12/99

I have occasionally seen topfree women at the beach at Hueston Woods State Park (or Acton Lake as some call it) for several years. Most of the sunbathers are from Miami University in nearby Oxford, Ohio, although some come from Indiana where even thongs are illegal. I've seen some of the college guys really harass women wearing thongs, but if a woman goes topfree, the guys seem to be a lot more respectful, even if the women are wearing just a thong bottom. They rent pontoon boats at Acton Lake, and once Traci and I rented one for a day. We brought along Traci's half-sister and her uncle and aunt. The aunt and uncle just about fell overboard when Traci took off her shirt, announcing that she would be going topfree the rest of the day. After a few minutes of awkwardness, some of it caused when I stripped down to just my thong, the others relaxed and didn't act any different towards Traci than they would have if she had been wearing a top. Several other boaters came along and a few stopped along side to chat or toss us some beers, but everyone was cool. At one point the ranger came over on his boat to make sure we weren't fishing, and he assured Traci's aunt that topfree was perfectly legal. Traci's half sister took off her top after the ranger left. Later as we drove home, she admitted that after she got used to being topfree, she really became comfortable, and wondered what the big deal about wearing tops was. Traci's half sister who is now almost as in to topfreedom as Traci is, and occasionally we go to the beach together. Topfree boating at Acton Lake is fairly common still, and topfree beach use is becoming more popular every season.

--Randy, Ohio