Bicycling In The Park

In my part of the US we have some abandoned railroad routes that have been taken over by the state park people and developed as hiking or bicycle trails. A trail near here is called the Columbia Plateau Trail State Park. It has one paved 4 mile section going south from Fish Lake that is quite popular for bicycles and walkers. For some months I have been wanting to ride the trail naked in daytime. The State Park has a special law on going naked. "Disrobing" in a State park is legally "not a crime." It is a "civil offense" like a parking ticket. If some cop gets his knickers in a twist he can give you a "ticket" and a fine, but its not a crime so you can't be arrested. That's good enough for me.

Yesterday the weather finally got over 70 degrees, so about noon I took my bike and headed for the trail. I parked in the Fish Lake trail head parking lot. Only one other car was there, and the guy mounted his bike and pedaled off. I soon followed wearing my shorts. I rode down the trail for about 3 miles, not as far as the next parking lot. I passed one elderly couple driving a golf cart on the trail. Didn't know that was permitted. Must be under the disabilities laws. I passed another bicycle rider. There is a stream that runs along the side of the trail where it cut through a small hill. The stream finally ends up in Fish Lake. Most of the land beside the trail is either woods or a cut with rock walls on both sides. Occasional farm fields and Fish Lake make up the rest of the bordering land.

I stopped short of the next parking area and turned around.  Now pointed back toward my car I ******** off my shirt and shorts and felt the breeze on my body. I pedaled along the trail by myself for a while, and then passed a farm field with some houses across the field. One couple was unloading a car about 300 feet away. A train passed on a nearby track just as I caught up to the couple on the golf cart and passed them by. Another bicyclist came by from the other direction. I could see a couple of fishermen in boats where the trail went along Fish Lake, and at least 2 dozen people at a beach. The noonday sun was warm and the air felt good to be out naked in the world. Finally I was nearing the trail head parking so I stopped and put my shorts on again. There were several more cars in the lot when I got back to my car.

It was a really good afternoon. I enjoyed being naked on my bicycle and riding the public trail. I finally did it.  It would be nice to have naked company next time.