8/01

We frequently canoe the section of the James River from Buchanan to Arcadia. This trip along the river is about six miles long. There is a mix of mild rapids and flat water. At a comfortable pace, and a little fishing thrown in, the trip takes about five or six hours. There are plenty of places to stop and tan on the sandy/pebble beaches. Once the trip starts, passing under the Route 11 bridge, I remove my top for the rest of the trip. I have spent the entire trip topfree. We even loaded the canoes back onto the truck at the Arcadia bridge while still topfree! There have been no problems in three years of doing this. We have passed swimmers, fishermen on the bank, others canoeing, without any hassles. We have seen other topfree women wading in the water just down from the bridge. The Virginia State code changed two years ago, removing the "bare breast" language from the law. This was done quietly, but topfreedom is slow to catch on here.

--Sheri, Roanoke, Virginia

12/00

The only place I have been able to find in Virginia to go topless or thong only is along the James River in Surry County. The wife and I usually take a boat out , and just lay out on it. There are ships and barges that will come by every so often but have had no problems with that.

--Rob, Virginia