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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!pegasus!mel
From: mel@pegasus.UUCP (Mel Haas)
Newsgroups: net.rec.nude
Subject: Sandy Hook in February
Message-ID: <2114@pegasus.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 24-Feb-85 16:11:40 EST
Article-I.D.: pegasus.2114
Posted: Sun Feb 24 16:11:40 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 27-Feb-85 04:37:05 EST
Organization: AT&T Information Systems, Lincroft NJ
Lines: 32

(brr...)
No, it is a perfectly balmy day here in NJ, 70+ degrees, bright sun,
strong off shore wind.  The family is off visiting relatives, so I
took the dogs to the beach for a walk (along with many hundreds of
others).  Sandy Hook Gateway National Park is just 20 miles due south
of NY City, but an hour away by car.  Take Rt. 36 to the park entrance
(/car fee in summer), 1.2 miles to the gates of Ft. Hancock (drive right
through), 1.3 miles to the right turn to Gunnison Beach, 1.2 miles to the
Gunnison Battery gun emplacement and a left turn to the parking lot (0.2
miles West, don't turn North again toward North Beach).  Take the "Path to
Beach" through a little woods, and the boardwalk along the gun emplacement
(the kids love to climb on it, and the little bandstand in front is a
good place for a sand-free picnic).  Continue East to the beach, about 100
yards and turn right (South) for another 200 yards to reach the nude area.
Today, for about a mile there were 30-40 naked men in ones and twos walking,
standing, or laying along the beach.  And, about twice that number of clothed
people walking the beach.  There was one group of about 6 men and 2 older
women nude (looked like a club meeting of some sort).  One nude man walking
with his clothed son.  Otherwise no unclothed women or anyone under 20 nude.
The clothed people were of all ages and groupings, including some small
children seemingly unaffected by the rather strange sight of so many naked
sentinels.  Attractions (I can't say "other" attractions) at Sandy Hook are
fine beaches (somewhat fouled by the refuse of garbage dumps that washes
ashore), a good nature program focused on the visitor's center (small
museum and good slide show, excellent Rangers), good fishing in several
environments, excellent sailboarding (or so it seems, on the bay side),
interesting old gun emplacements and Nike sites, a fair military museum,
and lots and lots of outdoors.  A great place.  And, a great place for nude
activity (a Federal Park, so no hassles), but why mostly older men?  no kids,
no couples, no teenagers, no minorities, few women, no parties, no games,
sort of bleak and sad.  What is it like in the summer?  What are other areas
like?   and where are they (why is this group so coy?)?