Wanderlust

Nudity is NOT condoned by Olympic National Park

July 12, 2007 at 1:27 am elinordye 1 comment

It’s funny how our Puritanical history manifests itself in the most ridiculous and unexpected ways. Elizabeth and I are on our way down the Olympic Peninsula, where the forests have been replaced with tree farms and the wind is always at our back.  Yesterday we took a detour to go to Olympic hot springs, which are undeveloped pools of heavenly hot water tucked high above the Elwah River. Long ago, before the National Park Service became what it is, you used to be able to drive right up to the place in the river where the hot springs seep out. Now there’s a gate across the road, and a sign that explains in no uncertain terms that the National Park does NOT approve of people using hot springs without, well, somebody making money off them.  (Nevermind that we’d already paid a park entrance fee). Not only that, but nudity is frequent at the hot springs, and Olympic National Park does not condone nudity.  Can you imagine? Naked people in a hot springs? Outrageous.

We, being reasonable and prudent people, cheerfully ignored the dire warnings and splashed around in the hot springs utterly and completely naked.  I am a wee bit worried about my dog bite, since the deepest wound is not necessarily the happiest looking wound you’ve ever seen, but I figure that the minerals in the hot springs probably counteracted the effects of the bacteria, right?

Tonight, if all goes according to plan, I’ll be back within view of the Pacific, the ocean that I grew up watching the sun sink into. I’m beginning to come home, and it feels strange and exciting and repellent all at the same time.

I owe you all an account of my visit and conversation at the Center for Sex Positive Culture in Seattle, so if I forget, remind me.

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