Conference moira::naturism

    re: Carol (.9)
      
         There are a couple of notes in here already that talk about
    this area (I'm in Santa Clara.)  Lupin Naturist resort is one place,
    there is another in Sacramento (I don't recall the name) and as
    you probably know by now, most beaches that aren't "commercial"
    have frequent nudists.  I am not a formal nudist, so I can't steer
    you very well in this regard, but perhaps, if you wish, I could
    put you in contact with one (or ask the person who wrote about
    Lupin in here.)  Incidentally, I have a VHS video of the S.F.
    People are Talking show from a few months ago that was spent
    at Lupin, if this has any value for you.  
         I see you are in 415 area code...I have a massage practice
    in Los Altos, if this will make logistics any easier.
    
    Frederick
    

    See also the directions to Bonny Doon Beach in note 102.
    
    	-Neil

    re: .2
     
        Bonny Doon beach is nothing more than one of the many free
    beaches along the coast...it is NOT any kind of formal activity
    which the base noter implied a preference for.
    
    Frederick
    

               <<< SYS$SPECIFIC:[NOTES$LIBRARY]REC_NUDE.NOTE;2 >>>
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Note 602.0                      California Groups                     No replies
MOIRA::FAIMAN "lll-crg.llnl.gov!preston"            100 lines  13-JAN-1989 09:56
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Newsgroups: rec.nude
Path: decwrl!ucbvax!agate!helios.ee.lbl.gov!lll-ncis!lll-winken!lll-crg.llnl.gov!preston
Subject: California Groups
Posted: 12 Jan 89 05:18:42 GMT
Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
 
From lll-lcc!drp Mon Nov 28 15:17:17 PST 1988
 
I keep forgetting that those of you not in California will probably
move here eventually, so for Bruce in North Dakota, and everyone else
interested, the following are groups affiliated with The Naturist Society. 
 
California Groups:
 
	BeachFront USA
	P.O. Box 55661
	Riverside, CA 92517
	(714) 681-2701
 
	Camping Bares of San Diego
	P.O. Box 81589
	San Diego, CA 92138-1589
	(619) 697-7939
 
	Saline Preservation Assn.
	P.O. Box 96
	Keeler, CA 93530
 
	Friends of Garrapata Beach
	Beach Jobs & Tours
	P.O. Box 1010
	Pacific Grove, CA 93950
 
	Friends of Pirates Cove
	1251 Sage St.
	Arroyo Grande, CA 93420
	(805) 481-9352
 
	Russian River Naturists
	c/o Steve Charmaz
	1163 Hopper Av. #17
	Santa Rosa, CA 95401
	(707) 523-3114
 
	Citizens Committee for College Cove
	P.O. Box 109
	Trinidad, CA 95570
 
	Bay Area Naturists Network
	P.O. Box 9875
	Berkeley, CA 94709
 
	Au Naturel
	P.O. Box 323
	Reseda, CA 91335
	(714) 371-0515
 
	River Dippers
	P.O. Box 2693
	Sacramento, CA 95812
	(916) 967-9558
 
other California contacts:
 
	Nudist Information Center
	c/o Suzy Davis
	P.O. Box 772
	Colton, CA 92324
 
	Beachhead/Bare in Mind
	c/o Tom Kelley, Section Editor
	P.O. Box 34764
	LA, CA 90034
 
	Central California Beachfront
	P.O. Box 351
	Lompoc, CA 93438
	(805) 733-4950
 
	Central California Clothing Optional Society
	P.O. Box 6176
	Salinas, CA 93912
 
	Free Beaches Newsletter
	c/o Rolin Bruno
	3555 Florine
	Riverside, CA 92509
	(714) 681-2701
 
This information is from "Clothed with the Sun", the (more or less)
quarterly journal of The Naturists Society, Vol. 8 No. 1 June 1988.
Published by:
 
		The Naturists, Inc.
		P.O. Box 132
		Oshkosh, WI 54902
 
Disclaimer:  I am a card-carrying member of The Naturist Society :-)
-david
[email protected]

    I'll be out in Santa Clara this weekend (Jan 28 and 29) and wondered
    if any California noters would like to join me at Lupin on Sunday.
    From the info I have seen (from this conference, Baxandall's Guide,
    the ASA Directory, etc.) Lupin seems to be THE place in that area.
    I would be open to other areas if any of you have suggestions.
    
    If you are available, and would like to join me, please send me
    mail at SALEM::JWILSON, or Jack Wilson @NIO.  I look forward to
    seeing you!
    
    Enjoy,
    
    Jack

    I spent a *VERY* enjoyable afternoon at Lupin resort.  The camp
    itself was far nicer than any I have ever visited.  It had two pools
    (1 indoor and 1 outdoor), 2 hot tubs, and 1 sauna.  The restaurant
    was quite nice, and served 3 meals a day.  The food was good, and
    reasonably priced.  The trails in the "Inner camp" were very well
    tended, and attractive.  The trails in the outer camp were not well
    marked, and often disappeared into animal paths.  (I found myself
    at one point within 50 feet of a young deer!)
    
    The people there were extremely friendly.  I was there alone, and
    was immediately treated as a welcome guest - not an unwanted single
    male (as is the case at some resorts I have been to).  Many of the
    people are members, and spend every weekend of the year there (it
    is DEFINITELY a year-round camp).  Others come from far away, but
    have been going there for years.  
    
    I would highly recommend Lupin for a vacation.  The area is beautiful
    (Los Gatos Hills), and they have extensive facilities for guests
    (lodges, motel-type accommodations, etc.).  The are lots of things
    to do in the area, also, including Great America Theme Park in Santa
    Clara.  If anyone would like more information, you may write me
    (SALEM::JWILSON, or Jack Wilson @NIO).
    
    Jack

    Does anyone know how Lupin made out in the earthquake?  It was very
    close to the epicenter, and located right in the mountains of Los
    Gatos.  I'd be very surprised if they didn't suffer some damage,
    with the 2 large pools and 2 or 3 hot tubs being possible recipients
    of damage.  Hope nobody was injured.
    
    Here in Orange County, we didn't feel anything.  They said that
    some shock was felt in L.A., but we are about 40 miles further south.
    (I say "we," but I will be returning to the frozen Northeast on
    Friday.  :-(
    
    BTW - Congratulations Kathryn!
    
    Jack

    In answer to my own note (.7), I was at Lupin on Sunday.  They have
    sustained a lot of damage to the clubhouse/restaurant, and are unable
    to provide rooms for guests, but they are open.  The pools, hot
    tubs, tennis courts, etc. are working, and it is still a worthwhile
    place to visit.  There was a smallish crowd there on Sunday, despite
    the beautiful day (60 degrees � and sunny), but the people are friendly
    and interesting!  (I chatted with a scientist from Lockheed, who was 
    quite interesting!)
    
    I also spoke with one of the directors, who said that the members
    have been very supportive since the quake, at least financially.
    He said that Lupin doesn't encourage the members to work on association
    buildings, due to insurance restrictions.  (Solair, where I was
    a member for 3 years, ALWAYS had members performing work services
    around the camp.)
    
    If you are in the Santa Clara/San Francisco area, I would still
    recommend your visiting Lupin.  It is still one of the finest
    Nudist/Naturist camps I have ever visited.
    
    Jack
    

         I re-visited a place called the KIVA house in Santa Cruz
    yesterday.  I hadn't been there in about five years.  It is still
    there, so, I can talk about it.
         It is located near the county office buildings and is listed
    in the phone book.  It is a house with what is probably a long back
    yard.  Inside the house is a changing room and a "library" with 
    a fireplace.  Upstairs are a few little rooms and massage is available
    there.  Outside are three hot-tubs and a cold plunge.  Also there is
    a wet sauna (in an isolated "hut") next to the cold plunge.  MOreover,
    there are a few isolated hot tubs (private tubs--as opposed to the
    other tubs, which are for the public patronage) and showers, tea,
    massage tables at the far end.  The cost is $8 per person per day
    for the public facilities.  I believe the private tubs are $6 per
    hour per person.  Massage rates and other rates are listed but I
    didn't note them.
        Though this isn't a resort, like Lupin (mentioned in the previous
    reply,) it is a naturist-type of setting on a mini-scale.  IT is a
    very pleasant and safe place to visit, in my opinion.  Anyway, there
    it is for anyone who happens to be in Santa Cruz, Ca.
    
    Frederick
     

    re.7 .8
    I visited on 8/3/91 and had such a good time I spent the whole day from
    9am to after 6pm. Rebuilding is still under way at the time of my visit
    the clubhouse had not been rebuilt. I attended a free 2 hour volleyball
    clinic which seem to be a weekly event beware though these folks take
    their v-ball serious but not so much so that the fun is lost.
    I highly reccomend a visit if you are ever in the sillycon valley area
    it is an easy trip from santa clara an advance call will get you
    detailed directions ( perfect to the last turn).
    BTW- If you are a member of ASA or another club be sure to mention it
    for half price admission $10.00 -vs- $20.00.
    
    I picked up litrature about the resort and a copy of their newsletter
    CXO folks interested in takeing a look are welcome to contact me.
    
    
    -j
    

I've been an RON'er of this conference for some time and have 
always wanted  to take the plunge, so to speak, but have not had 
the motive, means and opportunity at the same time.  I've been 
consulting with a DEC customer in the Santa Clara area for the 
past six months- usually a week out, a week home- but on this 
last trip, I got an unexpected weekend stay and decided to look
up Lupin.

I called them up on a Sunday morning and to my pleasant surprise, 
found out that they were having an open house that day.  Not only 
did they welcome me with open arms but insisted I come for free.  

The directions were perfect and got there around one o'clock.  In 
the office, I was asked to fill out a questionaire.  The woman 
taking my questions asked me what naturist organization I 
belonged to and when I said none and that I had just gotten 
involved this summer in naturism (actually, just the day before 
at Bonny Doon for about 2 hours so that statement might have been 
stretching things a bit) she gave me a funny look.  She said that 
she and her husband weren't joiners either and by the way, did I 
bring my wife?  When I said, "Well, I'm actually from New 
Hampshire and on a business trip" the look became decidedly 
more narrow.  However, she eventually judged me harmless if not a 
little unusual and directed my to where the tour began.

As soon as there were about a half-dozen of us, the tour began.
The tour of the facilities were given by a staff member and was 
conducted nude.  I was paying as close attention as circumstances 
permitted but might have missed a point or two as we wound 
through the "yurt", two swimming pools, two tennis courts, 
voleyball court and hot tub.  The "yurt" is a circular tent-like 
structure built after the '89 quake and just had been granted a 
temporary variance from the local zoning board.  It's used for 
meetings and movies.  Lupin is actively raising money to rebuild 
after the quake but little residual damage was evident.  The 
harder struggle seemed to be with the zoning board that has an 
apparently dim view of the "nudist colony."

The first of the swimming pools is used for quiet time and is 
heated by solar collectors up on the hill.  It is pleasant 
beyond words to float nude in warm water looking up to a azure 
sky.  The second pool was a mad-house.  All-in-all, I would guess 
that about 120 people were at the open house and about half of 
them seemed to be in the pool and most of them were kids.  Of 
course, I'm exaggerating but it was a crowd.

Campsites and residences were pointed out as well as mixed 
facilities, snack bar and nature trails.  The staff member said 
that we will be sent a followup letter with a second invitation 
and fees would be discussed at that time.  After the tour, we 
were free to park our cars in the upper lot and enjoy the day 
until 1am if we wished.

On the upper lawn, a local singer kept the considerable crowd
entertained.  There were people of all ages, from babies through
teenagers, old folks like me and beyond- an eclectic mixture and
heavily family-oriented.  Both tennis courts were occupied and 
the volleyball court seemed never empty.  

In this conference, I've seen references to "body image and 
acceptance" and often wondered how I'd react.  Several years ago, 
I was in one hell of an accident and nearly lost my right leg.  I 
did lose most of the fleshy part of the right hip (after a number 
of years of my pants falling down, I finally got suspenders) and 
was self-conscious but naturally, no one paid any attention and 
indeed there were other veterans of the surgical wars in 
attendance.

What did draw comment was the only piece of apparel I was
wearing- the nicotine patch.  Several people asked me how I was
doing and I mumbled how ALL of my self-control was being tested.  
People were very friendly and staff made me feel quite welcome.

The snack bar was doing a brisk business and the logistics of
being nude suddenly struck me.  I had no place to keep money. I 
went back to the car, clutching the keys that I had wrapped in my 
towel, opened the trunk, got some money and, being in a somewhat 
preoccupied state of mind, slammed the trunk shut--with the keys 
inside.

I didn't realize this until a few hours later when I wanted to
leave to get up to San Francisco and couldn't find the keys.  A
staff member offered to help look and explore getting into the
trunk since that was a likely place for the keys.  Another guest
also helped and it is a disconcerting sight to see three
middle-aged, slightly overweight naked men trying to rip the back
seat out of a rented Sunbird.  Boggles the mind. I was thinking
about how I was going to explain the damages to my wife and CC
manager: "You were where?  You were WHAT!?"  Detroit, alas,
defeated us and I had to call Avis. 

Helpful hint- memorize your calling card number.  You never 
know...

After about five hours (no exaggeration, there) with Avis who 
found a blank, lost it, found it again, cut a key, lost it and 
found it again, they sent the largest tow truck in Northern 
California up the narrow access road to Lupin to deliver them to 
a thoroughly chilled-out and bug-bitten skinnydipper whose pants, 
of course, were in the trunk of said vehicle.  To Avis' credit, 
they picked up the cost of delivery since it had taken so long.

When I told my wife of my weekend, she accused me of going 
through a mid-life crisis.  I gently reminded her that SHE was my 
mid-life crisis and thus the distinction was already taken.  I 
was a little surprised at her reaction since, as a European, she 
had gone to nude beaches quite often on the Baltic.  However, 
those beaches are segregated and they periodically roust the 
bushes for peekers and perverts and beat the bejazus out of those 
they catch.  Oh well, one step at a time.

I really did have a great time and am glad I went.  As my first
time, I'm sure I'll never forget it and I hope to get out there
again.  I'll be better prepared.  Let's see, wrist wallet, bug
spray, spare keys...definitely spare keys..... 

    

Hi,

My wife and I (Dutch couple) are coming next month (starting Sept. 2nd) to 
California(+) for a 3-week stay and tour (rent a car). We like to stay on 
our trip in (in order) Naturist resorts, camp grounds and Hotels/Motels. 
The first 3 nights we like to stay in the neighborhood of San Francisco so 
we easily can visit SF.

In the 92/93 INF World guide two resorts near SF are mentioned:
- Lupin (that even has a advertisement: "within an hour's drive") and
- The Sequoians Inc., Castro Valley, Crow Cyn RD, Tel (510) 582-0194
About Lupin I've found some wonderful reports in this notesfile, About The 
Sequoians nothing.

Coming to the point, I would greatly appreciate if somebody could advise us 
about the following:
- Are both sites still there (earthquake/fires?), and would they give a 
nice and recommendable stay for our purpose visiting SF? Or would it be 
wiser to take a hotel downtown?
- The Sequoians seems to be closer to Downtown SF than Lupin. Is this 
correct, How many traveltime would it be between The Sequoians and downtown 
SF?
Can we pick up somewhere Public Transport (BART?) after parking the car?
- As we travel with a minimum of luggage for camping  (only tiny tent, 
sleepingbags, air_mattress, chairs will not fit in the plane) and we like a 
bit more comfort during the first night and day (jet-lag?) after arriving, 
would the Sequoians have some additional lodging facilities (dormitory, 
beds).
- Would we be welcome and have we to make reservations in advance?

Does anybody have any recommendations about staying in other places in or 
near SF, LA, Vegas, Grand Canyon or elsewhere in this "tourist triangle" 
SF-LA-Canyon? Does the coast have "clothing optional" beaches?

Any comment will be gratefully welcome,

Marinus van der Heijden (@UTO)