Another great night at Oropi

WOW – what can I say but WOW! Our first visit to Oropi hot pools for over a year took place last night and what a great night that was. A huge turnout of over 40 members soaked in the hot pool, with 30 or so of those members dining in the refurbished café and then soaking again. Now that the hot water bore problem has been repaired, we can look forward to many more monthly get-togethers at this fabulous location.

Mid-winter Polar Bare Plunge

Well I never knew there were so many members of the group that were keen on jumping into a cold pool in the middle of winter! But that was what happened at the annual polar plunge at Katikati Naturist Park over the weekend, when over 20 members of the group braved the annual mid-winter ‘plunge’. The weather was a mix of wind gusts, showers and sunny spells but the rain held off long enough for the madness to happen. The pool temperature was a balmy 14^oC, warmer than last year when it was only 11^oC. 

After the plunge, there was a mad dash into the spa pools and sauna to warm up. All participants then were warmed on the inside with some mulled wine and savouries.

Thanks to those who braved the elements to take part. Happy hour and a shared pot luck dinner followed, which rounded off a great winter activity for the group.

Dinner at Chinatown

We are now into our winter get-togethers and last night we held a very successful night at Chinatown in Tauranga. Twenty-four members came first to World’s End bar for a drink, before heading next door to Chinatown for the best smorgasbord in town.

It was great to see so many of you there and also some new faces. It was really good to meet up again with old friends of mine from way back, who have recently moved from Wellington to Tauranga. It was also great that three members came all the way from Whakatane to join us in Tauranga. That was much appreciated – thanks guys. Hope you enjoyed meeting ‘the locals’.

Campout in the Waikato

Fifteen members of Bay of Plenty Naturists came along to Little Waipa Reserve beside Lake Karapiro over the weekend, some arriving on Friday afternoon to set up camp. One couple brought a gazebo along, so together with the party tent we had plenty of shelter.

Camping by Lake Karapiro

On Saturday, after the fog cleared to a beautiful day, seven of us completed a section of the cycle ride on the Waikato Cycle trail between the camp and Arapuni dam – a distance of 5.5km each way. For some of us, the uphill sections were a bit much so we walked those and a few also walked the steep downhill sections as well – I was never a keen mountain biker! But it was a lovely day and we all enjoyed the ride with no mishaps. We had lunch overlooking the Arapuni power station.

After lunch, the brave (not me) went over the suspension bridge and met me back on the trail. The ride back to camp was overall downhill so a little easier. Once back at camp we joined several others who had arrived while we were away. After happy hour we had a shared meal under the shelter of the gazebo.

On Sunday, the fog was quite thick on the lake. But once it cleared, we broke camp and headed to the other side of Putaruru to Te Waihou Spring (Blue Spring). There were almost no cars in the car park when the eight of us started out but this soon changed.

But a funny thing happened on the way to the spring… Along the way, we came to a bridge, where three of our members thought could be a good place to strip off for a swim in the cold water (why they wanted a cold swim I still don’t understand)! While they were contemplating if it was suitable, three walkers came along. The man said “What a great place for a skinny dip”! We said “Go ahead – we don’t mind” and I added “We are naturists. We will if you will!!” (Note that when I said ‘we’ that didn’t include me)! So with that challenge in hand, he started stripping off, quickly followed by our three. They all got in to the water which is reputed to be a constant 11^oC at the spring.

Once out of the cold water, our three new friends walked with us to the spring, stayed there with us for lunch (where they went for another swim, much to the amusement of another couple who arrived while they were in the water) and then walked back to the car park with us.
Once back there, one of our new friends produced a cake which she shared with us all and we provided a hot drink, which warmed everyone up. Isn’t it amazing that on a walk miles from anywhere, you can meet up with others who have the same mindset as us!!

Campout at Matata Beach

What a great weekend we had at a private property right on the beach front at Matata over the weekend. Thirty six members came along either for the day or to stay on the property in tents or campervans which made for a great weekend - of course topped off by fantastic sunny and windless weather.

The new gazebo worked a charm as 'party central', giving well needed shade and a central meeting point for afternoon tea, happy hour and a communal BBQ on Saturday night.

As the venue was very private, we were able to be naked both on the property and on the beach, with only a few people walking past and those that did were not at all perturbed by the naked group who were just doing what everyone else was - trying to catch that elusive fish! At one stage we had 14 fishing rods out, but still only the occasional kahawai was caught. One member managed to get a crab, so we knew then where all the bait was going!

A couple of fish which were big enough to eat were landed but most were foul hooked by spinners and were only suitable as bait. The biggest kahawai was smoked and handed around at happy hour for all to sample. It couldn't have been fresher and tasted yummy.

What a wonderful venue, great people and great weather. How could you not enjoy all this - and all au naturel to boot!!!

Opoutere Beach 2014

We have just returned from another fabulous weekend at Opoutere Beach. Saturday dawned misty with occasional drizzle and with the humidity probably at 100% because even under shelter we got wet! Some of the keen fishermen amongst us headed off early to the beach. One came back with a good sized snapper, which he took the risk of putting in our frig. Despite our attempt to convince him it had been morphed into a tin of sardines, it left Opoutere to be shared with his mother who I am sure enjoyed it.

After lunch, we all headed off to the beach. By now the drizzle had left us but was clinging to the hills. Despite the lack of sun, it was still warm and didn’t stop some people swimming, while four of us walked ‘au naturel’ along the 5km beach to the ‘island’ at the north end. We met a few people along the way who weren’t at all worried about our nakedness. As we got halfway back to our gear on the beach, the drizzle returned, but luckily it was coming from behind us and quite refreshing.

We returned to camp to dry off and prepare for happy hour, which was a cosy affair under our awning and umbrellas! However, as if on cue, the weather cleared by dinner time enabling us to enjoy a shared BBQ without getting wet while cooking or eating.

The fisher folk headed off early the next day to the estuary while the rest of us had breakfast, after which we joined them. By the time we got there, one of them had already landed a good sized kahawai. Two other members then decided to have a swim in the calm waters of the estuary and just after they got out, we spotted a dark shadow in the shallow water. We initially thought that it was a large stingray, but as the creature glided past us in the clear water, doing a couple of circuits right in front of us, we realised that it was a two metre (plus) bronze whaler shark, no doubt looking for a stingray, its favourite food. Although humans are not usually part of a bronze whaler’s diet, I think the swimmers were glad that they had left the water when they did!

Back to camp for lunch and while some packed up, we headed back to the beach to ride the waves, as the sea was perfect with long straight surf. As well the sun was out, making a great end to a fantastic weekend. We will return again same time, same place next year.

Waikato Outdoor Society's mini-fest

Many members of Bay of Plenty Naturists spent a pleasant long weekend at Waikato Outdoor Society last weekend for their annual mini-fest.
Some of the sports played over the weekend included indoor bowls, darts, miniten, petanque, mini-golf, croquet, kubb and ladder golf. As well, the solar heated pool was well used by everyone, especially on the Sunday when the outside temperature soared to 29 degrees Celsius.
Lots of members did well in the sports, while others didn't fare so well, although Col and I did try hard! The raffle prizes were substantial and Col was lucky enough to win one of the quickfire raffles. On Friday night, a quiz was held with the BOP Naturists team scoring second.  This was followed by a movie, 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' which was entertaining. On Saturday night, after the catered dinner, a music video had many up dancing while the others sang along to the well known songs.
We were well fed, with a sausage and bread on Friday night, a catered spit roast with pork and beef on Saturday night and a cooked breakfast on Sunday all included in the registration fee.
Well done WOS - it was a great weekend and although a little damp on Saturday morning, it wasn't enough to stop the keen petanquers from keeping the draw running to schedule.