From: glenm@bnr.ca (Glen Martin)
Subject: Trip report - Lake Ontario area
Keywords: gathering 
Reply-To: glenm@bnr.ca
Organization: Bell-Northern Research Ltd.
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 92 17:15:22 GMT

Hi friends -

+++
Aside - pity about all the sex-on-beaches flaming these days. I'd kinda
like to see it stop. Can those involved take it to alt.sex or something?
+++

Lynn and I just got back from a fairly great 1 week vacation, in which
we circumnavigated Lake Ontario (via land 8-), and visited 4 nudist clubs
for the first time each. Below is a sort of mini-travelogue for those
who might be interested.

Ponderosa Nature Club
Ponderosa is a pleasant club near Hamilton, Ontario. It has an indoor
pool, jacuzzi and sauna, and a outdoor (unheated) pool (74 degrees?) which
was 50 meters long. Additionally, the grounds are reasonably large, with
a number of permanent residences, sunning lawns, childrens' playground,
and more stone fountains and man-made waterfall-like-things than you
would believe. The clubhouse includes a small restaurant and bar, and
there is a buffet breakfast each Sunday. The people running the club and
the members are very nice. Apart from the weather, it was a great visit.
Apparently due to the cool wet weather this year, there were a large
number of mosquitoes. The nature trails were mostly uninhabitable.

Lilly Valley
This is a very small club near Fort Erie, Ontario. It is run by an
older couple originally from Germany, and has a small shallow indoor
pool, steam bath, and club room (for card games and such). Outside
there is a sunning lawn and tenting space, plus limited RV parking.
The owners subscribe to 'militant' (for lack of a better term) style
of nudism. "It is healthy, so you shall be nude." (Imagine it with
a German accent if that makes it easier.) I later heard reports from
a couple of people that suggested that they could make people
uncomfortable with their attitude. Having met them, I can understand
that. They are very nice, though a little nosy. I will not likely
return. This club also suffered from mosquitoes this year.

Obligatory note: I have a number of very nice German friends. However,
this particular style of interacting is more German than anything
else I've been able to put my finger on. Flame me via email if
you will.

Steph's Pond
This is a wonderful 'nature park' located near Rochester, NY. Of all
campsites I have been to, this had the most green area, walking trails,
and space between camps.  There are a number of trailers which
appear to have been there for years, and some sites available for
tenting. There is a pond (hence the name), but it is kinda mucky and
not too attractive. There is a wood-fired sauna, pit latrine, and
open air shower. In general, the site is very primitive. At the
same time, it is very relaxing. The owner (Gary, not Steph 8-), appears
to be a mildly-ex hippy. He's very easy going, and lives on the site
with his wife and 3 sons. He spent a lot of time chatting sith us,
showing us the prettier spots on the property, and generally being
a good host. This review may not sound too positive, but if you,
like we, enjoy a natural setting, you'll love this place. PS. there
was no problem with bugs. We're definitely going back.

Empire Haven
We attended the Northern Gathering at Empire Haven this last weekend.
It's amazing how nudist continue to flock to these events, considering
the weather. This weekend was typical of all others so far this
summer - it rained and was cloudy pretty well the entire weekend.
Nevertheless, the event was well attended, people went nude, and most
had a great time. As with other gatherings, there was a wealth of
different workshops to attend, including a number of 'personal
development ones (like 'hugging', 'intimacy', 'vegetarianism', etc).
I spent most of my time with the 'artists and models'.

Empire Haven is located near Moravia, NY. The club itself has been 
described as  one of New York's prettiest.  We certainly didn't see 
that. This club had more trouble with mud than any other we visited.
A number of cars got stuck trying to leave on the last day. The
site appears to be an ex farmers field, sloped, on which a clubhouse
(with kitchen), outdoor pool, enclosed jacuzzi, and sauna have been
built. There are two volleyball courts, some sunning lawns, and an
open air pavillion. All in all, the club isn't bad, but doesn't
have much to recommend it. Perhaps I would review it better if there
had been any sun over the three days. I had a great time there,
but it wasn't the club that made it great.

***

Well, that's about it, so far as the nude content is concerned.
Directions to a number of these places is available in the usual
sources. Those who would like more information may contact me.

For any who might be interested, Lynn and I will be at Solair,
in Conneticut, for the Labour Day long weekend.

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Glen Martin              Bell-Northern Research          Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Phone : (613) 763-7299   Fax: (613) 763-2626             Internet: glenm@bnr.ca
   99.9% of all mammals are smart enough to avoid clothing. What about you?
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