Andy Wyman reports...
Naked dining in pubs and restaurants, canal trips, museums, gardens, nuclear bunkers and sculpture parks! What would BN's Eastern Region come up with for the Jubilee weekend? Andrew and Kalah made their debuts as event organisers with a cruise on a magnificent Thames barge. This isn’t the sort of thing you get on a canal. It’s a big sea going sailing vessel. We arrived in Maldon, Essex and boarded the splendid Hydrogen, the oldest surviving Thames barge, which was built in 1906. In its day it carried 200 tons of cargo (usually tar, creosote or oil) in its tanks. The ship has two masts and uses three sails or the motor which was fitted much later.
The ship has been carefully restored and now has a bar and dining room in the hold where 39 of us enjoyed a splendid buffet. On arrival the boat seemed high and dry in the mud but the River Blackwater rises quickly with the tide. We were docked in a very busy harbour so the crew asked us to remain dressed until we were underway. The sun came out occasionally and made nudity on deck just about acceptable. Unfortunately there was also a pretty cool wind which challenged us all at times. Even some of the hardiest of the men who never seem to wear anything on BN walks when to me the weather is Siberian succumbed to a fleece!
It was a fantastic spectacle on board though, especially when they unfurled one of the sails. Most of us posed at the beautifully restored wheel and imagined ourselves as Nelson or Drake! There was also a spot of rope pulling but generally we all lazed around like spoilt first class passengers! As usual the best part of any BN event is chatting away with others. It was really good to meet up with several people new to Naturism and their response to the event was pleasing to see. The usual response was roll on the next trip.
So what will Eastern Region come up with next to trump this event? One thing is for sure ….. it will have to be pretty special.