Skip to content

Adventure Diary

Not all those who wonder are lost…

Author: adventurediary

Cap d’Agde

Leaving the disappointment of Provence behind, we headed south in search of the ocean, sandy beaches and days filled with endless sunshine. And hopefully no wind…

From Aix we drove to the coast at Martigues and finally had some sunshine and a nice beach where we took a walk along the beautifully rugged coastline and laid in the sun finally. Unfortunately even though it was warm enough the wind was still howling which made everything uncomfortable but we made the most of the day. Deciding to move on early the next morning we drove on to the real south of France to begin our adventure.

Arriving at Le Grau-du-Roi we found the camper park full and complete chaos with road closures and cars everywhere. So we drove out of town and found a nice quiet spot next to a canal and read later that the chaos was due to a Bull run that was going around the town later that day. So we had some lunch and then took the bikes in search of a long sandy beach and we finally found what we were searching for and the weather to go with it.

L’Espiguette

L’Espiguette naturist beach is more than 10 km long with the western side being clothing and the more remote eastern side being Naturist. After a decent walk from the parking lot where we left the bikes we found a nice spot out of the wind and enjoyed a few hours on this beautiful beach. Laying there on a busy Sunday we were confused with the constant stream of men walking by with extreme purpose. It really was quite amazing.

Every 30 seconds or so they would stream by with their focus concentrating on the distance. After some google work we did find out that the far end of the beach, which was fortunately out of sight, was a gay and swingers beach, and Sunday was most definitely the day for gay swinging apparently!

We were just glad that they were walking past us with only a few stopping within a few meters of us to “re-arrange” themselves. Theres nothing I can really say but its just a shame that these men cant control themselves and are ruining true naturist locations for others. But we had a wonderful time in the sun finally and after making our way back to the van and getting cleaned up we headed out to see if we could find some Bulls in town!

The ride in was nice in the evening sun but unfortunately with the road closures and masses of people it was impossible to get around on the bikes to where the action was. So we ended up sitting on the beach watching our first real sunset of the trip before heading back.

After another nice and windy day at the beach watching the men marching by and a couple openly having sex a few meters away from us, we decided we had had enough and headed back to move on, knowing that our next experience was going to be even stranger but at least we knew before hand what we were getting into to!

Driving south we eventually passed through the complicated roads of Montpellier and headed to the infamous town of cap d’Agde and the Naturist camping of Rene Oltra.

Cap d’Agde

Getting to the campsite was the first problem. We had to park the van at the heavily secured entry gates, then walk the few hundred meters to the campsite, then book in, then return to the gates, then go to a different office to purchase a totally unnecessary village entry card which is an incredible money maker, and then drive back to the campsite before being allowed to go to our pitch. This process took the best part of two hours and we were frustrated that we were loosing the best part of the days sunshine. But eventually we were on our way to the beach.

I had heard and read a lot about this place over the years and also watched a few videos on Porn Hub showing the goings on, but sometimes you just have to experience things for yourself. The beach directly outside the camp is, in relation to everywhere else, completely empty! Its lovely, sandy, quiet and a very nice naturist beach to enjoy the sun and swim in the calm ocean. And after a few hours we we were ready to take a look around.

First, walking east on this incredible beach and as soon as the campsite ends, you begin to see the other side of humans. After the bar it goes from people sunbathing about 15 meters apart and minding their own business to literally thousands of people laying towel to towel with no room for a fag paper between them. Its quite amazing and very surreal. Complete strangers within touching distance just staring at each others genitals.

There were many having oral sex, many (and only) men openly masturbating and then there were the women with groups of fat men standing in a circle pleasuring themselves over them. All in public, all with no worries about the police and with all the people around filming them. Pretty strange and somewhat pathetic times we live in…

Moving back up the beach there was again more calm with only a few blow jobs to navigate through and then the beach bars before you get to the towns main access roads. It was actually quite nice to be able to walk naked through the streets and bars and something that is not completely new to us, but the really odd thing is that all the shops and markets are located under the apartment complexes and are dark and narrow. There are sex shops and strip clubs next to supermarkets and hairdressers. There are people selling flip-flops on one rack and butt plugs on the next. It’s all just odd, but if you accept it, it is quite amusing.

We enjoyed three nights in the very well equipped campsite and beautiful beach in complete peace and quiet. The sun shone through the days and we could swim and sunbathe without being bothered by anyone. Actually the safest and unbothered we had been so far on the trip. They were all being kept amused by more interesting goings on further down the beach!

We walked along the beach and witnessed the exhibitionism whilst staying at a very safe distance and walked around the village during the day for a bit of fun and enjoyed shopping naked. We didn’t go out after dark and just enjoyed the van so we cant comment on the nocturnal activities of the place but apparently they are even more odd. And at the van, the nights were very quiet and peaceful.

It is in general a very strange place but as a Naturist somewhere that can be experienced safely without having to be part of the nonsense going on. Honestly for us, we would for sure go back as we surprisingly really enjoyed. The camp is better and cheaper than most in Croatia and France, the facilities are excellent, it is spotlessly clean and it’s amazingly quiet and completely safe. The beach directly outside is also amazing, clean and family friendly with calm water to swim. A real naturist paradise. The rest of the nonsense you can take or leave. Its your choice after all…

21/09/2024
Provence

Cold, wet, windy, unfriendly and frustrating. Not words that I was hoping to describe this beautiful region of France. But unfortunately the truth of our time there.

After a busy and adventurous two weeks alone hiking and biking through the Italian Alps I finally picked Leela up from Milan airport and we made our way to Provence to look forward to some relaxed time in amazing weather and equally amazing naturist camps.

First we visited le Petit Arlane near the small town of Valensole. The day we arrived the weather was decent and still warm but then things started to immediately unravel. We had a stormy night with heavy rain but nothing that was alarming and in the morning having breakfast whilst in the van, we heard a loud crack and looked out to see that the very expensive Thule awning had collapsed. On closer inspection we saw that the support leg had completely sheared off and the awning had dropped and in doing so bent the upper swing arm and sheared off the roof mounted connection. Quite a feat in itself to cause so much damage and thus rendering it completely useless.

The rest of the day was spent trying somehow to retract it back and make it safe to drive and then beginning the insurance claim and source a replacement somewhere along our travel plan. A lot of stress that we could really have done without…

We left that campsite immediately the following day as the people working there were just unhelpful, unpleasant and the camp not much better. We booked online at Naturist Camping Verdon for a few nights as we thought we would have more chance of a replacement if we headed south and after a decent drive and arriving in very windy conditions the receptionist said that they were full. Explaining that we had booked online and had a confirmation did not move her and in a very polite yet completely arrogant manner told us to bugger off. So another unfriendly French campsite owner.

After another re-think we drove back up to les Lauzons naturist campsite after calling and reserving first and arrived whilst everything was shut for a very extended lunch. Waiting patiently we were eventually taken to a terrible pitch whilst perfectly nice ones stood vacant and told that was all they had. Take it or leave it. A pattern was developing here, was it our Austrian number plate? Surely not.

So we parked and then found out that there was absolutely ZERO phone or internet in the whole camp unless you bought their satellite wifi at a cost. Normally this would be perfect for us but as we were waiting for phone calls and E-mails to organise the insurance and replacement awning this was a large problem. I did manage to receive an email on their terrible wifi to say a company could fit a new awning the following day so we just spent a few hours at the camp and left once more first thing in the morning feeling let-down now by three different sites in the area.

Having the awning fitted the next day where the workers took very little care of our beloved home, we were able to take a short hike around the very nice Pénitents mountains. A strange stone outcrop appearing out of nowhere which has quite a tough and exposed circular walk up and over the top of them. And finally after some decent exercise we felt much better and spent the night in the ghost town of Malijai where we had a quiet evening by the river.

The next day we drove south, hopefully for the last time, and found a naturist camp just outside the Provence Capitol of Aix. It was rustic, natural, very unkempt and the owners were already D-mob happy as they were closing the camp in a few days. Thus they were also very unhelpful, although polite at least, with little facilities open and no provisions or food on offer. They even laughed at us when we asked for a Pizza from the flyer on the desk. But we had 3 nights there in vicious cold and wind and completely unable to enjoy the camp or surrounding countryside.

We tried our best to ride to Aix and take a tour nearby but the constant 70 kph winds were just battering us and the van relentlessly. We even tried to go in the pool but that was pointless and going to the shower was like taking a walk in the Artic so we mainly just hid from the terrible weather unable to enjoy any of the delights of the area.

We were dreaming of two weeks of beautiful Provence sunshine, lavender, naturism, bike rides and laying by the pool. But instead we got one week of stress, problems, atrocious weather and very unhelpful and arrogant campsite owners. Thanks Provence, that was not what we were expecting. Maybe we will have better luck next time.

17/09/2024
Dolomites – Part II

Reluctantly leaving the Passo Giau I was aiming for a relatively quieter area of the Dolomites for the next days but arriving at my planned park up I found that it had been taken over by construction workers. So after a re-think I decided to call the campsite that I had pre-booked for the weekend to see if I could arrive a day early.

Palafavera

Camping Palafavera is a very old and basic camp but clean and very cheap for these parts. I needed a camper service anyway so it served its purpose for a few days and its also in a pretty good location I found out later.

Arriving in the afternoon I just sorted the van out and the next morning I was on the trail early with a beautiful hike to Rifugio Coldai and then on to Lago di Coldai which is a wonderful place for a stop before returning the same way to the camp.

After an hour break I took the bike and made my way down the pass to Pecol and then the mountain bike trail to Rifugio Pian del Crep, stopping at the picturesque and very cold waterfalls of Gavon picol and Gavon Grand on the way. Both waterfalls had deep enough pools to get into and the fresh mountain water certainly wakes you up! Returning to Pecol on some great forest MTB tracks I then made my way back up the pass and back to the van as the evening storms were coming in only getting a little wet on the way.

The next day and with bad weather forecast for the next week I was on the bike very early. First to Rifugio Col dei Baldi on some severely steep tracks before descending through the picturesque Coldai Alm and back to the camp. A short and sharp bike but perfect to get back before the bad weather.

Driving to Rifugio Marmolade Castiglioni I found a nice spot for the van and hiked the quite steep trail to Rifugio Luigi Gorza the highest I have been on this trip at 2600m. This vantage point gave incredible views of the Marmolade Glacier opposite and after a long lunch I made my way back down before the afternoon rains came.

Getting back there was so much commotion with a family of travellers arrived nearby who had at least 8 uncontrollable huge dogs that were howling constantly at every passer by. This together with more dogs and a now full and partying car park, I decided that I would not be able to enjoy the rest of my day there and moved on to my next destination.

Driving over the extremely challenging and completely chaotic Porodai, Sella and Gardena passes, I eventually and completely exhausted arrived at Santa Christina camper stop.

After a surprisingly good nights sleep considering there was a waterfall behind my head and the van was on a 10% slope even with the ramps, I was up and out the door at 6:00am for what would be the toughest hike so far on this trip.

Seceda

Seceda is one of the most famous mountains in the Dolomites for its unique jagged and angled profile. 90% of people take the cable cars there but there are the 10% who toil up this arduous track. And as I was currently parked 9km away from the summit as well as being 1300m below it, I should get my skates on.

The trek up is remarkably steep in parts and mostly boring until you reach the Alm. And in the early morning light it really looked spectacular, which was more than could be said for the actual mountain in front of me which looked quite uninspiring! This was playing with me as I had put this mountain as number one on my list of hikes and I was feeling a little let down. But the true majesty is only visible when you reach the summit and view it from the side.

It really is an incredible sight and thanks to the hard shift I put in I made it there just as the buzzer for the lifts went off meaning I had 10 minutes of truly magnificent peace and quiet in this location completely alone.

This peace was immediately undone by the 100’s of selfie-takers touching up their make-up, lipstick and straightening their hot-pants before swarming over every spare inch of sacred ground. Which signalled my time to leave and I very carefully make my way back to base camp for a well deserved cold beer…

Seiser Alm

The next day was a bike trip to the Seiser Alm. Lots had been said about this place so I was excited to see it for myself. Heading down the Valley to Oresei you take the very small mountain road directly to the Alm. Unfortunately there was a road closed sign at the bottom but as I had already ridden this far I decided to just try and if I didn’t work out I would just return the same way. As it happens there was no chance to ride a good 2 km section but as I was so early and the workmen had not arrived yet I just pushed and carried the bike through the construction site, jumped a fence, and continued on my way. No-one would ever know…

Getting to the Alm after a very tough climb, I rode around for a while taking in the scenery before heading on a MTB trail through the woods and eventually back to base. I read a lot and saw a lot of photos on Instagram about this place but to be honest I felt a little let down. Don’t get me wrong it’s extremely beautiful but after the previous day I maybe would have liked a little more reward for the extreme effort to get there. Perhaps if you drive there or used a motor-E-bike, it would be worth it. But on a real bike it’s really not worth that type of effort. But at least there was another 1200 meters of climbing in the legs.

Leaving St. Christina after a couple of days I was on my way to the final destination of the mountains. To ride the number one on the list of European road climbs that I have not yet done in my life. And I don’t have many left to climb. The famous Stelvio pass.

Stelvio Pass

Knowing that the climb would be long and also that rain was forecast around 2pm I was on the road by 6:45am as I wanted it done in the dry. The cars and motorbikes are crazy and unpredictable with dry roads and just life threatening to cyclists in the wet. So from previous extensive experience it was important to keep myself as safe as is possible on these mountain passes.

Setting off from the climbs starting point of Spondinig you have only a slight gradient until you pass through Prato allo and then it begins to ramp up through Ponte di Stelvio and Maso di Fuori. By the time I reached corner 45 I was already in my lowest gear and thinking that this was maybe going to be too much for me after only 10 days of hard exercise in the last 8 months. But the views of the 3900m Ortler glacier were distracting me from the next 44 corners!

Continuing to constantly increase in elevation and steepness you reach the Franzenshöhe hotel and corner 22 which is where the real climbing starts! Now beginning to find a nice rhythm I was thinking that I could actually make it. And apart from a slight blip at corner 8 where I had to stop and stretch my knee, I comfortably made it to the summit. But my joy was short lived as you are met by complete and utter chaos!

Honestly it was terrible. Hundreds of motorcycles, cars, people, sausage stands, tat stands, loud music, and general disrespect for the mountain. I had a very quick turnaround, a photo at the summit post, and then immediately dropped back down a few hundred meters away from it all. It is so sad to see how people behave in such incredible environments. It’s bad enough that they treat these mountain passes like their own personal race track and how there are not more fatal accidents truly amazes me. In the 5 hours I was on the road I saw only 2 ambulances but at least 50 near misses.

Positively it was nice to see many roadies making their way up as well as a few idiots on real mountain bikes so it was not only me. But I think that I may have been the only one carrying a full chicken curry in his rucksack for lunch! And after thoroughly enjoying this feast I made my way back down but now wearing what looked like winter hiking gear except for the shorts. I am so glad I took everything with me as it was an absolutely freezing 28 km descent.

Getting back to the van and after 56km, 5:30 of riding, and an elevation gain of 1810 meters, I was good for nothing. But an incredible final day in the Italian Alps. Now I will make my way to Milan Airport to pick up my beautiful girl on her return from America so that we can head to France and finally be together again.

France here we come.

06/09/2024
Dolomites – Part I

Finally the time had come to be back on the road and the departure time had finally arrived for both of us. Unfortunately we were heading off in completely different directions, and continents…

To begin our trip Leela was heading stateside for two weeks and whilst she was there I would make my way slowly to our rendezvous point of Milan Airport through the Dolomites in Northern Italy.

So I finalised the apartment in a state to be left alone for the best part of 5 months and got the van ready. It was loaded to the max and after a visit to a weigh bridge I found out quite literally to the Max. But it was gleaming in the sun and patiently waiting for me to get my fat arse into the drivers seat again.

Cortina d’Ampezzo

After a long drive I made it to a ski lift car park about 10 km outside Cortina d’Ampezzo which would be my first base for a couple of days. The following morning I was up and raring to go.

First was a bike trip down the Passo Tre Croci to Cortina and after a look around the town which more resembled a building site as preparations were already well underway to host the 2026 Winter Olympics, I made my way out and up the very steep climb to Rifugio Mietres and on through some beautiful woodland and back to the van. The views in every single direction no matter where you are in the Dolomites are utterly indescribable so I won’t bore you on every tour. You can see yourselves from the photos.

Taking a break and putting the bike away I was feeling very good so I thought I would chance my arm for a first short hike in nearly 8 months. Donning my new fangled knee support I headed out up Monte Faloria keeping to the forest road to be as safe as possible if I needed to turn back. Hiking along I was feeling very little to no pain so I continued through the rain and ended up at Rifugio Faloria which was an amazing feat, although I still had to get back down which usually caused all the problems!

Sitting a while on this majestic view point high above Cortina you had the most amazing views of the mountains. I could also see from a distance a storm coming my way so it was time to head back down. With my earphones on, which were not drowning out the thunder all around, I made it back to the van in one piece and only a little wet.

Waking early the next day I was out on the bike making my way back down to Cortina and then up the road climb to the ski station at Pie Tofana and on to Lago Po’Druscie. Heading back down to Cortina a little later I was still left with the daunting climb back up Passo Tre Croci and after a tough first km I was beginning to find my bike legs again. Slowly… Heading up I passed 2 E-bikers and managed to hold off a group of 5 Ironmen until the last km when I was running out of gas.

Now completely exhausted from my day on the bike I was good for nothing except a shower and a sit down with a cold beer. But I couldn’t relax for long as I was back on the road and very excited to be heading to Passo Giau.

Passo Giau

The last time I was there was in 2012 to watch the Giro d’ Italia and I woke on the morning of the race with 4″ of snow covering the van, so I was hoping for better weather this time! I found a lovely flat and relatively quiet park up and took a short walk to the col. It was late afternoon and the amount of people there was really quite amazing. So I took a few photos and milled around for a while before returning for an early night.

The following morning I was on the trail at dawn and heading back up the col and deep into these incredible mountains toward my planned destination of Forcela Ambrizzola. It was a very difficult climb to Forcella di Giau but I think that the sublime early morning beauty took my mind off it as I seemed to be at the top in no time at all!

Walking down this majestic alpine scene after already covering over 6km and with my destination still quite far away I decided not to push my luck as going back down was going to be tough on the knee. So after hearing the Marmot’s screaming their alarm bells off in a distant meadow I decided to try my luck with some wildlife photography!

Not ever having seen one of these furry creatures in the wild didn’t put me off. So I wondered slowly way off piste until I saw some things scurrying in the distant scrub. And there they were, 5 or 6 just playing in the morning sun.

After locating the entrance to their Den I set the phone on a tripod as close to the entry as possible and then retreated as far as my bluetooth remote trigger would allow and waited. And waited. And waited. Then finally not one but two heads appeared to take a look around but they were way to cautious and retreated back to safety very quickly.

Calling it a day I turned around to see a much more inquisitive one watching my every move from behind me the whole time, so I set up station outside his home and waited. And after no time at all he was up and out and I managed to have my first wild experience with these amazing creatures.

I took one more detour to a remote location away from the gathering hoards and just lay in the sun for a while before returning to the path and the long hike back to the van. A truly exceptional day on the mountains and time to think about moving on. Where to next?

30/08/2024
Reversing Sensors (to stop accidents).

Last week I began what I thought would be the simple and straightforward job of installing rear parking sensors to the camper. Little did I know that this three hour job would take me nearly two weeks to complete…

The sensors were from Amazon and cost €45 for 4 sensors, power module and remote speaker. They do sell a Camper van specific version with 6 sensors and extra long cables but for a standard Fiat Ducato panel van the 4 sensor pack is more than sufficient and the cables long enough to fit to the width of the van.

Taking off the rear plastic bumper cover is easy with 8 × Torx 30 bolts, 4 above and 4 below. And when you clean the inside of the plastic you will see 4 × circles already marked which is where the sensors would be placed if they were factory fitted. These indicators line up with the holes in the bumper to accommodate the depth of the sensors when fitted.

The kit comes with a 22mm hole saw and after drilling the holes you can fit the sensors marked A-D in any direction you wish. The sensors were a little fiddly to fit perfectly as they are made for a slightly thinner plastic bumper, but with a small screwdriver on the rubber fixings and pulling from behind the sensor, they go in perfectly.

The cables can be threaded through and zip tied to the bumper and with our van there is a grommet in the far right bottom corner already there which allows all 4 cables to be pulled up from the rear light cluster inside the van. Re-fitting the grommet with a little extra waterproofing and then the bumper cover is straightforward and all that remains is the wiring which is where the fun started for me…

There is an earthing bolt directly behind the light cluster which is where I wanted to fix the ground. This bolt was a little difficult to access but with a 10mm socket and me in an awkward position and also sweating profusely from the 35°C afternoon, I tried to loosen the very tight bolt. Unfortunately my left hand slipped off the socket with a lot of force and I managed to slice my middle finger knuckle completely open. Knowing immediately that this was a bad one and would require a little more than a running tap and a band aid, I called Leela from work and we drove to the hospital. Six hours later and after an emergency hand operation to repair the severed tendon and I had a lovely sore finger and 15 stitches for the next 10 days!

Picking the installation back up over a week later and finding out that I had actually loosened the bolt, I fitted the ground and then located the reversing light wire, which on our 2022 Ducato was the thicker grey wire with green trace, and joined the power to it. The speaker I routed behind the fresh water tank to near the kitchen area under the bed which is audible from the drivers seat.

Apart from my incompetence the installation was straightforward and the sensors surprisingly good. They are well made, look professional on the bumper, quite accurate and the speaker is more than loud enough to be heard inside the camper and does not even need to be on the loudest setting. So in all an excellent purchase and upgrade that could save a costly reversing accident to the van. I just wished I knew before that to install it required having a hand operation…

Hope you all have better luck!

31/07/2024
Tantra – Follow Your Curiosity

Over the last 20 years my lifestyle and thought process has altered dramatically. After leaving professional Sport in my mid 30’s there was a great void in my life and a realisation that there was a lot more to it than high steaks sporting competition.

I had always been spiritual but my lifestyle never allowed me to fully explore the spiritual path until I met an older (and wiser) Massage Therapist who introduced me to the word “Tantra” for the first time. And even though I found out later that she was using that word incorrectly and in the new age “Neo-Tantra” definition, it still ignited my curiosity which took me into a new world.

Tantra is NOT a dirty word but an incredible lifestyle choice of self awareness and a level of openness and consciousness that most people never experience in the short time we, as humans, are all breathing.

Beginning to study this ancient tradition opened my mind and heart to so many new experiences. To form better connections with loved ones and to be open, patient and accept people and situations that maybe did not feel so good in the past. It lets you form your opinion and worldview and to see other people and the world as a whole in many different ways through many different perspectives.

What is “Neo Tantra”

The question about Neo Tantra is a big one and it may change your outlook and attitude towards the word Tantra. I am not your (or anyones) Guru. I am not a teacher. I am not a preacher. I just try to live my life in the best way I can. And I am not educated enough in Tantra or articulate enough for an in depth analysis.

But if you ask the question of “What is Tantra?” then the first thing that you have to do is forget anything that you think that you know or what you have heard second hand about the word Tantra and also its association with the word “Sex” or “Massage”. They have absolutely no right to be used together and as a Tantra Spiritualist and also Massage Therapist it’s incredibly frustrating to be asked for a “Tantra Massage”.

Tantra is a Tradition dating to Medieval times where all Eastern religion has been based upon including Buddhism, which is actually Tantrik, but with a deity figure. Its practice is self awareness and connection to energy in everything. The word being “Self” and for no-one else.

The next problem is the public perception of Tantra as primarily connected with sex. With regard to the Indian tradition this is manifestly untrue. None of the scriptural sources of Śaiva Tantra teach a sexual ritual or sexual techniques of any kind.

One of the post-scriptural sources does teach a sexual ritual drawn from the Kaula tradition. But this is not the source for modern European and American Neo-tantra since it has never been translated, and the meditative rite it describes is almost wholly unlike what is taught in “Tantric sex” workshops which is maybe your experience of Tantra thus far.

All teaching of so-called Tantric sex in North America and now Europe can ultimately be traced back to Pierre Bernard, a.k.a. Oom the Omnipotent, who taught a bizarre and idiosyncratic version of yoga and tantra beginning in San Francisco in 1905. He was the first spiritual teacher in America to use Tantrik teachings to satisfy his own personal and prodigious sexual cravings.

Anyway, if I go too far down this route now I will never get back… Basically these workshops and seminars etc. have evolved from there. And even though they have absolutely nothing to do with the word Tantra, that is to say there is nothing inherently wrong with them.

I myself as a Massage Therapist, understand the power of touch. I understand connection, openness and the mediative power to release ones self from the tyranny or modern living. And if these seminars are held with no personal gain for the teacher and the students are willing to participate in this environment, then that can only be good for the world. More people with better understanding and self awareness is only a good thing. This then of course will bring peace to yourself and make you a better person and the benefits being that you are a better person for others, friends and loved ones.

A book I would like to mention is Tantra Illuminated by Christopher Wallis. This book goes with me everywhere, either in paper, E-book or audio format and is my direction for continuous spiritual growth and the grounding of which I now live my life upon.

I would recommend this book to absolutely everyone on the planet but too be honest its a tough read if you are not already somewhat aware. So if you have no real idea or interest of what Tantra actually is or if you want to associate the word Tantra with sex then give it a very wide birth… but if you are spiritual, feel yourself being drawn to an alternate way of thinking, or are just completely lost and have no idea what is going on, then I recommend listening to what this man has to say. And if it’s too deep to start then perhaps begin with his YouTube videos on various smaller subjects and grow from there.

The goal is not to live like someone you see or read about but to find a lifestyle that only you can do in a meaningful and fulfilling way.

I have been fortunate to have found my path and if you are seeking something different in your lives then begin your true Tantra journey. The more you read, the more you understand, the more curious you become.

Best spiritual greetings.

21/07/2024
Fkk Camping Solaris – Istria

My birthday was approaching and although we don’t make a fuss about anything these days we still wanted to go away in the van as it has been a sad sight just waiting in the parking lot through my operation and rehab the last 6 weeks. It needed a damn good clean and to evict the ants that had made it their new home. But after a week of deep cleaning it was once again gleaming in the sunshine and raring to go.

We wanted to go to the ocean and preferably to Valata but after checking the prices for various camps that we like, we just could not believe the cost of a piece of dirt for one night at the end of June. So we decided on pretty much the cheapest option for the facilities on offer and also for somewhere we had never visited before which is always exciting.

Naturist Camping Solaris is a very famous naturist resort in Istria and lies around 12 km north of the tourist town of Poreč. It is an extremely large Camp which has a Capacity of over 4ooo guests and something that has always put us off from going there. But we decided to try it and make a decision for ourselves as we have been quite surprised before, especially with Valata which is also huge.

The first good thing about the site was that they allowed us to park overnight outside their camp free of charge which was really great as we were arriving quite late on the Thursday evening. The next nice thing was that they let us into the campsite at 7am and just park on the road until our booked pitch became available at 12. This was also great as we could go in, take a walk and get our bearings, take a dip in the ocean and have breakfast. And also I could work out how the hell I was going to get the van manoeuvred into the pitch as it was a little tight to say the least.

After breakfast we went to the pool and took a couple of loungers and an umbrella to lay in the sun for an hour. At this time the pool was still relatively quiet except for the water aerobics class. And with a lovely view over the ocean it was a very nice place to relax before breaking away to put the van in the pitch and set-up for the weekend. The afternoon was spent at the pool and diving in and out of the ocean before watching a wonderful sunset with a glass or two of wine.

The following day was my birthday and we had a morning coffee at the shoreline at dawn then did pretty much nothing for the day except lie in the sun and take dips in the pool to cool down. As well as a treat of a burger and fries at the pool restaurant where we could eat naked which was a nice touch from the campsite as with other sites you normally have to dress to eat even during the day.

Sunday the wind had picked up due to a storm somewhere out at sea and a quite disgusting Algae slime had formed on the shoreline. This had forced most of the campers away from the ocean and to the pool area so that was an uncomfortable place to be and very overcrowded. So we hung out at the van, took some walks, and had a couple of cold beers through the day whilst painting and listening to music before being treated to an amazing sunset for our last night.

The following morning we packed up and parked the van outside the camp before returning inside to have a couple of hours at the pool. The camp by now was nearly at its capacity of over 4000 people and was becoming very loud so we showered and left Croatia for the summer returning to a cold and very wet Austria by evening!

It was a very nice break and although the campsite was not that great in general, the location of the pitch we had was amazing. Direct at the ocean with incredible un-obstructed views. But you get what you pay for and although it was cheaper than our preferred campsites in Croatia, it still set us back a whopping €60 per night! And with the incredibly inflated supermarket and restaurant and bar prices, this type of camping is getting extremely expensive just for a few days.

But maybe in off season and with the luck of some good weather, it would be a nice place to be. Just buy all your food and drink before you arrive and dont eat out as a burger will set you back €16 and a single portion of fries €5. We didnt even bother looking at the drinks prices…

A year older but certainly none the wiser!

07/07/2024
Toni Peter – Peter Toni

Last year we visited the wine region in Styria a couple of times and over the weekend we decided to re-visit the lovely Buschenschank of Toni Peter.

Now you would think with two first names that he would be a male hairdresser but this lovely gentleman had been running his independent vineyard and restaurant his whole life and we were looking forward to having a meal there finally as last year we were unable due to parties going on. But this time we had no luck either as it was closed. He had just retired!

After arriving and talking to him we found out that he had rented the property out to new landlords who would re-open in a month or two and that he and his wife and their 2 cats would be taking his campervan on an extended tour of Kazakstan! But he very kindly let us park-up for the weekend free of charge although we did buy 3 bottles of wine from him.

The Friday afternoon we arrived was the summer Solstice, the longest day, and also world Naked hiking day! so we took advantage of the very nice weather to take a walk through the quiet vineyards and forest behind the park-up. We were alone there for the whole weekend and enjoyed the complete peace that this area gives you with amazing sunrises each day, long bike rides through the vineyards, and evening meals with a view over the countryside.

We hope that the new owners will keep the camper van pitches available and put as much effort into the quality of them as fellow traveller Peter Toni has done over the years. If you find yourself in this region of Austria we fully recommend taking a few days to explore this beautiful corner of Styria. There are many alternate Buschenschanks that offer free or cheap parking with incredible views and fresh, local, food and wine.

Enjoy your retirement and travels Toni Peter!

24/06/2024
Naturism – A lifestyle choice

Nudism: The act of not wearing clothes in a public space.

Naturism: A philosophy and a way of life.

Naturism is for me most definitely a lifestyle choice of practising non-sexual nudity both in private and in public places where it is either legal or accepted by others. It also refers to the cultural movement which advocates and defends this lifestyle.

An introduction

My first brush with nudism came when I was 17 years old. It was 1988 and I was travelling alone through France and Spain on my motorcycle. I knew already at such a young age that there was more to life than the Welsh valleys and I was in search of what was out there, past the borders of my tiny country and outside of cultural expectancy.

Sleeping on a small beach just outside of Sète on the Cap in France I woke to the sound of people talking and looked to see a couple casually take their clothes off and go for a swim. As a young man coming from an uptight country, I was obviously amazed at this behaviour but it didn’t bother me whatsoever. Obviously the sight of a naked woman was delightful, but more because of the enjoyment of the people. Even though I wanted to experience this myself, the beach was starting to get busy and I moved on with my travels.

A week or so later I was in Spain. Once more hanging out near a beach I got taking to some people. It was mixed company and they were also on motorcycles. They invited me the next day for a tour with them into the mountains and after a long day we ended up at a locals beach.

They suggested we swam before getting a beer and then they did not even consider the notion of changing, they just took their clothes off and together went in the water. No issues. No looking. No ridicule. No making fun. Something that does not happen in an uptight British culture. So I joined them.

For me at that time it was the most amazing and liberating thing that had happened to me spiritually. I had already been free of the torment of parents and family for the previous year but this was now a different kind of freedom. Those 8 weeks of travel shaped my thinking for the rest of my life and even though I spent the next years in America where nudity is even more taboo than in the uk, when I returned I always took every opportunity to be naked both indoors and at every possible moment, outdoors.

I began to spend more and more time in Europe. Playing for Spanish teams, racing in hot locations, longer and longer holidays to hot countries and choosing my destinations so that public nudity could be practiced naturally. I found that I was much more of a mediterranean mindset person and tried to be in warmer climates where clothing was an option rather than a necessity.

Finally leaving the uk for the last time 14 years ago I took a year long trip around Europe in my camper. This was wonderful as I could experience many different countries and witness their approach to Naturism. And of course during this trip it was amazing to visit remote beaches, lakes, and mountains where being naked in nature was a gift.

Living in Austria

The last 10 years I have spent living in southern Austria but it’s a strange country with regard to naturism though. They will openly be naked at a spa all day but it does not feel like true naturism to me but rather exhibitionism and voyeurism. As the women want to be looked at and the men openly want to show their “enthusiasm” with little self control. The same applies when they take their holidays to the Croatian Naturist camps. It is much like the feeling I used to get in the uk and it gives a creepy vibe of exposure in a legal environment rather than true naturism.

Work & freetime

As well as being in naturist environments constantly over the past 35 years I also witness it through my work. Being a massage therapist I deal with naked bodies on a daily basis. All genders, ages, sizes, and body types. But its amazing how many people are not connected to their bodies. They like to show off at a spa or a camp but unfortunately they just don’t know how to connect with it.

We are very fortunate as we live in a very nature oriented location here in Austria where there are many opportunities to live a naturist lifestyle. For us it starts at home where we are nearly always without clothes, cooking, eating, tv, out on the terrace and in our general daily life. Then there are the abundance of SPA options that we can go to for a day out where it is compulsory to be naked. We have wonderful lakes where in warm weather its possible to lie and swim naked without issue and many remote mountains and forests where you can walk freely.

I also work a little at a local Naturist campsite which we also visit together through the summer months as it’s only a short bike ride away. There you can enjoy their lake and swimming pools as well as take walks through the large site and local woods.

Which brings me to being naked on Vacation…

Vacation

Living so close to Croatia is amazing for us as the country and its relationship with nudism is well known so there are many FKK “Frei körper kultur” camping sites to choose from all within a few hours drive.

Staying at these sites is always very interesting for us and very easy to distinguish between the Naturist, Nudist and Exhibitionist. Theres no need to go into great detail here but if you are a “true” naturist you will know what I’m talking about. Or maybe read some of our other posts where myself or Leela encounter such people!

But saying this, as a true naturist, these campsites are really amazing. The facilities are normally excellent and the sites are always in incredible locations as well as being really relaxed as most people who are true naturists are of a different mindset and occasionally have a deep connection to nature and openness with other people.

But beware as a single male traveller. You are not always welcome!

Travelling as a single man

I am a member of British Naturism and the INF for many, many years and always try to support my local naturist organisation. But for me the most important thing is to have the legal membership. It not only gives you small discounted entry to many campsites through Europe but acts as a confirmation card for single men. This should not be the case but equality does not seem to extend to single men with no clothes on. And in our personal experience. Rightly so!

In Europe there are some crazy rules that men are not allowed to visit naturist campsites alone unless they are part of an official naturist organisation. They do however allow single women, both male and female homosexual couples and, one male with two female companions. But not men travelling alone. Go figure?!

I have unfortunately experienced this first hand as I often travel alone to get away for a few days if I am light on work. One campsite in particular was really giving me a hard time and even though I am very quiet and easy going they pushed all the wrong buttons and I ended up demanding that they get the owner for a legal discussion in a packed reception as I had enough of such attitudes toward me.

Normally I would have just sulked away and found somewhere else but this time I stood up for myself and our legal rights as naturists. I was eventually allowed in but put in a back corner to protect “real people” and keep me away from children. I stayed one night but was gone in the morning refusing to pay and threatening to call the police and inform the naturist camping association. But I never did.

But what I did do was reach out to Naked Wanderings as at that time they were the only other naturist travel blog writers with a voice on the web and asked them to maybe consider bringing these issues to light through their popularity. And after an E-mail discussion with Nick about the subject he was a little dismissive and just disregarded the issue as nothing. This really hurt me at the time as I looked up to them when they were first starting out and admired what they were trying to do for naturism as a way of life. I was trying the same with my personal blog but back then as a single man, I was not getting any traction.

But now they are travelling the world making YouTube videos and staying in these amazing places for free. Whilst I am volunteering for free, writing blogs to educate, making podcasts, putting up with on-line abuse and fighting to be able to pay with my own hard earned money just to get into a campsite. Its a strange naturist world these days.

British Naturism

But to finish on a brighter note I have been in discussion with British Naturism over the last year looking for ways to be able to get involved with an organisation that is trying to move forward instead of putting my efforts into our local naturist association here in Austria who are just set on the past. Communication in your own language helps of course and its great to see that not only is BN trying to educate and inform, their membership is growing steadily even if it is male dominated at the moment, but hopefully that will change over time as women find their own voice in Naturism.

We have travel articles published in the BN magazine and we joined BN as well as being a member of the INF so that we can begin to be active on their website and try to get involved. Leela has browsed the website with me often but with the male domination of the forums and interesting choice of photos uploaded, she is still reluctant at the moment to contribute on there and will wait to see if there is more of a female voice and a little less male exhibitionism in the future. She still writes a lot of these posts and any comments from female readers about their experiences will be well received.

Thanks as always for reading and I hope there is something in this disjointed and unstructured ramble that is of interest. We would love to hear from you.

16/06/2024
A strange summer

This year is not going quite as planned. But hopefully with the summer here and with another operation safely behind me, I am back on track and we are making alternative plans.

A few weeks ago we managed 4 days at Valata resort in Istria (diary entry) and as we have already written an extensive post on how great this place is there is no need to go into detail again. Except to say that the facilities are now even better as they have upgraded some sanitary blocks and re-developed one of the beaches which is very nice.

Unfortunately their prices are still continuing to rise and in moderate season you will be expected to pay upward of €70 for a pitch. Let me say that again. Thats over €70 per night to park on a parcel of dirt. And thats if you can actually find one thats worth parking on without having your neighbours sitting on your breakfast table or having to take your hiking boots with you to get to the beach.

Also the supermarket prices have risen and an hour of tennis is now a quite remarkable €17! So they have effectively priced us out of going there except at the end of April or the last week of September, and then only for a few days. For us thats quite sad as we would love to spend an extended trip there to truly enjoy the facilities and area.

Its quite unbelievable how prices are rising in Croatia, and Europe in general, all caused by covid and the new van life boom. The ACSI card is no longer worth having as the “off-season” times are being constantly made shorter, and the pitches that are being made available for card holders are getting worse and worse.

We also took a trip to naturist campsite Mali Raj in Slovenia. Again we have written about this lovely camp before but also in March I made an interview article for British Naturism magazine in the UK of which I am also a member as well as the INF in Austria. It is published in the June Summer issue if you are a member, and if not you can download our article below.

British Naturism Download

Our plans for this year may have been forced to change but we are still positive and hopeful that we will be back to the second part of our trip to France and Spain later in the year. So stay tuned and any comments on our posts are always welcome.

02/06/2024

←Previous Page

1 2 3 4 5 6

Search

Instagram
Telegram
Mail

Copyright © 2025 Adventure Diary