[Davidavin]

After having spent a couple days now reviewing my own pics and web pics in general, I've come to the conclusion that this years ride was quite good for beautiful, innocent, and in many cases, lightly painted girls. Less conspicuous this year were the more elaborately painted, themed groups, eager to pose. This is a trend that I think I noted over the past few years. On the face of it, I don't quite understand why the more exhibitionist, highly painted girls are fewer. Thats because from 2007-2012 or so they seemed to be on the rise. But on the other hand it could be that they have just leveled off, spread themselves thin in Gaswork Park, and I'm not aware of them as much. I recall in 2011, a rainy day and not really a naked one inside Gaswork, how themed girl groups were lined up along a fence outside the park, almost like in a reviewing stand. So they were more concentrated back then. That was where most riders posed - outside the entrance to Gaswork. it was crowded and very productive pic wise. This year I waited for a similar concentration of posers near the concrete pillars that line the park opposite the restrooms. Nothing much came of that compared to 2013 and 2014. And also compared to 2011, the shyer girls now spread out into the park instead of dressing quickly outside the entrance to escape the cameras. Its good that they don't dress right away and feel comfortable hanging out naked in the park. Most now sit quietly with friends. Fewer this year were up and around, playing frisbee, etc. But compared to 2006-2011 - the number of naked lingerers in Gaswork is huge. I definitely ain't complaining....sure they're more dispersed, but they're there and they're staying naked for hours!

Also today, I checked with a Flickr friend of mine, and we agreed that riders this year split at the fork leading to the west entrance, and good numbers went right (towards that west entrance) instead of left. This meant that I missed many girl's entirely as I was stationed at the east entrance. Also this year, at the bottom of Kite Hill, there was a riders-only refreshment stand, and it seems to have offered a really good place for people to relax and pose - those that came in through the west entrance anyway.

I know I'm waxing on a bit, so maybe I'll get back to talking about the girls. They're nearer the water now, not hanging around so much at the entrance. and there is NO shortage of innocent, first timers. They are innocent but tech and camera savvy, and not afraid to interact with photographers or let them know its not OK to snap. OK, I can take it. In fact, I have a little story to tell about an encounter that I had with a beautiful young couple, probable first timers. Read on..

They were seated on kite hill about half way up. She was topless and had breathtaking, full breasts. And so as I INNOCENTLY walked by them at one point, the girl asked me if I could snap their pic using their iPhone. "SURE" I said gleefully, and she handed it to me, then struck up a great pose next to her BF with her breasts fully exposed. Wow!
I took the pic, then got wrapped up in the moment and asked if I could now take a pic with my own camera. They agreed, but guess what happened THIS TIME? heh, heh........OK, so I raise my camera and as I'm looking through the viewfinder, I see that the girl has now moved closer to her BF, pressed her boobs hard against his back, and completely hidden them from view. So thats the state of affairs these days, I guess. Nudity for me and my friends, not for you. We know this goes on more and more at these events, and its OK. That delicate balance between rider and photographer is constantly changing, little by little every year. But I'm just glad that the girls, especially the first timers, are still really eager to come down and ride. The rest of us in attendance should just be grateful that they are there at all, and accommodating to their wishes whatever they may be..

KLondike