went to horseshoe curve

[Absaroka]

Last week, work being slow, I did something I've wanted to do for a long time. Got in the car and drove to Horseshoe Curve in Pennsylvania.

I drove most of the way mostly as my femme side, Zari. It was a beautiful warm autumn day and the feel of the wind on my shoulders over the camisole straps was deeply sensual, even romantic, much more so than if I was wearing my usual guy sleeveless tee or if I was shirtless. Not quite sure why. Stopping for coffee or when I got to my destination I simply stopped at a highway rest stop first, walked into the woods, and very discretely put on a pair of jeans. Into the woods walked Zari and out walked Andy. It's amazing what people really don't notice. I was really extremely circumspect and careful in doing this-I've had enough friends who either used to turn tricks at rest stops or who were arrested for patronizing an undercover cop at these places to know that one must be aware.....

I camped at a local state park. After a truly embarrassingly difficult time starting a fire (Andy can make a fire in the rain with one match but that requires patience which Zari did not exercise because it was such a warm beautiful evening) I sat by the fire till about 8:30 in my skirt, leggings, and sweater but I got lonely. Since Zari is sooo antisocial I lost the breast forms, put on a pair of jeans, and let Andy visit the campground host and sit by their fire. Then I came back and Zari sat by the fire listening to an owl and a couple of coyotes for a very long time before she went to bed.

There was no one else in the park. Splendidly, beautifully, peacefully and terrifyingly alone all at once.

Woke up in my slip, leggings, and sweater. Something I've wanted to do since I started this, sleep in my sleeping bag outside as Zari. Threw on my camping skirt and bra, (do GG's sleep in their bra when they go winter camping? how gross..at least it was warm enough to change comfortably) made bfast, walked around. Then Andy put his jeans back on, lost the bra and forms, and we went to Horseshoe Curve and sat in a peaceful rain for 4 hours (unisex rain gear) watching the trains, making coffee on my stove and in general having the time of my life. The couple at the next picnic table had come all the way from New Mexico to sit in the rain and watch trains. I thought of asking why they didn't just go to Tehachapi Loop but it seemed rude and I figured they'd done that too.

Eventually I went to the museum in Altoona, and for train buffs, it's a great one. Then Zari drove home. By now it was night and raining. every rest stop I'd get out and walk around, twirling around in my skirt, and thinking about how folks at the other end of the rest stop, in the dark and in the rain, just weren't paying attention. Did the McDonalds drive through and noone noticed either.

Here's some thing I've sort of known all along but realized more strongly. Except for the breast forms and skirt, most of my clothing actually could pass for unisex. Add in the beard and most people don't pay any attention to the man with slightly unusual clothing. Of course this is in jeans and top. Most of the trip was spent as a combination of Andy and Zari.

Okay here's the best part of all. This is the first time I've gone camping since I developed all my knee, back, and thyroid problems a few years ago. All that work at the gym and physical therapy and weight loss and everything else really paid off, because when I woke up in the morning after sleeping on the ground, my back in particular felt unusually good. And that was what really made my day/week/ month.

I realized just how much weight I'd lost when I looked at the pictures I got other people to take of the Andy/Zari combination. Also admiring Zari's willowy sillouhette under the streetlight in the rain as she wandered about relaxing her knees from the drive.

I realize that the other folks here might think that going to a club or out to eat or shop is more befitting a lady than wandering around in the rain watching trains. But I never said Zari was ladylike.

Zari

[KimberlyS]

...I realize that the other folks here might think that going to a club or out to eat or shop is more befitting a lady than wandering around in the rain watching trains. But I never said Zari was ladylike.

Who a said CDing had to be lady like. If that is the way you need to CD go for it. IMHO as long as you are doing anything illegal, hurting anyone physically or putting on an xrated show in public, CD the way you want to.

For me CDing is feminine need and aligning my feminine feelings with the clothes that society says they should be wearing. This coming from someone that loves to CD at the lumber and hardware stores. I may need to try camping sometime.

.... most people don't pay any attention to the man with slightly unusual clothing.

I will very much so agree with you on this one. At times when I am away from home and those that may know my family I will even mix attire. It is surprising people that do not notice or care seeing a guy in a more feminine top, bra, forms and maybe other feminine attire.


kimberlys-cd
joe in a skirt

[April Rose]

Zari; Is that the place where the trains curve around a flat basin of farmland that was once owned by Marie Antoinette? I think I may have been there once, on a motorcycle trip, years ago.

[Anita]

I really enjoyed that post, Zari, for several reasons. One is that I like tales of fun while CDing, and the other part is that I love trains. I've not been to Horseshoe Curve, but I'm still hoping to get to Foster, Ohio, where three main lines intersect.

I'm glad to hear that the weight loss and exercise etc. all paid off for you. It must be great to enjoy camping again.

[Absaroka]

There is a lot of farm land around, but they curve around a notch in the mountains and in the lowlands there are now two reservoirs which have probably been there a long time. It didn't say anything about Marie Antoinette. That would have been a couple of hundred years ago I think..

Yes Anita the camping was great.

I wish I'd done this 30 years ago, before mixed freights were replaced by unit coal trains and TOFCs, although that part of the country probably always had unit coal trains.

zari

[Virginia]

I loved reading your post! You can make it sound like we were right there with you.

Pennsylvania has some interesting train track locations, as mountainous as it is and the coal makes for some neat twists and turns.

OH, I have to tell this, as in another life, I had to travel Pennsylvania. I came around a very sharp turn on a two lane road and nearly plowed into a very full logging truck which was going uphill very, very slow. I nearly impaled my windshield on a rather large pine tree sticking out the back of the truck, but what really caught my attention was a "bumper sticker" on the frame of the truck! "Don't like loggers?! Try wiping with a woodpecker!" Tears were rolling out of my eyes I was laughing so hard.

Camp on Zari!

Love ya,

Virginia

[Rachel MacLaren]

Wow, I'd love to get to horseshoe curve. I've read about it for years and am an avid railfan myself.
I do love camping too and once, in Virginia near the Washington area
I was in my tent when the ranger came knocking to see if I had paid my fee.
I had to ask him to wait while I put boy clothes over my nightgown.
Last evening my wife and I went to the Carolina theater to see 'Phantom of the Opera'. It's a beautiful building, built in 1927 and we sat front row in the balcony. I wore violet ladies slacks and white top with three quarter length sleeves. I wore my black low heel shoes with small bows on the straps and knee high stockings with the appropriate under things. A guy set down just 2 seats away and I wondered what he must think until I saw that he was wearing light blue shoes.
Be Well
Rachel

[Absaroka]

One of the reasons I posted here is that CDers for some reason are often railfans. I think more than anything else it has to do with our inner child, or some similar psychobabble. We still have that 8 year old sense of wonder which is a good thing.

I was also reminded of how on this trip I was sitting at the picnic table by my tent when the park ranger drove up to make sure I was the guy who had put the money in the honor slot the night before. I was in my camping skirt, sweater, and had the forms in. As he sat in his car for a moment doing something I slipped the forms out and pulled on my jeans over the skirt. I'm sure he saw me at least putting on my pants although removing the forms was done unobstusively. I thought about why I did it afterwards. Remember that with my beard I don't look like I'm even trying to pass. One good reason is avoiding negative interactions with law enforcement people far from home. The other, because I didn't think anything would happen, is that I really didn't want to make him uncomfortable. Although I also would have been uncomfortable.

What was interesting was I was not panic stricken as he drove up. Something is changing. I seriously considered just removing the forms and talking to him in the camping skirt, which would I think have been far less jarring than the forms.

Zari