Mexico Monday: The scandalous skinny-dipping edition
In which we do a whole lotta stuff including getting naked
Hullo peeps!
Welcome back to my award-winning blog.
Excuse me while I boast, but I have never won any award for my writing before, although I have of course achieved worldwide fame and a rabid fan base around the world, especially with the publication of my latest book pamphlet “Hazel Down the Rabbit Hole” in case you haven’t heard of it. Order your copy today!)
In other news, summer seems to have actually begun here in Ye Olde Moody Northweste. Thus, Millie and I are running around more than ever, trying to soak up every last drop of sunshine and fun before the clouds descend again or we drop dead, whichever comes first.
We are rediscovering the lushness of this place, which we missed so much when we were in more arid climes.
When the sun comes out, there is no better place to be than hiking along the shores of Baker Lake (which I did on Saturday), peering down at an island-studded view from the top of Mt Erie (which I did on Sunday morning) or glimpsing otter, eagles, and dolphins from a boat in the San Juan islands while simultaneously drinking wine and eating strawberry shortcake (which I did on Sunday afternoon).
Why, I had such an action-packed weekend that my intense FMO (fear of missing out) was actually allayed for a couple days. I wasn’t missing out cuz I was doing it ALL.
That ALSO included spontaneous skinny-dipping in a lake at the base of Mt Erie, which turned out to be ill-advised. When we arrived at the lake after descending from the summit, there was not a soul there. Which seemed strange to me, on a beautiful Sunday morning as little Whistle Lake sparkled and beckoned like a jewel in the forest.
So, rather than swim in my clothes (because I hadn’t come prepared to swim) I just took them off. Makes sense, right?
But just a few seconds after I jumped into the delighfully refreshing water, another group of people arrived. OOPS. Well, they could clearly see my lily-white butt as I paddled around, but to stop them from seeing more, there was nothing to be done except keep swimming until they got out! (They, for their part, swam in more modest attire.)
Finally they left. I managed to hustle out and pull clothes on over my wet body (not easy when you’re wrestling with stretchy athletic attire), and just as I got them all on, a big family from Florida traipsed onto our beach. And I know they were from Florida, because they announced it loudly several times: “We’re from Florida!”
Luckily, the people from Florida did not get a glimpse of me in my birthday suit and I was therefore not arrested for indecent exposure. Meanwhile, more people just kept arriving at the lake. MAJOR HUMILIATION NARROWLY AVOIDED.
Now, mind you, I am not generally a person who likes to randomly get naked. As I have discussed before, in last year’s post about a semi-traumatic naked hot springs experience, I am kind of a never-nude!
But every once in a while, the siren call of a beautiful lake or river entices me out of my clothing. I trace it all back to those dips in frigid Sierra lakes and creeks that my dad made us do back when we used to backpack to Wire Lake. It is now apparently written into my psyche that I need to swim in all the mountain lakes I encounter. Though of course, if I have a bathing suit, I usually wear it.
Like in this pic from 2017 from Cuetzalan, Mexico. This looks like it would be all tropical and stuff but NO. This water was freezing!
Which, explains, perhaps, why Erica and I are subjecting ourselves to the Lake Tahoe open water swim at the end of August. Will I survive the cold? (I will definitely NOT be skinny-dipping there). Will I survive the panic attacks that can overtake me while swimming in open water? Will I come in dead last like I did in the last open-water swim I did?
These are questions that no one is expected to care about, not even you, dear readers! But I’ll keep you posted anyway.
Meanwhile, I hope you are all well and enjoying some sunny swims (if not skinny dipping) of your own.
xo
Rebecca
I ordered a book! Now I'm dying to know there be a sequel? "Hazel Skinny Dipping in the Overcrowded Pond"?
nice pics (also)