went to horseshoe curve
Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 9:08 am
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
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