Thread: Bit of a red-letter #nakedhike this evening. My regular Quantock Hills stomping grounds. Wooded path, beautifully serene. Round a corner. Mum and two kids. 1/

My logic has always been, if there& #39;s time and distance and folks approaching haven& #39;t seen me: slip on the shorts, but this was last minute, and any cover up now was going to look sudden, and a bit dodgy. Smile and hello it was going to be. New territory. 2/

We see each other and I smile and I know she& #39;s going to stop me. I don& #39;t get as far as a hello because straight away asks...for directions! Phew! So we chat about the route and how to get back up the valley. 3/

At this point I notice that the two primary aged kids (2 metres away of course) are facing -away- from me. The mum is smiling and chatting, but at first thought it appears the mum had told them to turn around. 3/

We finish the chat and we start to part company. All is positive and then right at the last minute she says, "sorry about them..." pointing to the kids. I had to follow up... "You know they don& #39;t need to do that." And she says "yes I& #39;m not sure why I did that". Interesting! 5/

I continue on and I get a final reaction from the kids....LOTS of giggles. And giggles are FINE https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😁" title="Grinning face with smiling eyes" aria-label="Emoji: Grinning face with smiling eyes"> That& #39;s what we love about kids. No harm or distress, just a laugh at a naked man with backpack in the woods. And why not! The human body is funny looking...mine more than many https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🤭" title="Face with hand over mouth" aria-label="Emoji: Face with hand over mouth"> 6/

But the mums instinct and then apology...to me...was very revealing. Her split second decision was to protect...something...and then she realised that she didn& #39;t really know what! For a first ever stroll past a family naked, it was definitely an encounter I& #39;ll remember https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="☺️" title="Smiling face" aria-label="Emoji: Smiling face"> 7/