At the time I write this, I have lived in Texas for a little over
a year. During this time, I'd heard my share of stories about Hippie
Hollow, a county-run park just outside Austin, Texas and on Lake
Travis where clothing is optional. But, I've never ventured out to
sun my buns.
I should mention that I have been to Hippie Hollow before. Ya see,
about three years ago, when John and I were dating, he took me to
the park for a late night swim on one of the many weekend courting
trips I had made to Austin from Grand Rapids, Michigan. But, that
was three years ago ... and in the dark of night when no one else
was around. It feels kinda strange that here I am today ...
actually married off and living here in Austin. Hmmm, how life does
evolve. But, now I digress.
It was a beautiful March day in central Texas ... 77 degrees and
sunny. Just a bit of breeze. It was the kind of day one would
classify as picture perfect. Without hesitation, I decided a day
like this simply could not go to waste. Yes, it was the day to
venture out and experience Hippie Hollow.
So, with the morning workout complete and a cooler full of ice, I
hopped into my toasty car, pushed the button to slide open the moon
roof and I was off. The tunes were pumping just right and I was
feeling all buff and randy as I headed out to the Texas 'Hill
Country'.
It's absolutely beautiful out in the Texas hills. Nothing really
comes close to it up in Michigan, where I had lived the better
portion of my life. Well, perhaps areas by Traverse City up in the
Leelanau Peninsula somewhat resembled the hills here in Texas. But
Texas was more rocky, rugged, and bared more greenery that looks
like it can withstand the tests of the hot, 100-degree dog days of
summer.
The Hill Country is densely populated with trees along steep hills
and cliffs. Multi-million dollar estates dot the tops of these
hills. One imagines that people with the names of Biff, Tad and
Muffy reside in these homes. Lake Travis, a segment of the
Colorado River Chain held by a dam flows through a valley between these hills.
My destination was only 25 minutes west of home. Though, with the
beautiful scenery, I wished the trip took longer. Just prior to the
parks entrance, I pulled into a convenience store to make the
selection of an adult beverage for the days consumption.
Some things about Texas I really like. Thank God one is allowed
to enjoy some of life's simple pleasures at a public park, I thought
as I climbed out of my car. That thought quickly gave way to the
realization that I was already near naked as it was. After all, why
don a lot of clothes when all your going do is shed them upon
arrival at your destination? Bodaciously, I strolled into the store. As it turned out, the
clerks must have had more than a few occasions of scantily clad
people who were heading to Hippie Hollow come in the store. They
didn't pay me any mind ... except for the young cashier who gave me
a once-over and a subsequent wink.
Upon arrival at the park, I paid the five-dollar entrance fee and
was dutifully reminded by the park ranger that no glass containers
were allowed. I felt like I had mastered the art of preplanning as I
had already read that fact on the Travis County Parks & Recreation
website before departing and had made the choice of
purchasing the Heineken in cans rather than the favored glass
container.
I parked in a shaded area, closed the sun roof and cracked the
windows as I looked around wondering exactly where I was suppose to
go. I noticed a young couple exiting their car; the days needs
bundled in their arms. I followed them down the not-so-well-marked
path that ultimately led down to the lake.
Yep, this is definitely it, I thought as the path gave way to the
openness of the park and the surroundings of at least a hundred
people, 80% of which were all-natural and the rest just as well
should have been. The lake was oddly shaped; causing the park to
have many bends and curves.
I had heard that the gay portion of the park was at the far end of
the park. So, I flipped my beach towel over my shoulder, gave a tug
on the cooler to get a better grip and I was off. As I walked along
the shoreline, I was thinking the fact that gay people congregate
anywhere was rather foreign for Austin. Gay people are so integrated
into the society here that Austin doesn't even have a gay section of
town like so many other cities do. Gay people are well, just ...
everywhere!
This certainly was not the Michigan style of beach, containing
billions of grains of sand. Rather, the 'beach' at Hippie Hollow
displays ledges of rock where people pick their spots and spread out
a blanket. Suddenly I wished I had brought more than one towel for
extra cushion. Other than the difference in landscape and the fact
that nearly everyone was naked, the people in the park didn't look
any different from any beach in Michigan.
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