Dear Members,

After a slow start summer is really with us and 'I for one am enjoying it to the full. I know that many of you are too, but I am sorry to say that a considerable number of new members are still just names, and I had so hoped to meet you all in the - er - flesh, if you will pardon the expression. Now just look at what you have all missed, new ones :

A trip to Pakiri North on 2.1.77; a wonderful, still fairly isolated spot a few miles north of our usual haunt, Pakiri South, but well worth the extra short distance, and eliminates all that foot-slogging so detested by littlies, seniors and just plain softies;

15.1.77 saw, in place of the advertised barbecue at Whatipu, alternative venues at (again) Pakiri North, and Thames (our thanks to Brian Longley and Ray and Marion Woolhouse for their good offices);

On 23.1.77 an extremely pleasant day at Kariotahi, meeting up with members of the the South Auckland Sun Club - thanks, Bobbie, for your liaison;

A fabulous day at Uretiti Beach on 30.1.77 - what a really wonderful spot for one of our first free beaches, I am sure you will agree (how soon)? Just to look at that postcard view gives a lift to the spirit;

A very gratifying turn-out to Long Bay on 6.2.77 - a happy day, with some blushing posteriors. The previous day Pat and Tony Davis and some friends had spent a very happy day at Omaha, so although they were on the beach at Long Bay, they were fairly quiet, and sitting very still (a bit like taking one's dinner from the mantelpiece after a day on horse-back);

Sadly, on 20 Feb our trip by boat did not come off, due to the first piece of meteorological malevolence for some considerable time. It has been decided not try to replace this particular activity this year, due to the density of bookings of the Blue Boats until well into April; but you may be sure that we will be well to the fore next year.

Many of us attended the official opening of the North Shore Sun Club's pool, with a hangi meal in the evening - a very pleasant day.

I hope there will be a good turn-out to Kawakawa Bay on 27.2.77 - please check your maps, as signs are a bit sparse.

On 12 Feb the Auckland Outdoor Health Club had arranged a bus trip to. Uretiti Beach, but the weather man pointed the bone at them, too. They hope to repeat this exercise, with more co-operation from the elements, on 26 Feb. It sounds like a good day out, at $3.00 per seat, no driving or parking worries, friendly call at the Puhoi hostelry on the way back, and excellent company - why not give it a try? Phone me at 450-037 before Friday, because...

On 25 Feb I hope to be at the first swim evening at Riccardo's, Parakai. These swim evenings will be held on the last Friday of each month from now on through the winter months, and the North Shore folk always make our members very welcome. The cost is a moderate $1.00 per adult and 30c per child. Takeaways are available and an excellent meal (with your own wine if you wish) can be enjoyed at the restaurant. I hope to see a good number of you there - you will know me - I will be swimming nude.

A.O.H.C. have shown me some very pretty medallions, available only to Sun Clubs or similar bodies - a contemporary "sun" on a chain at a cost of only $5 in gold or silver. A profit on these goes to A.O.H.C. and I would suggest that this is one way in which we can repay the hospitality and generosity extended to us by the Sun Clubs generally. Please phone me if you would like to have one of these as a sign that you are one of the "sun people".

May I also commend to you the Naturist magazine - good, informative reading and excellent pictorial material, at a very moderate cost. I had never even seen one before I joined this circus - now I find I am looking forward to the next issue before I've finished reading the current one.

It has been very heartening over the summer to receive reports that the bright yellow Fred Bear stickers have been noticed in various places, signifying that there are friends nearby. However, I believe that much more use could be made of them. Aside from your cars, you can use them for chilly-bins (like Pauline) on Air N.Z. bags (like me), beach umbrellas, tents ... and, really, the warm feeling of recognition is worth the 50c spent on each sticker. (Apart from this emotive appeal I would point out that a good deal of money has been expended in the production of these stickers; we would like to recoup this and discharge our obligation before too long.)

Have any of your friends moved away lately? Were they members of the Free Beach Group? Because if they were, and did not notify their change of address, their mail is returned to us, and I have to ring up all sorts of people in an endeavour to trace them, and this curtails the number of incoming calls on my telephone, and this in turn severely restricts my matrimonial future! So please, bear this in mind if you are thinking of changing your address.

After all that, here a couple of items sent for your enjoyment:

Back from sunny Queensland and visits to clubs in Brisbane/Surfers Paradise area. Weather hot and sunny for 21 days out of my 22 away. I first visited the "Three Bears" which is a fairly new club run by a working husband and wife and their 9 year old daughter living on the 9-acre site in a large modern caravan and with a large tin shed serving as garage/workshop/ clubhouse. The grounds are reasonab1y attractive with small trees and light bush and situated adjacent to a lion and animal safari park. The lions roaring at 5 a.m. disturbed me somewhat and in my semi-conscious state I was trying to figure out what I would do if one escaped, as there was no door on one end of my sleeping quarters. I had not resolved what to do, when I was awakened by something licking my face!!! I just froze! and lay still wondering if I was going to be spared to write this newsletter. Of course I was not scared - just petrified. Presently the little girl came running after her pet dog that had managed to get lost. Phew! On another occasion I was sitting there in the hot sun all on my lonesome when a middle aged couple arrived thinking they were at the lion park - am wondering if they thought I was a naked ape or something. They explained they had seen the "Three Bears" sign on the gate and thought it must be the lion park; so much for that bit of entertainment. My next and last visit was to the Good Companions Sun Club. This was a different proposition altogether being a well established club in beautiful surroundings with a river on one boundary. I was accommodated there for three week-ends in a comfortable well equipped cabin at a cost of $1 per night. I soon discovered that my letter of introduction was a passport to instant friendship. I went to Australia not knowing a soul, and made at least a dozen friends while there. Everyone was kind, friendly and helpful. Miniten is the popular sport there, as opposed to volley ball here.

At Ohope Beach last year: Two teenage lads were seen to leave their bikes on the beach and make their way to the lupins beyond. Two bright fun-loving females decided to have some fun and proceeded to pick up the bikes and walk out to sea with them. The boys, fearing for the safety of their bikes, came dashing out of hiding to rescue their property. The girls then dropped the bikes on the beach, and pointing to a pair of binoculars one of the two boys was holding, exclaimed, "What do you want those for?" and with this they threw their arms above their heads and posed, saying, "Have a good close-up look, boys!" Needless to say, two very embarrassed young lads picked up their bikes and pedalled away as fast they could.

Thank you, Charles and Joan for those light-hearted pieces. (Charles and Joan were in Auckland from Te Awamutu for the boat trip which fluked the bad weekend.)

And as our ship sinks slowly in the west ... that's it for now; stay happy and healthy and brown. Regards to you all,

 

 

 

 

S K I N N Y   D I P P E R S'   D I A R Y

 

MARCH-APRIL, 1977

 

Please listen to station IZB on your radios each Sunday morning for possible cancellations of the advertised activity. Also they have good stories (as good as we get on the TV, anyway).

27th Feb	Kawakawa Bay, south Auckland. South of Clevedon. From parking space walk back west toward the Army magazine dump. Meet at 11 a.m. at parking space.
6th March	Odlins Bush Walk. Quite strenuous, but most enjoyable. Three very cold, bracing pools, to swim in. Not a great deal of sitting space, so it is recommended that folk sit and have lunch whenever and wherever they wish to. Meet at the junction of Scenic Drive and Piha Road. Sand-shoes or similar are a must, and carry only necessities.
13th March	Motuihe, using regular launch service (Blue Boats) which leaves at 9.30 a.m. A walk of about 20 minutes to southern end of beach. A terrific day out. With a 1.33 p.m. tide we can be quite isolated from the general public for most of the day.
20th March	Omaha Beach, out from Warkworth. itch for a multiple sign-post about 6 miles out of Warkworth, then you can't go wrong. A very short walk from where you park your car - you should be able to see some stickers indicating where everyone is. If in doubt ring Tony Davis 566-152.
25th March	Swim night at Riccardo's, starting 7 p.m.
27th March	White's beach On the west coast. Tide full at about 5 p.m. therefore pretty safe swimming all day. Meet at junction of Piha Road and Scenic Drive 10 a.m. Follow the Anawhata Road. Substantial walk involved, so carry only necessities (priorities will differ, of course - some will carry only food, some only liquid, perhaps a book of poetry or a loaf of bread, a jug of wine ... I bet someone will even take along his or her stereo - it takes all sorts!)
3rd April	Pakiri North. Stay on S.H.1 right through Wellsford (there is a sign there pointing to "Pakiri" on your right. DON'T TAKE ANY NOTICE OF IT.) Just past Te Hana there is a group of AA signs on your left. One of these indicates Mangawhai Forest Headquarters and you turn right there. Stay on that road for about 11 kilometres; then on your right you will see another group of AA signs one of which also points to the right indicating Mangawhai Forest Headquarters. When you come to the milk box in the middle of a junction turn right and head for the sea. About 2-2½ hours' drive in all. Walk a little bit south when you get to the beach.
Easter week End	It is hoped to organise two camps for Easter, one at Ruakaka Motor Camp where there are excellent facilities, a couple of miles from Uretiti; the other to be at Thames. Please phone me or Robin for details a little nearer to Easter (450-037 or Howick 43-318).
17th April	This is a chance to get together a small party - perhaps boat people, sauna people, diving people - perhaps an afternoon of music, wine and chat at someone's home; a barbecue; what does it matter if you have to keep your clothes on - it can be a "get-to-know-someone" day. It seems to be easier for married people to phone up the singles, so see how much good-will you can generate.
24th April	An old favourite - Long Bay. No excuses for this one, as there is a good bus service, and I know several people who run their cars alone and would welcome company. Tide at 11.29 a.m. so you would be wise to get there by about 10.30 a.m. to avoid the trek over the hill or the hazardous struggle around the rocks near high tide.
29th April	Swim night at Riccardo's starting at 7 p.m.