I've been a naturist since my teens but never really ventured out of doors until this episode in 1983.

My girlfriend and I got together in June 1982, not long before she went off to spend a year out in Norway. When she came back, we both had a terrific sense that we'd missed out on a great deal of fun and games and so she became very open to lots of new ideas and suggestions, one of which was posing nude for me. I was (and still am) a very keen photographer.

I knew of a location out in the country, Allen Banks Nature Reserve near Bardon Mill, and suggested that she pose when the weather was suitable. She pretty much jumped at the chance.

We caught the train up to Bardon Mill and hiked the rest of the way. It didn't take us long to reach Allen Banks and, within 20 minutes, we were at the appointed location. With the sun beaming down into the crystal clear waters of the river Allen, she took her time and eventually went naked for the first time whilst I snapped away with the camera.

It was quite warm and so she slipped in and our of the water with relative ease. For the first time in her life, she said she actually felt totally at home in her own skin.

It was around this time that I thought "Hang on. Naked girlfriend. Water. Bright sunlight. What am I doing fully clothed?" and, seconds later, we were both paddling around and falling about like a pair of idiots.

Then we noticed that the sky was a different colour and sensed that a downpour was due. There was a sound from upstream that I didn't like and so we grabbed everything we could and ran to higher ground. Seconds later, our entire campsite was under water.

We were getting dressed when we both heard a branch crack above us. Realising we had company, we made ourselves decent and then began the long walk back to the entrance.

As we left the car park, we spotted a couple getting into a car and both had a huge grin on their faces. I think it safe to assume that they saw more than they bargained for.  🙂