of the sun.  You can spread your towel on comfortable loungers overlooking the lawn and soak up the sun’s rays, take a sunbreak in the tent area or soak away your cares in the covered hot tub. You can enjoy the company of others or you can enjoy solitude and relaxation on your own terms. 

 Nearly every weekend something special is on the activity schedule. We have Karaoke, movie night, a dance or games night.  We have special food events, like our opulent “Black Tie and Heels” dinner and frequent pot lucks.  The grill for burgers or our breakfast meals are well attended.  We’ve got a fabulous music festival “Rockin’ the Park” which is planned for Saturday July 30^th and we have an Open House and our art exhibit and sale July 9^th and 10^th.  Two of our dances are costume events, the Mardi Gras dance in March and our Halloween dance in October.  “Clothing optional” is pushing the envelope for them, to be sure. 

 We have one event that is Clothing Required.  That’s our highway clean up as a community service opportunity.   On the northbound side of I-5 you may notice the sign that we’ve “adopted” a portion of the freeway.  We were noticed by Evening Magazine, a television series and filmed for public entertainment.  I’m not sure who dished out more puns, one of our clean up crew or the TV interviewer.  It was a hoot and good enough that it was rebroadcast again last spring.

 The hot tub is our personal must-do without fail every visit. We do not have our own RV lot so come just for the day whenever we can.  We try to attend as many of the events as schedule permits and precede or follow with the hot tub.  Sometimes, we just come to unwind and soak away the tension.  It’s wonderful with the full moon in the evenings, too.

 I hope this “guided tour” give you a good taste of LARC.  See more on the website, www.larcnudists.com and come for a visit.

 Allegra, “bacon” in the sun as soon as weather cooperates.  AllegraPNW@gmail.com

My first introduction to LARC was via a web search.  “Do an online search,” my Florida e-pal suggested. My new friends had corresponded with me for about three weeks with only a facial portrait to give me an idea of what they looked like.  We had art, writing and a few other interests in common.  When they sent a full body photo, relaxing on their deck in the buff, I was neither shocked nor put off by it.  They hadn’t volunteered that they were nudists in the various messages.  I found that I envied their natural acceptance and so I asked a few brief questions. 

  I don’t recall the exact search words, but I found several campgrounds or resorts or clubs in Washington.  Lake Associates Recreation Club, or LARC, came up as one of three in easy driving distance.  I planned to visit all three and decide if one of them might be the place I’d enjoy for an opportunity for complete relaxation in the nude.

 Once I was there for the first time, I didn’t see the need to visit the others.  It felt like HOME; it felt like my own backyard, but huge.  It felt welcoming and low key.  I didn’t even feel the need for the suggested 3 visits before applying for membership.   

 If I were “shy” I could wear something or if I were “brave” I could shed the tunic or pareo wrap.  I could wear something or not, if the weather indicated.  Actually, I felt wonderfully free and comfortable to be completely nude and visiting with people I’d just met.

Brochures and websites of various clubs that I researched showed swimming pools, but not being much of a swimmer, it was not a disappointment to be minus a pool.  LARC had a hot tub, the ONLY place there where nudity is required.  Now, THAT is my favorite place.  With evergreens, maples, salmonberry, trillium and dozens of unknown (to me) forest plants, the surroundings beckoned me to explore the natural beauty.  LARC has a short hiking trail to salmon spawning stream, with two small waterfalls, flanked by the coolness and quiet of the forest.  The acres of sunning lawn, the activity tents, one enclosed and one open sided, allow for mingling with friends or finding your own solitude.  On cool Friday evenings, the campfire is lit and folks sit around, chat, have a glass of wine and some cheese.  A dance, potluck, a costume event, and movie night are regularly scheduled.  Mostly, it’s simply a place to relax

 With some new friends, I made a horrid mistake on my second visit… I left my towel at the activity tent.  We were walking around the road loop.  We greeted folks at their RVs and campsites, chatting briefly and moving on to greet others.  We were invited to stop and share a drink at one campsite.  I sat down on a bench with my Coke and then realized I should have been seated on my towel.  Our hosts and the others said nothing, tactfully recognizing my inexperience with the etiquette of the nudist community.  I cannot recall which of my friends it was, but I am grateful to them for not embarrassing me in front of others.  We are family at LARC.  My “siblings” graced me with loving acceptance, even forgiving a terrible error.

 It’s been several years now, and that towel episode taught me a valuable lesson… one can share the need for a towel with first timers, tactfully and in a relaxed conversational style.  It’s posted in various places, but it is so easy to overlook the simple stuff.  But that towel episode also demonstrated how understanding and forgiving my new friends were.  Bring a towel and a smile.  That’s it.

If you’d like to visit LARC, check out the website for a free pass for first timers, www.larcnudists.com .  Also check the calendar of events or phone the office to see if any special activities are scheduled.  And BTW, we have an Open House in July along with our art show, Naked Images which has free admission.

See ya’ at LARC,  Allegra

AllegraPNW@gmail.com

“Have you been to the XYZ Beach?” he asked.  “No,” I replied, and then I asked where it might be.  A few days later, I spread my towel on the sand in full view of a couple dozen others, similarly unclothed.  I ignored everyone, and everyone ignored me… and after about an hour and a half, slightly groggy from the fresh air and intense sun, I left. 

 It was soon afterward that I moved to the colder, cloudier and damper Pacific Northwest.  Beaches were not nearly as inviting, since the stiff wind blew biting surf droplets into my face and whipped my hair into my eyes… No, naked beach sunbathing was not going to be on my agenda. 

 It wasn’t until some 25 years later that memories resurfaced and I longed for the freedom that I had experienced a few times in my life, the liberty of feeling a gentle breeze against my skin and the baking rays of the sun on my naked body.  That’s when too, I had access to the internet and did a search.  I even found that same beach listed as a place that still welcomed nudists.

 But I also found a place where I could go that was close by, a place where I could relax in the sun, could feel the breeze against every part of my body and where I could meet people who enjoyed a clothing free place for recreation and relaxation.  Instead of the beach, which I remember fondly, I’ve got meadows and mountains, cedars and acres of lawn.  I have my freedom from the restrictions of elastic and spandex.  I feel at home.

 More about LARC, Lake Associates Recreation Club www.larcnudists.com  in a few days.  Heading to LARC this weekend… hooray!!  The Pacific Northwet(sic) weather may mean that we won’t be nude all of the time, but we WILL have fun (as always) and mingle and chat with friends and soak in the hot tub.

 Allegra, waiting for summer and being able to be bakin’ in the nude…

AllegraPNW@gmail.com

Before this first experience, I had never been nude in public.  I hadn’t given personal nudism any thought.  I’d heard the term “skinny dipping” but had associated it with far away and fiction about boys at the ol’ swimming hole.

About age 12, our camp group went on an overnight into the “rough country” near a mountain stream in the high Sierra Nevada Mountains.  Upstream from our rustic campsite a generous pool of water was fed from the stream that washed across and between huge granite boulders.  Wading into the pool we regretted leaving our bathing suits back at the main camp.  Being “just girls”, however, a few brave souls finally removed jeans and shirts.  It didn’t take long before the rest of us doffed all clothing in order to vigorously splash in the stream, a rare treat, compared to the chlorine-laced waters we all knew. 

 Just above the pool one particular boulder was nearly flat, the size of a small truck. The granite was green with the algae, where water flowing across it enabled growth in the glinting sun.  Some brave girl, completely naked, clambered to the highest place on that boulder and then slid down gleefully into the pool.

Soon, all of us joined her, sliding on the slick rock and shrieking, again and again, as we plunged into the icy surging stream.  The smartest ones stopped to sunbathe and dry off after only a few times, while the rest of us continued our slide until we realized that the algae was wearing off the rock.  Our red butts were a painful reminder of our foolish hedonistic activity. 

 That was my first nudist experience.  I secretly savored that memory anytime I saw a similar stream for years.   I also didn’t tell my parents that I went skinny dipping at Girl Scout camp.

I’m Allegra in the Pacific Northwest, looking forward to bakin’ in the sun.   AllegraPNW@gmail.com