Blue Hills and Red Cliffs

I came across a great online article on the Blue Hills, where Joe and I frequently take walks on the weekend. The vast, wooded reservation is full of trails and hills, some of which offer amazing views of Boston and Dorchester Bay and the surrounding area. Check out the link, which outlines some of the most noteworthy points of interest.

Also, Boston.com has created a cool interactive New England beach guide, which lists some of the region’s best beaches, and Moshup Beach at Aquinnah (Gay Head) on Martha’s Vineyard was designated the best beach for nude bathing:

New England is skimpy when it comes to clothing-optional beaches, but among the few, the unofficially nude area of Moshup Beach in Aquinnah on Martha’s Vineyard is tops, with warmer water than other island beaches. And it’s small enough that it doesn’t draw crowds. Just be sure to cover up as you walk to and from the nudity-friendly areas near the cliffs marbled with clay; the other side of the beach attracts fully clothed families. There is parking for nonresidents, but it’s limited, whether you’re naked or not.

Fortunately, most people would rather spend their weekend at the mall or in front of the television than hiking the Blue Hills, which is fine because the solitude is lovely. The past few times Joe and I have been there, we’ve come across maybe one other person. And as for Gay Head, Martha’s Vineyard isn’t exactly easy to get to. Once you’re on the island, moreover, Aquinnah is one of the more remote spots, and there are more accessible beaches than Moshup, which serves to thin out the crowds. In other words, the challenge involved in getting there means it’s never overrun with tourists or gawkers, though every summer Joe inevitably laments that there are fewer naked people and more swimsuits. I don’t see the swimsuits trying to reclaim the beach, but Joe often detects a conspiracy of prudes where I don’t (of course, in the case of Cummington Beach, there actually was such a conspiracy). That said, we wouldn’t mind seeing a few more hot guys enjoying the surf at Gay Head in the buff.

Anyway, to me it doesn’t matter. As long as the Wampanoag permit us to swim naked and stroll beneath the cliffs wearing nothing but a strand of seagrass tied around our waists, we’ll do it, even if we’re the only ones.