Pedalpalooza, week one: Rounding up the bike fun

Laughing Planet Cafe is the official sponsor of our 2009 Pedalpalooza Coverage

Streets filled with bikes: a common
sight during Pedalpalooza!
(Photo © J. Maus)

What an amazing week! Portland bike funnists have been outdoing themselves this year, with the biggest Pedalpaloozaever (over 200 events total!)

Team BikePortland has been scrambling trying to cover all the events we can (is this really our job or is it a dream?) — and reports and photos have been rolling in from the community, true to the DIY spirit of the event. Keep an eye on theShift list and the Pedalpalooza twitter account for live updates and discussion.

Below is a selection of reports, photos, rumors, and shout outs that we’ve come across in the past week, in rough chronological order. Share your own links and experiences in the comments.

Oh yeah, and be sure to check out our full Pedalpalooza 2009 coverage for more updates and stories, including a daily ride guide and all the ride reports we can get our hands on.

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Kickoff Parade!
(Photo © J. Maus)

- Before it all began, for the creative and impatient, there was the Pedalpalooza Preview Ride.

- The Kickoff Parade was a good-natured, high-spirited blast — I counted 200 riders, and more were reported later on. Check out our report (including a slideshow and a video), the Bike Temple’s video, andphotos by Carye Bye.

The weekend kicked off with a bang on Friday.

- Jonathan took a tour of the city.

- I tried out unicycling in the rain with a couple dozen other folks.

- Our intern Dan Liu took photos and wrote a report of the Jesus Ride and the Midnight Mystery Ride (over 300 people were rumored to attend the latter).

Saturday was off the handle!

On Parade at the Cirque du Cycling
(Photo © J. Maus)

- Cirque du Cycling was a huge success, with record numbers attending (including about 70 naked riders from the Daytime World Naked Bike Ride).Here’s our full report. There are tons of photos out there — check out some by Dan Liu. Event organizers have set up a Flickr group as well.

- Speaking of the Daytime Nekkid Ride, leader Allan Folz reports that 78 jubilant riders were counted at the halfway point — and several more spontaneously disrobed and joined the ride on the way to the Cirque. Here’s another, more detailed report (misleadingly titled — it’s about the daytime ride).

- The World Naked Bike Ride. So much has been said and written about this that it’s hard to know where to link to. Here’s our report. Someone made three neat time-lapse slideshows. Jim Parsons took some photosand also posted his GPS trace from the ride. Here are some shots from one of our commenters. Every single spectator seemed to have a phone, camera, or camcorder. Google is your oyster here folks.

Story continues below

Sunday was a completely packed day.

- Organizers were thrilled by the turnout of 50 outer-eastside bike afficionados for the Lents Bike Boulevard Ride.

We learned about meditation
at the Dharma Rain Zen Center
on the Joy of Sects Ride.

- Around church-time, the Bike Temple’s Joy of Sects Ride toured various places of worship. Here’s their report, and here’s our slideshow.

- A small but hardy group met up in Beaverton for the Pirate Ride — a success, though “no one brought any rum, and in spite of all the left turns there wasn’t even any port.” Here’s the full report.

- 20 – 30 happy riders splashed around in public fountains while dancing to music from a mobile sound system. Carye Bye tells the story with photos.

- The CRC Protest Ride attracted 80 riders. Here’s our report, and here’s Chris Smith’s write-up on PortlandTransport.

- We’ve heard rumors that the I Heart Photobooths ride was well-attended and tons of fun, but awaiting confirmation and photo scans.

- The Grant Petersen ride seems best summed up thusly.

- The Hands-Free Derby was reportedly a blast.

Monday morning:

The Romance Redux Ride
with special guest Batman
(Photo © Elly Blue)

- The day was kicked off by the 9 intrepid sugar-loving hill-climbers who showed up for the Ridiculously Early Donut Ride.

- Romantics united in the rose gardens of Ladd’s for dramatic readings from paperback romance novels, accompanied by a roving trash trailer and a Batman mask.

- Anarchists and the anarcho-curious assembled briefly for a discussion of situationism before loosely scattering in various spontaneous directions to follow our emergent experiences on the Psychogeographical “Tour” of Portland.These photos tell the story of one of the several splinter groups. Rumor has it that another group turned up at a local bookstore to browse and buy Situationist texts. The rest may still be out there creating a new emotional map of the city.

- The Big Girls Ride was reported to be in trouble — the organizer had the flu. Any word on how/if that went?

- Apparently members of the Dandy Warhols joined in the Dandy Warhol ride on Monday night — who went on that?

We’ll unscientifically bring you the reports that roll in during the next few days. For now, here’s a quick one from this morning’s Slackers Ride.

How’s your Pedalpalooza going?

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Posted on June 16th, 2009 at 4:05 pm. Filed under Front Page,Pedalpalooza 2009, Rides/Events. Feel free to respond.

Possibly related posts

• Pedalpalooza blog launched!
• Pedalpalooza (brought to you by Shift)
• Report: Pornography of the Bicycle
• Volunteer: Distribute Pedalpalooza calendars
• Pedalpalooza Kick Off Parade

http://bikeportland.org/2009/06/16/pedalpalooza-week-one-rounding-up-the-bike-fun/

Nudist resort stirs up residents

 

Nudist resort stirs up residents

 

By Jodie Tillman, Times Staff Writer

In print: Thursday, June 5, 2008

 

Caliente officials say most of the attention stems from its attempt to increase revenue by marketing toward a younger demographic through Web sites, mainstream media ads and monthly theme parties.

 

 

 

 

 

LAND O’LAKES — In this gated community, the theme parties start late, and the invitations alone are enough to upset the neighbors.

“Ladies break out those naughty school girl outfits,” one invitation said. “It’s time to tease your way into those good grades.”

“Party like a rock star,” said another. “Dress like a porn star.”

The neighbors are all nudists who live at Caliente Resort & Spa, Pasco’s upscale, clothing-optional community that attracts thousands of tourists each year and is a full-time home to hundreds of people.

And the parties in question are monthly, sexually charged events put on by an outside “lifestyle,” or swingers, group with Caliente’s blessing — sparking a debate over the nature of nudism, which devotees defend as natural and nonsexualized.

“We don’t want to be thrown in with the whole hedonism thing,” said Doug Butler, president of the association that represents more than 350 single-family homes and condominiums.

Complaints about Caliente’s connection with swingers groups reached the American Association for Nude Recreation, which late last month temporarily suspended the resort from its organization.

Association spokeswoman Carolyn Hawkins confirmed an investigation was under way but would not elaborate on it.

The association, a national organization that requires its club and resorts to be family friendly, could decide as soon as August whether to reinstate Caliente. At risk if Caliente were to lose its membership: marketing assistance, lobbying on nudist issues and discounted membership fees that attract tourists.

Caliente officials chalked the suspension up to a “misunderstanding” about information that was on some third-party Web sites run by swingers groups.

A group called the Swingers Club List, for instance, has Caliente on its Web site as a suggested destination, though swingers gave mixed reactions.

One person who posted on the group’s Web site said Caliente “is all you want it to be … it swings at night and is friendly in the daytime.” Another posting said: “You must be kidding. … We went there and there are children and grandparents. Not what I would call a fun place.”

Caliente management said the resort “has very specific rules to provide a safe naturalist environment for our members and guests. We do not allow public displays of affection in our common areas and this policy is enforced by Caliente security.”

Caliente has no reference to swingers on its Web site, though its marketing director, Angye Fox, is a featured speaker at Swingfest ‘08, the “world’s largest swingers party and adult expo” next month in Hollywood, Fla. Her topic: “Swingers and Nudists Can Coexist!”

Caliente officials say most of the attention stems from its attempt to increase revenue by marketing toward a younger demographic through Web sites, mainstream media ads and monthly theme parties.

Aahz Party Lifestyle Group puts on the “lifestyle” parties. Peter Smith, who runs Aahz’s Web site and has attended the events, said nothing untoward happens there.

“I think they’re trying to make it more of something than it is,” he said of critics. “It’s not that kind of party. You go there and the people are just real sexy.”

He said Caliente benefits because the party guests are more likely to spend money at the club than the residents.

“They want Caliente to be strictly their kind of people,” he said. “The problem is, they don’t want to spend a dime.”

Butler, the homeowner, said he understood why Caliente is trying to reach a younger crowd. But he worries those efforts are cultivating a bad perception — especially on the swingers Web sites that Caliente can’t control.

Perception can be everything, said Arlene Reed, the marketing and activities director for Lake Como, another Pasco nudist resort. She said Lake Como has adults-only parties, but only because there is alcohol. She said she wouldn’t want the parties to take on a sexual nature, and she wouldn’t want to be associated with swingers clubs.

“What goes on behind closed doors is their business,” she said. “But in the public eye, we don’t associate with it or promote it.”

Pasco officials recently got an anonymous complaint about swingers parties at private homes at Caliente, said County Commissioner Pat Mulieri. She questioned what the county could do if the parties aren’t in a public place. Still, she said she hoped that Caliente tamped down the sexually themed parties, given that the county promotes its nudist resorts to tourists.

“I don’t blame the people who live there,” she said. “There are million-dollar homes out there. Why would they want to jeopardize that? I just think it puts kind of a black eye on the place. I’ve always said, ‘Nude isn’t lewd.’ “

Smith, with the Aahz party group, said the parties aren’t lewd, either.”Ninety percent of the lifestyle people that go there are dressed,” he said. “The nudists are the ones who go there naked.”

 

 

Jodie Tillman can be reached at jtillman@sptimes.com or (727) 869-6247.

 

[Last modified: Jun 05, 2008 12:50 AM]

 

 <http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/article607872.ece>

Naturist park going off in NZ tourism awards

 03.06.2008

 

By Graham Skellern

 

A Katikati holiday park is living up to tourism’s 100% Pure New Zealand branding.

The guests, from overseas and around the country, wear no clothes during their stay _ mind you, they will put on a top if they are getting sunburnt or the weather turns chilly.

Katikati Naturist Park in Wharawhara Rd has been named as one of 29 national tourism awards finalists, and will contest the visitor accommodation category along with six other operators.

The naturist park, run by owners Kevin and Joan Sampson, is joined by Waihi Beach Top 10 Holiday Park, boutique operator Stafford Villa in Auckland, budget hotel Nomads Capital in Wellington, and upmarket hotels and resorts Grand Mercure St Moritz in Queenstown, Holiday Inn Wellington and The Langham, Auckland.

 

 

The Sampsons, who opened the 3.5ha park more than 12 years ago, are delighted to be among such distinguished company. “Over the years we’ve had positive feedback from our customers and we’ve tried to run the park in a professional way,” said Mr Sampson, a former Treasury economist.

“We’ve sunk a lot of money in the property, and we wanted to see how we stacked up against other operators,” he said.

The park has chalet and cabin accommodation, and sites available for camping, caravans and motor homes.

In the financial year ending March 31, the Sampsons hosted more than 3000 visitors, representing 13,000 guest nights. They have had visitors from 17 countries, staying an average of four nights, and can accommodate up to 200 people at one time, particularly in the busy January and February summer months.

Mr Sampson said the national judging process was very rigorous. They sent off a six-page expression of interest in February and after being accepted in to the second round, they then had to fill out a 26-page document detailing their business.

The national finalists were named at Tourism Rendezvous New Zealand (Trenz) in Rotorua, and two judges will make a three-hour site visit to Katikati within a fortnight. The winners will be announced at a Tourism Industry Association NZ gala dinner in Christchurch on August 5.

Waihi Beach Top 10 Holiday Park, operated by Ian and Vicki Smith, was last year named the best holiday park in the country _ but this time the Smiths have competition from the naturists just down the road.

Whakatane-based White Island Tours is also a national finalist, for the second year running, in the visitor activities and attractions category.

The coastal Bay of Plenty region has an unprecedented three national finalists, the same as Destination Rotorua.

Tim Burgess, general manager of Tauranga-based Tourism Bay of Plenty, said that having three finalists was “`massive. Those businesses are judged against the very best in New Zealand _ they are not soft awards.”

He said the finalists helped give the region a national profile.

 

 <http://www.bayofplentytimes.co.nz/localnews/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3774474&thesection=localnews&thesubsection=&thesecondsubsection=>

Say hello to tan lines — San Onofre’s nude beach is about to be busted

L.A. Now

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Southern California — this just in

3:11 PM, May 30, 2008

Clothing-optional for decades, the nude beach at San Onofre is about to get a visit from the (fully-dressed, we’re betting) law. The O.C. Register has the skinny:

Trail 6 is a secluded area abutting Camp Pendleton property where beachgoers can let it all hang out – literally. The 1,000-foot beach, one of few “clothing-optional” beaches – with a lax approach to nudity, has been a safe haven for “naturists” for decades.

That might change in the next month, as the state sets out to crack down on nudity at the beach, in a move that has some longtime locals fuming and worrying about where they’ll go. State Parks will start an educational period Sunday, warning beachgoers of the change, and start citing July 1, officials said.

What’s a nudist to do? Some answers here. (And yes, there’s a naked derriere on the site.) And the photo? It’s of Peter J. McConville, au natural in the 1940s, as befitting the founder of SoCal’s first nudist resort near Lake Elsinore.

– Veronique de Turenne

Archival photo: Los Angeles Times