How I FIRST learned of Gunnison Beach, NJ

Written in June 2015 I first learned of Gunnison from a group of transplanted Jersey folks while on Playalinda Beach in Florida. They are a group of at least three couples & some other friends who usually attend Playalinda on weekends. They go big! Wind barrier, camping stove, everything you could possibly need for the day. Bacon & eggs never smelled as good as they did at their site. They were having lots of fun and it was contagious. I struck up a conversation with them when I saw them on my second visit. One of the guys told me that he met his Wife on a nude beach. See what interesting things CAN happen? I told him I was in FL on business and was from the Northeast. He said "well, you know there is Gunnison Beach in NJ not too far from you". He carefully scratched a map for me in the sand. Immediate interest! He shared a few details about location, etc. and I have been making plans to visit ever since. I even phoned some of the motels in the area in January just to find out how close they were to the site. I know it seemed rather strange but when you find a good thing its hard to ignore it. And in January WHO isnt longing for warmer weather and the beach? I am new to this amazing experience. My first adventure was in September 14 while on business in FL. I had wondered about the experience for years and one night I said to my Wife, kiddingly a first, I want to try a nude beach. No sooner had the words escaped my mouth, I decided, I REALLY do want to try a nude beach! And when I do I want to be a participator not just a gawker. The rest is history now and it is hard to find the words to describe the awesome feelings that come with the experience. It is NOT nearly as awkward as one might expect. As they say location, location, location. Once you get into the flow it seems like the most natural thing you have ever done. All-be-it difficult to imagine actually experiencing such an event while sitting at a desk reading or writing about it. After my first experience when I returned home I found myself asking did I Really just do that? To which I quickly responded Yes, and Im going to do again as soon as I can! While in FL in September I was able to visit both Playalinda & Apollo Beaches. Both are a part of the same National Seashore but are separated by two counties and a nature preserve in between. In February we were on a Caribbean Cruise. One of our ports of call was St. Maarten. You guessed it, HAD to have an afternoon on the beach at Club Orient. Magic! $20 got us two beach loungers & umbrellas for the day. So we left our fellow cruise mates and quickly moved on to what REALLY mattered. It is most unfortunate that more people havent discovered this liberating, life exuberating experience. Most everyone I have met so far has maintained the utmost respect for themselves and the location. Contrary to un-educated opinions, most people who enjoy nudist activities guard this opportunity and for the most part have rather high moral standards, especially regarding proper etiquette and interaction. Risky behavior is not tolerated because they do not want the privilege revoked by some legal interference. I do find it regretful that one must go to such sometimes extreme measures and often remote locations to enjoy and practice something that is so absolutely natural and normal. So much for an enlightened society, right? Finally made the drive to Gunnison Beach on Monday May 18. The temperature was supposed to be in the 70s but turned out to be only in the upper 50s with a foggy, chilling wind off the water. The place was rather deserted. Could not even imagine the view, you are supposed to be able to see parts of the NYC skyline which is about 10 miles away across the bay. But today, the only view was just a misty wall beyond the waters edge. I met on man in the parking lot when I first arrived. I asked him if this was parking lot G since I did not see any signs to identify the location; he confirmed that it was. I found the path across the road and the boardwalk that led through the swamp & onto the Restroom area. Then followed the path that finally led to the beach. It is probably a quarter miles walk from the parking lot to the actual waters edge. Most of it is over loose, dense sand. It was misty & foggy and I hoped I would not get lost in the fog. Just so I could check my 'list' to have actually experienced the Nude part of having been to THIS nude beach, I removed my clothes and walked from the beach back to the Beyond this point You may encounter Nude Sunbathers sign. Not exactly Admiral Peary staking his claim at the North Pole but is WAS a personal triumph! (And after all, it was rather chilly). Made my way back towards the car and met the same man now heading towards the beach. He was very friendly and we exchanged greetings. He was dressed more appropriately for the chilly weather than I & certainly not as one who was going to enjoy a day at the beach. He looked like he could have been any of the Duck Dynasty relatives, complete with the long hair & chest length beard and a cap with the 'Duck Dynasty' logo. We exchanged names; his name is Tim. As I approached my car it seemed as though the fog was lifting & there was a 'hint' of sunshine. I felt a little like the proverbial groundhog, barely seeing his shadow. I decided that since I had made the hour & a half drive that I was going to have a try at sitting Naked on the beach even if it were for just half an hour or so. I got my umbrella and beach mat and headed back to the beach. A few hundred yards from the waters edge I met Tim again. He was sitting in a chair that he found abandoned on the beach & was leaning against some little shed as a shelter from the wind. We began to strike up a conversation. The more we talked the more we enjoyed each others company & we really had a lot in common. He was planning to go for a swim later in the day; I was just hoping to get my time 'au natural' while sitting on the beach. After a while I decided that I was quite chilled, still no sun, and would have to forgo my 'Naked' quest for the today. I finally said "goodbye" to Tim and that "I hoped to see him on a subsequent visit". Unfortunately we did not exchange information, still I do hope to meet up with him again on a future visit. All-in-all it was not a wasted trip. At least I got to see first-hand, the layout of the beach and its features. And I met a wonderful conversationalist in the process. I hope to return soon; on a MUCH warmer, inviting day and be able to enjoy my carefree beach time uninhibited & unrestricted by the limitations we call clothes. - Jay