Dear Friends,
Season's Greetings to you all. At Christmas, I like to look back to where I was the year before, and notice the changes, the things I have achieved, and sometimes, the problems I have worked through. Then I look forward to the year ahead, and wonder where I will be this time next year. Even if you don't change very much yourself, things are always changing around you.
At Long Bay, on the 1st of November, we were approached by two uniformed ARA park wardens, one of whom was using a video camera. (The film was to be included in their report of park usage for the ARA Parks Committee.) They pointed out to us that the upgrading of the walkway behind the foreshore would bring many more people past our sunbathing area, with a possible increase in complaints and unpleasant incidents. They also drew our attention to the fact that the Takapuna City Council have reaffirmed a by-law which states: "No person shall be or remain upon any part of a beach in view of other persons unless properly and sufficiently clad." The term "properly and sufficiently clad" is deemed to mean that the pubic areas are covered.
Beaches on the North Shore have been used by nudists for at least fifty years, but from now on, it seems that we are risking prosecution. We must recommend that members do not break the law by sunbathing nude at St Leonards, Clifton Road Beach or Long Bay, and there will be no more organised outings to these beaches.
So what else have we been up to? Eleven people and two dogs turned up for the day at Karekare. We looked at the waterfalls then walked around the beach to Pararaha, returning over the muddy Zion Hill Track. The sun was a bit elusive, but it was-a good day for tramping. At :Long Bay, the sunshine eventually made up its mind and treated us to a wonderful day on the beach. Twenty of us went home with improved tans. The Kaipara camp attracted fourteen, including three children. I drove up on Saturday evening through a pelting downpour, arriving just as the last, of the showers cleared away. The Saturday campers had changed their minds and gone home earlier, but Sunday dawned with a clear blue sky, very peaceful and quiet, with lots of birdsong, a beautiful sunny day. We'll be going back again on the 5/6 March, so mark it on your calendar. Five of us went to Goat Island Beach, a lovely day and a beautiful beach, pretty enough for a Christmas card.
Would you like to have a day out on a boat? To make this trip viable, we need 25 people at a cost of 24 each. Please ring me if you are interested, and if enough people want to go, the details will be in your next newsletter.
Also, there will be a long weekend fox Anzac next year. Does anyone know of a place where we could get indoor accommodation with hot pools at a reasonable cost? Please let me know.
Party night at Riccard's was a very pleasant occasion These evenings are well-supported by FBG members, and we thank the North Shore Sun Club (now the Hibiscus Coast Sun Club) for organising and hosting these swim nights.
PARTY NIGHT AT THE SAUNA: Last night for this year, Sunday 20 December,
5 - 9 p.m. BYO eats and drinks. This will also be a LADIES FREE NIGHT. Singles 5, pensioners 4, children free. At Clive Green's Health Centre, 14 Federal street, City.
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OPENING NIGHT FOR 1988 will be 7 February
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Thank you very much, Tom, for keeping our sauna evenings ticking over so nicely. You're always there with a smile and a cuppa, and we all appreciate it.
FRED BEAR POSTERS: Our little posters are popping up on notice-boards
around the city, and they look very handsome, clear and eye—catching. I dedicate these posters to the memory of Alf Gorringe. He used to get up at the AGM year after year, and ask for "a little bit of paper with our name and address on it" so that he could carry them about and hand them out to people on the beach. These posters are cheap enough for all of us to carry around and hand out to people, so pick up a bundle from Jim or Tom at the sauna, or write in for them, and look out for one at the. top of the track going down to Emiel's Beach.
PHOTO COMPETITION: We are thinking of having a Photo Competition among
members. Entries would be displayed at the AGM next year and judged by popular vote, with prizes being awarded. Any photographs or drawings of Free Beach activities could be entered, and those that are suitable may be used to illustrate our newsletter, Beach List etc. Let us know what you think.
BOAT FLAGS: I have made a few Fred Bear boat flags, 15" x 21"
(38cm x 65cm). These are 4 each, order them from Jim.
SHOP TALK: Just a reminder to send in your orders for: T-shirts $11,
Towels $l0, Name tags $6 (this price has gone up). The embroidered badge sample was not entirely satisfactory, and we are considering an alternative.
SAILING TRIPS: One of our members has a 43' ocean cruising yacht which
is licensed for charter work, taking up to six for overnight and extended charter, and up to ten for day trips. Discount rates are offered to FBG members. The yacht will probably be based in the Bay of Islands, otherwise in Whangarei. A brochure setting out all the details is available from Odyssey Yacht Charters, P.O.Box 1506, Whangarei. Members (preferably in B or C age group) who would be interested in sailing as crew or for recreational sailing are invited to write to John Bradey, P.O.Box 1506, Whangarei.
COMMITTEE: John Riggir 565-219 Jim Peddieson 559-730* Ask for Jim
Evan Chugg 883-784 Adrianne Caldwell 883-784
Tom Lewis 418-1890 Cynthia Wells 656-062
Gay Laurie Anthony Wilkinson 836-7432
BAY OF PLENTY CONTACTS: Adele Stevenson TG 56-468
David Taylor TG 69-843
I wish you all the compliments of the season. I hope you all manage to get away for a holiday during the summer months, it is good for you, even if you go alone. The Committee will be on holiday, anyway, so you will not get another newsletter until the ,middle of February. So keep in touch by coming to our beach days, and maybe having a go at sleeping under the stars at one of our camps. We'd love to hear from those of you who are going further afield. Snippets of information about Free Beaching in other parts make good news for our newsletter.
Best wishes for a Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.
DECEMBER DIARY
BARBECUE AT MELLONS BAY
Saturday 5 December. High tide 8.44 p.m. Weather forecast: Fine.
Anyone for a nude swim by the light of the silvery moon?
Bring your barbecue, your sausages, and a little of what you fancy, and COME TO THE PARTY. Time: 5 p.m. onwards. From Howick, go down Mellons Bay Road to the second car park at the bottom, by the shop.
Walk to the right-hand end of the beach. Contact: Adrianne 883-784.
BEACH DAY AT HUIA, EMIEL's BEACH
Sunday 6 December. High tide 11.37 a.m. Weather forecast: Sunny.
This beach was named in memory of Emiel Roland, a Life Member of FBG.
From Titirangi, follow signs towards Hula, turn left at sign to Huia Point Lookout. Go 100 metres, park on grass in dip. Track is in the corner on the left-hand side at the far end of this grassy area.
Contact: Cynthia 656-062 evenings and weekends.
BEACH DAY AT FITZPATRICK BAY (BIRKENHEAD)
Sunday 13 December. High tide 1.51 p.m. Weather forecast: Light cloud.
A new beach, very pretty with pine trees and grass. Swimming best at high tide. From Birkenhead, go along Mokoia Road, turn left just past Foodtown into Balmain Road, veer right at the kindergarten, park at bottom of steep hill. Walk straight ahead along a wide track, about 10 minutes easy walk to beach. Contact: Adrianne 883-784.
TRAMP TO MOKOROA FALLS
Sunday 20 December. Weather forecast: Cloudy.
A whole valley of waterfalls between Waitakere and Muriwai. Footwear must be suitable for walking in the stream, bring waterproof clothing and your lunch. Meet opposite the Swanson Primary School at 10.30 a.m. Contact: Adrianne 863-784.
CHRISTMAS CAMP AT URETITI
Christmas Day to Sunday 17 January.
Glorious ocean beach, cosy camping spots among pine trees, swimming, sunbathing, walking, fishing and loafing - that's us at Uretiti.
From State Highway 1, 6 kms north of Waipu, turn right into the Uretiti Beach Recreation Reserve, opposite Mountfield Road. Water taps, flush toilets, cold showers, fireplaces, no dogs. Supplies at Ruakaka.
Contact: John 565-219 evenings and weekends.
JANUARY DIARY
BEACH DAY AT HUIA, EMIEL'S BEACH
Sunday 3 January. High tide 10.38 a.m. Weather forecast: Sunny.
A cosy little beach, with bush, good swimming and fishing.
From Titirangi, follow the signs towards Huia, turn left at sign to
Huia Point Lookout. Go 100 metres park on grass in dip. Track is in the corner on the left-hand side at the far end of this dip.
Contact: Cynthia 656-062 evenings and weekends.
BEACH DAY AT LADIES BAY
Sunday 10 January. High tide 12.41 p.m. Weather forecast: Fine. From St Heliers, drive up Cliff Road (one way). Signpost on left at path to beach. Walk along until you see our flag.
Contact: Adrianne 883-784.
WEEKEND CAMP AND BEACH DAYS AT TAWHANUI
Saturday 16 January. High tide 5.20 p.m.
Sunday 17 January. High tide 6.24 p.m. Weather forecast: Sunny.
Beautiful white sandy beaches miles of farmland to roam about on, rocky shoreline to explore, snorkelling, swimming and sunbathing. these are some of the attractions of this ARA farm-park so handy to Auckland. Tawharanui is a Marine Park - no fishing, no dogs. From State Highway 1, turn east at Warkworth,.go through Matakana, turn right at big sign to Omaha, then right again at sign to Tawharanui 11km. Gates are open from 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. Drive through the park until you come to the car park at the end of the road by the pine trees. From here, walk east across a stream and around to the next beach. Campers will need to book in as soon as possible. Obtain your booking form from myself or direct from the ARA. Camping fees are $4 per vehicle plus 50c per person per night. Children under 5 are free. No caravans or-vehicles over 2000kg.
Contact: Adrianne 883-784 before 14 January.
BEACH DAY AT MELLONS BAY
Sunday 24 January. High tide 12.31 p.m. Weather forecast: Cloudy. A nice sandy beach with good swimming, popular with local members. From Ridge Road, at the top of the hill by the water reservoir before you go down into Howick, turn left into Mellons Bay Road. Drive right down to the car park at the beach (two car parks, one above the other). Walk east to the end of the beach.
Contact: Adrianne 883-784.
NGATUHOA WEEKEND
Wednesday 27 January to Monday 1 February.
Our annual holiday all by ourselves deep in the bush of the Kaimai Ranges. Make sure you send in your application form in plenty of time to our Bay of Plenty organiser, Adele Stevenson. Details are on the separate sheet in this newsletter - read it and take it with you. Contact: Adrianne 883-784 or Tom 418-1890.
BEACH DAY AT PAPAMOA
Monday 1 February. High tide 7.29 p.m. Weather forecast: Fine.
The finale for our Ngat.4hoa weekend. An open, sandy ocean beach backed by rolling sand-hills. The low tide at 1.22 p.m. will give us more room for sunbathing. From Tauranga, follow signs towards Mt Maunganui. Turn right into Girven Road, then near the beach turn right again into Maranui Road at sign to Papamoa. Go 2 km past Bay Park Raceway and park on the grass just before the houses start again. Track over sand-hills to beach.
Contact: Tom 418-1890 evenings and weekends.
FEBRUARY DIARY
BEACH DAY AT HUIA, EMIEL'S BEACH
Sunday 7 February. High tide 1.40 p.m. Weather .forecast: Windy Hopefully, the wind will be an easterly, and this beach will be sheltered. From Titirangi, follow the signs towards Huia, turn left at sign to Huia Point Lookout. Go 100 metres, park on grass in dip. Track is in the corner on the left-hand side at the far end of this dip. Contact: Cynthia 656-062 evenings and weekends.
BUSH WALK AND PHOTOGPHY TRIP TO KARAMATURA
Sunday 14 February. Weather forecast: Stormy!
We shall see, anyway. This is a beautiful park of native bush at Huia, popular with families, trampers and artists. We will walk up to the waterfall then climb up the side of the waterfall (don't bring anything heavy) to a series of picturesque pools and falls set in pristine native bush, very photogenic. Nudity at this point with discretion (it is an ARA park). Drive right down into Huia and follow the coast road about 2 kms to the park entrance on the right, beside a small bridge. Drive in 200m to car park. Meet here at 10.30 a.m. Contact: Adrianne 883-784.
BEACH DAY AT LADIES BAY
Sunday 21 February. High tide 11.26 a.m. Weather forecast: Cloudy A city beach which can be reached by bus. From St Heliers, drive or walk up Cliff Road (one way). Signpost on left at path to beach. Walk along until you see our flag. Contact: Adrianne 883-784.
WALKABOUT AT LAKE WAINAMU
Sunday 28 February. Weather forecast: Fine
Lake Wainamu is tucked in behind the sand-hills at Bethell's Beach. To get there, we walk along the stream bed and through farmland to the top end of the lake, where there is a pool with a waterfall, very pretty and great for swimming and sunbathing. It is a fairly level walk of about three miles each way, or 5 kms. Drive out through Swanson and up the Scenic Drive 4 km, turn right into Te Henga Road just past the tearooms. Follow signs to Bethell's Beach, park just over the bridge at the bottom of the last hill. Meet here at 10.30 a.m. Contact: Adrianne 883-784.
SAUNA: Opening night for 1988 is Sunday 7 February, 5 - 9 p.m. at
Clive Green's Health Centre, 14 Federal Street, City.
PHOTOGRAPHS: Remember to take your camera and/or sketch pad with you
when you go to the beach. We'd like to have a really good
selection entered into our Competition.
CAMPING WEEKEND AT SOUTH KAIPARA HEADS: Make a note of the dates:
Saturday 5 March
See you there! Sunday 6 March