What I am trying to establish is how realistic it is to think that naturists might join clothed ramblers rather than a naturist walk that is clothing optional. There's a difference.
There certainly is! I read your email as asking how they would react to bumping into an unclothed rambler, (a short encounter), not whether they were amenable to a naturist joining them for a walk, a very different scenario.
I plan to stay in touch with any clubs that give a positive response and then next year when it warms up I will let them know when I might be walking their routes so they can ask me not to if they prefer.
I'd be more tempted to ask them when they are walking so that I knew when to be aware that they might be around and could decide whether I wanted to avoid a specific route on a given day. I would certainly not be asking for permission from them (even implicitly). Asking for permission gives them a chance to say no. The danger is that if they ask you not to and you decide you'd like to anyway then someone takes offence, you run the risk that this could be interpreted as intent, and potentially you could fall foul of section 66 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (exposure).
Plenty of time to explore this subject anyway given that it has turned rather chilly.
Indeed there is, don't let me put you off this interesting exercise and please keep us in the loop.
Have fun,
Ian.
It's never too late to have a happy childhood.
But the point of asking when they will be around is so I can avoid them if they prefer me to do so. We all have a right to walk out there but I have no wish to force my views on people or upset anyone. I suppose what I am doing is hoping they might say "hey come along and join us and don't worry about clothes". I think we're a long way from that but you never know.
And my coment about 'bumping into a naked rambler' is basically suggesting that if they have come across a naturist and their reaction was positive then we are much closer to being acepted as fellow walkers.
Anyway - I have now confirmed mambership of a ramblers forum so I will soon be dropping subtle (or no so subtle) hints to get some opinions.
Watch this space 🙂