Judy and I were headed for San Diego for the 2014 reunion of former
UDT/SEAL guys and had stopped for a couple of days in Durango, CO
for some river rafting, fly fishing, etc. For several years I
have wanted to try out the Orvis Hot Springs clothing optional
venue near Ouray. Judy is still fairly new to social nudity
and not nearly as enthusiastic about it as I am. Still, I was
somewhat hopeful as I casually suggested a drive up the million
dollar highway to the hot springs.
I was more pleased than surprised when Judy agreed to the trip and
lost no time getting things together and heading out. The
drive north to Ouray has some spectacular scenery but can be a bit
nerve wracking as there are frequent curves, an absence of
guardrails, and really steep drops. We managed to get there
still in one piece and I was full of anticipation as we pulled into
the parking area.
The first stop was the main desk where we paid our entrance, signed
the rules, and got a quick tour of the indoor facility. Judy
and I adjourned to our respective dressing rooms (men/women) and
emerged wrapped in a towel kilt for me and short robe for her as
the indoor area is not CO. Once outside, in the CO area, we
made our way to the large main soaking pool. It was already
occupied and there were some 30 to 40 odd people there in various
states of attire; full bathing suits on both men and women, topless
women, and fully nude folks of both sexes.
I was unsure how Judy would react to this as she had never been in
a situation with this many people and in past experiences everybody
had been nude. We found an area where we could hang our
coverups just inside the entryway to the pool enclosure. I
dropped my kilt, hung it up, and turned to see Judy, now nude,
hanging up her robe next to mine. We walked to the step area
and I steadied her as she walked into the hot water up to her
waist.
We settled onto a rock shelf and let the hot lithium springs work
their magic. It seemed like there were people of all ages and
sizes either in or around the pool and a fair number of arrivals
and departures as well. A young woman wearing a very modest
bikini nodded at us, smiled, and then took a spot on the shelf next
to us. It was a clear day with bright sun and all too soon
Judy had had her limit on UV rays and had to leave the pool and don
her robe. I soaked a bit longer then got out and sat next to
her on a bench to air dry before leaving.
On our way back south Judy started laughing to herself. When
I asked why she explained that the young people with attractive
bodies that they should have been proud of kept covered up while we
older, heavier, less attractive types were universally nude. I
then asked her if she had noticed what all the women there had in
common. She couldn't come up with anything so I asked her
which women were being stared at. After a moment's thought
she came up empty and said she didn't think any were. That, I
told her, was the point. She got it!
Addendum, 9/3/2017: We were recently reviewing some of our nude experiences and Judy remarked that Orvis Hot Springs was undoubtedly the most comfortable she has ever felt in a nude or CO environment. Not sure why, just was.
