Conference moira::naturism

    
    We did not have the opportunity to see the Launch of Columbia, although
    I would have loved to have stayed to see it go up.
    
    We had to return home on the Saturday before the Launch.
    
    However, the Thursday before that, we did go to Kennedy Space Center,
    and took a bus tour of the grounds.  The bus driver took us around
    to see the launch pads, but we were only allowed to get close to
    launch pad "A".  Columbia had already been moved to launch pad "B",
    and we could see it off in the distance, but we weren't allowed
    near it because they were filling it with fuel that day.
    
    The "IMAX" theatre (5 and 1/2 story screen), showed a film called
    "The Dream is Alive", which was dedicated to the memory of the 
    Challenger crew.  It was spectacular !  An absolute don't miss,
    if you're ever down that way.
    
    Darrell
    

    This topic has spawned an interesting discussion about whether
    public sex ought to be allowed / tolerated at clothing-optional
    beaches.  So as to keep this topic focused on "New Smyrna Beach",
    I've moved that discussion to topic 198.
    
    	-Neil Faiman, moderator

    I thought there was a basenote somewhere describing Canaveral National
    Seashore's C/O section, but this is the only one in Neill's directory.
    Maybe I misremembered the directions and just got lucky!
    
    I had the opportunity to visit the above-referenced CNS this past
    weekend. CNS extends all the way from the Kennedy Space Center to New
    Smyrna Beach, as describein the earlier note. What isn't made clear
    above is that if you enter CNS in Titusville, Fla., you drive right
    along the edge of KSC (you can currently see the shuttle Atlantis
    sitting on the launch pad) until you reach the beach. There's a nice
    couple of miles through wetlands, with lots of wading birds and such.
    At the beach, you drive past a series of parking areas, each with a
    restrooom facility and boardwalk over the dunes to the beach. If you
    drive all the way to the last parking lot (#13) and walk over the dune
    (ont the boardwalk) you are amid several hundred people in various
    states of dress (mostly none). I got there at 9:30 am Sunday and 
    had to park at lot #10 and walk about a mile to #13. Popular place! 
    
    Evidently the C/O standard prevails all the way up to New Smyrna, if
    you want to walk 10-15 miles to find your own spot. There was a fairly
    crowded area just north of the boardwalk; farther up it thinned out,
    but there were people as far up the beach as you could see. 
    
    There is a sign announcing that "Nude sunbathing on public beaches is a 
    violation of Florida statute xxxx. Violaters are subject to arrest and
    fine".  However, on inquiry, some regulars told me that they'd been
    going there 5+ years, NEVER heard of anyone being bothered by
    authorities, except for having glass or dogs on the beach. They've seen
    local sheriffs deputies come out there and strip down. The National
    Seashore is part of the National Park Service, and evidently Florida
    just puts up the sign to throw its weight around, but can't really
    enforce anything, and the NPS is supportive. As I was leaving, two
    Park Service Rangers were videotaping from the boardwalk; someone told
    me they were documenting the large crowd at the C/O beach as compared
    to the relatively empty beaches 1-12, to support the move in NPS to
    OFFICIALLY provide C/O facilities!
    
    The crowd included people from 5-6 years to probably 90. Several family
    groups, many couples. NO unaccompanied females; probably a 10:1
    male-female ratio. Everybody very laid back - volleyball games,
    frisbees, etc.  
    
    
    

    Continuing previous note - I had to do some work! 
    
    I overheard a conversation that went something like
    
    "When I can't get here in time to get a parking spot, I go on up to New
    Smyrna."
    
    "Yeah, sometimes I do too, but I really don't like the atmosphere
    there. It seems like you have to have the "perfect look", and everybody
    is evaluating everybody."
    
    "Yes, you're right, and lord knows none of US have the look!"
    (laughter).
    
    I was really surprised. This was my first time at a public C/O place.
    It just wasn't any different from a "textile" beach, except lots of
    people had nothing on. There were a few teens who came walking up from
    beaches 1-12; they'd stroll casually by with their eyes darting about,
    turn and head back. Just no big deal.
    If you're looking for a family C/O place, I'd say this is it. 
    
    
    Don Cooley
    

    I just got back from a wonderful 3 days at the Canaveral National
    Seashore.  The official name of the beach is Playalinda Beach.  It's 
    one of the most beautiful beaches I've ever been at.  As previous notes
    mention, the CO "section" stretches for miles and miles.  Beautiful 
    white sand and clear water for as far as you want to walk.  The water
    this week was about as warm as it ever gets in New England :-), so I
    had no problem swimming.  (The locals, though, thought it was 
    "freezing"!).  There are a lot of motels in Titusville, so you shouldn't
    have any problem finding a place to stay.  (We originally got a motel
    in Orlando, which we quickly realized was too far away - about 60
    miles).
    
    Directions are in the World Guide (I think), but you basically take
    Rte. 402/406 east through Titusville, FL (exit 80 off Interstate 95), 
    over a causeway, until you can't go any further (you'll get to a locked
    gate marked Gate 4). Take a left and follow the road north past all 
    the parking lots until you get to #13.  If that's full, backtrack and
    park in #12 (it's about a 3-minute walk).  There are bathrooms in
    every parking lot (no running water, though, so bring water bottles 
    - it gets hot!).  Just go over the dune to the beach, and you're there!  
    There were lots of people there, even during the week.
    
    For the next few months (until the new road is completed), you'll
    probably have to check with the Chamber of Commerce (?) to see if the
    beach is open.  They have to close the whole access road anytime the
    Shuttle is on the launch pad (noone is allowed within a 3-mile radius
    for security and safety reasons).  The new road is outside the 3-mile
    limit, but it's not done yet.
    
    I recall the previous discussion in this note about public sex on
    naturist beaches, so I'll just say that if you don't want to see
    anything, just stay close to the beginning of the beach.  Free Beach
    etiquette doesn't seem to apply here :-((
    
    Also, regarding the signs about Florida law prohibiting nude
    sunbathing...  yes, we saw them, but everyone we talked to says
    that the rangers basically ignore you as long as you're not doing
    anything illegal (see previous paragraph).  And, in fact, one day
    we were there, the ranger drove by on his ATV and just waved.  There
    were some legal problems a few years ago, but the rangers decided 
    that the people using the beach should police themselves.
    
    Enjoy!!

    FYI, I read a one liner in the Atlanta newspaper this week. It stated
    that the rangers at Canaveral Nat'l Seashore were passing out $200
    tickets to nude sunbathers. No details were given. I felt obligated to
    break my RO noter status to pass along this warning.
    
    Terry

    Had a chance to revisit CNS this spring. Previous note is correct;
    Florida tried to ban nudity in everywhere but doctors offices and nude
    bars (!!), and while the legislation was pending, they started handing
    out tickets at Playlinda beach. About 100 tickets were distributed last
    summer. 
    The legislation failed, the courts told them to give it up. Now the
    "nudity is illegal" signs I saw two yrs ago are gone. The NPS has
    prepared a flyer "warning" visitors to CNS that they may encounter nude
    sunbathers, and posted it at the various parking areas. At first, it
    said you might see them "anywhere" at CNS; the Titusville Naturists
    club negotiated with them to make the wording less inflamatory; now it
    says that the nude people will be basically in the "Playlinda and
    Apollo areas". I guess that's the original name of the lot #13 area. 
    At any rate, it is now "officially" ok to be nekkid at CNS.
    
    The crowds were similar to my earlier visit - Saturday I had to park at
    lot #11; Sunday I got there at 9:00 am and parked in #12.
    
    The Titusville Nauturists have a banner declaring their identity which
    they post next to their volleyball net. There's a volleyball court
    marked in the sand with ropes staked into the ground; evidently
    they co-ordinate making sure the net gets put up on weekends. Then they
    go around inviting newcomers to play, and/or join the club if they are
    local. All in all a very friendly, relaxed place. 
    
    I'm wondering how long it will take for the "nekkids" to start
    spreading down toward the other parking areas, since it is documented
    that it is ok. So far, people seem to be sticking to the old habit of
    trekking to "their" area.
    
    dbc