Volume 2, Number 1 / January 1999
Volume 2, Number 1 / January 1999
Nudity in the News
SLUGS Doe Bay Retreat
An Urgent Request (Top-Free Rights)
The Practical Sauna Workshop
Naturist Site Description
Naked Before God and San Francisco
Membership Information
|
Nudity in the
News Utah State Art Department defends nudes This is definitely a (positive) twist on stories about nudity coming out of Utah. In a December 8 story from the Associated Press, it is reported that a vandal twice pulled paintings off the wall of the Utah State University Art Department in Logan and laid them face down on the floor. In response, the Department chairman had the six paintings locked in a display cabinet on the first floor of the building - a much busier spot than their previous location on the second floor. City of Changchun defends nudes On the other side of the world, in another location where one is surprised to hear of any defense of nudity, a December 18 report from the Zinhua news agency states that two six-meter-high nude sculptures of a male and a female have become objects of civic pride. Officials in Changchun, a city of two million and capital of the China's Jilin Province, at first were afraid of widespread objections. Instead, a poll indicated a majority of residents were favorable to the statues, which dominate the city's Culture Square. The sculptures have even become a tourist attraction. A local sociologist offered the opinion that the acceptance of the statues marked a change in attitude of Chinese people. "Behavior patterns and old ideas have moved on and there is a greater appreciation of artistic beauty," he said. Someday perhaps we'll have as much tolerance even in the U. S. of A. But DHL does not defend nudes Here's a little more data on attitudes towards artistic nudity in the U. S.: If you happen to appreciate it, then you might want to think twice about using DHL Worldwide Express for your next shipment. Salon Magazine has a feature article reporting that DHL has a stated policy of reserving the right to open any shipment to search for photography or artwork containing nudity-which is automatically considered "pornography." In one such instance, they reportedly returned a package shipped by a noted photographer, Craig Morey, because it contained a few artistic nude photos. According to the article, DHL does this "as a customer service." We suggest you visit their home page and leave them a comment telling them just what you think of their "customer service." |
|
SLUGS Doe Bay
Retreat Doe Bay Resort is not a nudist park but it contains outdoor clothing optional areas. There is a covered outdoor spa area with a nice view of the bay from the tubs and one of the best saunas in western WA. A stretch of beach is provided for c/o use. Accommodations range from group tenting to nice cabins with kitchens and everything in between. Remember, nudity is only permissible in certain areas of the resort. I recommend you bring along a thick, warm robe, your own towels, and a flashlight. Visit their website at http://www.orcasisle.com/doebay/ We're planning to reserve the largest of the cabins (holds around 9 people) for our group. If you would like to arrange your own accommodations you can do so by contacting the resort at (360) 376-2291. There is a two night minimum if Friday or Saturday is included but you will receive a 30% off-season discount. Extra guests are $14 but if we have a group of 10 or more, we get an additional discount! There are also RV spaces with hook-ups. All are welcome at the SLUGS at Doe Bay event! You need not belong to any nudist/naturist group and this could be the perfect way for some of you to introduce friends and/or spouses to the clothing optional concept. The resort is known for its casual, laid-back style. The island provides plenty of sight-seeing, gift shopping, and other clothed recreation opportunities for those less inclined to naturist pursuits. The slugmobile will be leading a carpool from Bellevue at 5:45 PM on Friday the 22nd. We may stop in Everett at 6:30 to connect with more car-poolers. We will then meet with the remainder of the group at the Cascade Lanes Bowling Alley Restaurant in Anacortes at 7:30. We'll leave some vehicles at the long-term parking at the ferry terminal if necessary and be in line for the 9:15 PM ferry to Orcas Island by 8:45 PM. Once we reach Orcas, at 10:45 PM we'll have about an hour drive to the resort. Space is filling up in the slugmobile. Contact me A.S.A.P. if you would like to be a rider. As always, I ask that you don't smoke and that you contribute to the cost of fuel. We'll probably need drivers as well, so please let me know how many you are able to take in your vehicle and where you would like to meet up with the carpool. There are several ferries returning from the island on Sunday. I expect that I will leave the resort sometime after 4:00 PM which would get us back to Bellevue by around 8:00 PM. However, this is subject to change. Some of you haven't been to Doe Bay so I'd like to tell you a little bit about it. The resort located on the east end of beautiful Orcas Island. The Island is sort of horseshoe shaped with the ferry terminal near the bottom of one side. Doe Bay is near the bottom of the other. The hour drive to the other end of the Island is quite nice, passing through a state park and some small island towns. The ferry trip from Anacortes is also nice and relaxing-passing between the other islands and making a stop or two along the way. In the winter season there is a limited schedule, so it is necessary to get to the terminal at Anacortes early in the morning. The resort is old, but picturesque, with a variety of accommodations. The best part is the outdoor spa area which features one of the best saunas in western Washington, two hot spas-one with jets, a cold plunge, and a covered deck with a view! The spa area is clothing optional and children are not allowed after 6:00pm. A trail leads down to a small pebble beach, and there is also a massage hut with massages available by appointment. The off season is my favorite time to go since there are fewer tourists and you can get to know the local people who frequent the resort on a daily basis. I must say that some of my most enjoyable sauna times have been spent there. The sauna itself is multi-tierd and is usually heated by gas but also has a wood stove, and the windows at the top let in just enough natural light. There are no less than four methods of cooling down available; a cold shower, the cold plunge, places to relax on the deck and enjoy the view, and even running down to dive into the bay! The spas are also covered so the can be used in almost any weather conditions. The whole atmosphere is relaxed, quiet, care free, and very informal. For more information, contact James via email to slugling@wiredweb.com or call him at 425-742-2691. |
|
URGENT REQUEST I think your letter will make a big difference. When the politicians and civil servants feel the heat from several provinces and countries, they will act. They won't want this case blowing up at them! And its disposition in Ms. Godron's favor will have an impact not just in Saskatchewan but in other provinces and American states. WRITE TO: ALSO (you may address one copy to all four persons below): John D. Whyte, Q.C. Richard Quinney, Q.C. Daryl Rayner and Dean Sinclair The letter should be typed, brief, and written in your own words .Ensure you give your full name and mailing address. Be courteous but clear. Only one thing should be included in every letter: the case against Evangeline Godron should be dismissed and she should be compensated for the unjustifiable actions taken against her, including jailing her for two days in August 1998. PLEASE WRITE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. The time is now! Contact
T.E.R.A. if you need help. |
|
The Practical
Sauna Workshop Finding the park for the first time wasn't too difficult, and I was introduced to James as he was unloading his equipment. From that moment on, it was obvious that this man is not only interested in saunas, he is passionate about them. As we sat in the infamous slugmobile waiting for participants to arrive James showed me plans for a home sauna, discussed the Sauna SIG and how it is progressing, and gave me a little history lesson on the FS sauna facility. When everyone had arrived, James gave us each a very impressive seven-page handout. It told about sauna facilities, how and why to take a sauna, sauna etiquette, and even included a list of sources for sauna equipment and an annotated bibliography of sauna books. After a brief introduction to the historical and cultural background of the Finnish sauna, James took us in for our first warming session. Inside the stove room, we were told about several methods
of cooling off between warming sessions. James also explained
some of the theories on how a sauna improves a person's health
and helps to prevent colds and flu. By this time, most of us
had begun to work up a good sweat, so we went out into the dressing
room and cooled off in preparation for a second warming session. By the end of the third session, I had gathered enough courage to try cooling in the unheated outdoor pool. Now that may sound crazy to you at first; it certainly did to me. However, our master sauna expert had yet another theory. If a person plunges into the cold water gently and then remains motionless, a thermal layer develops around the body allowing it to cool without freezing. So I eased into the pool amid shouts of "Oh my goodness, he's doing it!" and "I wonder how long he'll be able to stay in?" followed by "Is he moving?" At first the water felt really cold; but as I remained motionless
it seemed to become a little warmer, and then my body cooled
off gradually. Just to push the envelope a bit and to test James'
theory, I wiggled my right hand. Immediately it got icy cold,
but the rest of my body remained warmer. When I came out of the
pool, my body felt slightly cooler than room temperature except
for my right hand which was much colder; and I was totally exhilarated. And before I forget, James said that an important part of
sauna etiquette is to thank your host. So I'd like to give a
big thank-you to Fraternity Snoqualmie for the use of their sauna
facility and to James for sharing his passion. |
|
Naturist Site
Description Although on public lands one can never guarantee not being 'walked up on' while jaywalking (walking, naked as a jay bird) or sunny bathing, the chances of this happening here are as slim as any of the most desolate areas I have ever found. The north side of the river is made inaccessible by the I-90 itself, where the is no stopping or parking except for emergencies, so no walkers will be coming from that direction. The view from the highway is occluded by forest, and occasionally you can see glimpses of the tops of trucks through the trees as they go by. The south side of the river is protected by small cliffs hidden by thick forest and underbrush infested by devils club and treacherous boggy marshes, so the chances of someone being brave (or stupid) enough to hike through there is, well... The only other access would be from upstream, where one would have to negotiate the river where there is no contiguous bank (would have to ford the slippery bottom most of the way) for nearly a mile. The access I found is no picnic, either, and is plenty hard enough to discourage the casual hiker. I have been sunbathing here during busy weekends without seeing anyone at all for the whole day, even though the banks downstream get visitors. No towels are necessary - in fact carrying a towel would be quite inconvenient here, as you have to cross the river in places that are nearly waist-deep in spring, and have slippery rocks under the water. On weekdays I just go in naked except for water sandals, and carrying only a small Velcro wrap towel, just in case. About 200- 250 ft. upstream from the end of the trail the river bends to the right, where you will be out of view from the downstream banks. The scenery - is absolutely beautiful!! A prettier stretch of river you will never find in the PNW. Directions: I-90 east of Northbend, take the USFS 9030 road exit - exit 45. Turn right at the bottom of the off-ramp. Turn left up into the gravel parking area and go as far up to the end as you can get. Park facing the river. There is usually a sand pile there - get out and lock your car, then look for the small trail which starts at the sand pile and goes into the forest heading upstream. This is a very brief but dazzling hike along the river bank, where the trail ends at the beginning of a boulder beach. This is where you will have to look for the best place to cross the river. I have found that due to the slippery bottom, using your feet AND your hands during crossing results in no ankle bruises from the bottom rocks. As soon as you are on the other side, step on the dry rocks as you go upstream out of sight of the banks near the parking area. The first nice rock is right on the rivers edge. |
|
Naked Before
God and San Francisco Bare To Breakers is part of the internationally famous Bay To Breakers run. This cross city footrace was originated 6 years after the great 1906 San Francisco earthquake. It was set up as a morale booster and was called the Cross City Race. The first race included 147 runners. It has now grown to roughly 100,000 participants. In 1998 the race officially had 69,993 registered participants with roughly 30-40,000 more participating nonregistered. The course follows a 7.5 mile path across the San Francisco peninsula from the east bay side to the Pacific shoreline's breakers. Claudia Kellersch and John Cornicello represented the SLUGS
in the 1998 run. We'd like to see a larger contingent this year.
Complete information about the run can be found on the internet
at http://www.pacificnet.net/wanr/run.html. Hurry, though, as with 100,000 runners descending on the city, hotel accommodations can fill up quickly. You might consider alternatives to traditional hotels. For example, last year I stayed at the Green Tortoise Hostel for the weekend. A group of SLUGS might even consider taking the Green Tortoise bus to San Francisco. The cost is around $60 each way, leaving Seattle on Thursday evening and leaving San Francisco on Monday evening. I've never tried the Green Tortoise bus, but I understand that they stop off at a clothing optional sauna in Oregon for a break during the trip. Information can be found on their web site at http://www.greentortoise.com/home.html or call them at 800-TORTOISE (1-800-867-8647). Please consider joining us! |
Back to Newsletters page
Back to home page