

The guy turned out to be with the Magic Circle Society, and he invited me to come and camp or just sunbathe anytime I wanted. “The Quartzsite nudist colony! I’m only wearin’ this T shirt ’cause I got sunburnt the other day.” “This is the Magic Circle!” He waved around the area. “Well, just be careful where you point that camera.” He chuckled. “Hello! Can I help you?” he said, like some kind of authority figure. He held down the bottom of his T shirt with both hands, like a shy teenage girl at a slumber party, grinning. One of the RVers I passed walked towards me. I circled the circle, trying for a good angle. I climbed out of the truck, camera in hand. I picked my way across a dry wash, waved at the few remaining RVers … and there it was! A maze made of carefully stacked volcanic rock and adorned with multicolored jewels. In January 2001 Naturists at the Magic Circle at Quartzsite Arizona marked 10. I found a sign, Magic Circle…and then another that said ‘Attention – Beyond this sign you may encounter nude sunbathers.’ One guest was aboard from the start another was picked up in Phoenix. I grabbed my camera, jumped in the truck and off I went. Magic Circle? Sounds right for a maze made of rocks. Go past the water station and look for signs on the right.”

“The Magic Circle is what you’re looking for. I mentioned it to an RVer camped near me on the BLM camping area. ‘Hey – need a pic of a labyrinth for a photo illustration. Winter was nearly over in Quartzsite when I received a request from my editor in Idaho where I worked summers as a reporter.
