Who knew??

This blog post is my promised update on going to the clothing-optional hot springs. If you are feeling some dis-ease about this topic (like, perhaps, if you are my children), I'd suggest skipping the rest of this post. Because, who knew that sitting sans-clothing amongst strangers would be so enjoyable?? No, really, tell me. Did you know this? Or is this truly just a California thing?

But let me start at the beginning. Since Mark was going to be out of town last Thursday and Friday, I decided to do some exploring in the Coastal Mountains. I had not yet been west of Chico by more than 10 miles and it seemed like a good one to two day trip. Our neighbors suggested Wilbur Hot Springs, which turned out to be the perfect excursion for me. Mark is not at all interested in bathing in hot springs and flumes and I can always justify it, given my problems with joint pain.

I plotted out my route with the intention of avoiding I5, the interstate that runs north and south through the central valley. I couldn't exactly find back roads, but at least I drove on highways that were mostly free of traffic. The entire drive is only about 75 miles, much of it through almond and walnut orchards. Some of the time I followed the Sacramento River, which has a very slow and serene feel to it, in contrast to the Mighty Mississippi. My assumption is that the Sacramento will be much different as the seasons change. As with much of the country, you can tell that it is suffering from a lack of rain.

About 50 miles into the drive, I turned west and climbed out of the valley and into the Coastal Mountains. Although they are very scenic, they did not seem as majestic as the Sierra Nevadas. I was surprised by this. For some reason, I had expected them to be more rugged and imposing than they are. But they certainly are beautiful and the sunny, warm day made the drive very relaxing. To get to the hot springs, you must pass through a gate that marks the area as private. The resort itself is very old and nestled away into a very secluded part of the mountains. Here are some pictures of the area around the resort....look closely and you can see the hotel itself.
The resort is much like a retreat center with a communal kitchen, a quiet reading area, a yoga platform, a tastefully done bunk room, and, of course, the baths. The baths are the only clothing-optional area and are situated on the banks of a small creek, across from the hotel itself. A series of fabric-like partial walls protect the privacy of the baths area, which includes three flumes, a mineral hot tub, a cold water swimming pool, and a dry sauna. I got to the resort at about 4:00 and after getting settled into the bunk house, I headed directly to the baths. There were only a few people in the baths area, which I have to admit I was relieved to see. One of my worries was that I would be older than many of the other guests and I didn't want to feel like the old, weird lady, looking uncomfortable around pretty, young things.  This was not a problem. The people covered all ages and although everyone there seemed reasonably fit, people certainly were not there to show off their bodies. The atmosphere was relaxed and subdued. There are three flumes, varying in temperatures from 105-115. I love the hot tub experience, but even I couldn't tolerate the 115 degree flume. It was also very clear to me why these baths are clothing optional.....it is just a much better experience without any fabric against your skin. Hard to explain, but I definitely found it relaxing and soothing to my joints. Although I explored the entire baths area on the first day, I only went clothing-free in the flumes.....

The evening included making dinner side by side with the other guests, in almost a hushed environment, eating out under a softly-lit gazebo, and then reading in the library until bed time.  The overall ambiance was a pleasant combination of hippy-community and new age spiritualism. The next day, I explored the grounds on foot and on bike. The yoga platform is set above the rest of the resort and provided a gorgeous view of the mountains. Great way to start the day. The area is home to lots of deer, birds, and the occasional coyote. After exploring the larger grounds, I spent most of the rest of the day in the baths, enjoying the whole California experience. I became completely comfortable going clothing free in the entire area. It really isn't that much different than the fitness center at the JCC, except of course for the sun and warmth on the body. There were more people in the baths that day and I was amazed at how quickly I became comfortable with the experience. My only regret is that I didn't give more thought to the consequences of the sun being on parts of my body that have rarely, if ever, seen the light of day. Sunscreen would have been a good idea....

So, I would go again. What about you??