2016 Fall Issue

Biking in NC. Enjoy the Ride. North Carolina cycling.

With nine designated routes spanning 3,000 miles, the NC Bikeways system has NC covered. Biking in NC.

By Jamie Penn. Previously published in the 2016 Fall Issue.

North Carolina is one of those states in which it’s really hard to sit at home. Famous for having it all, the elixir of thick salt spray, fresh mountain air, and the buzzing hum of the piedmont-centered, University-centric towns (Chapel Hill, Raleigh, Durham, Winston-Salem) teeming with activity, art, and culture cancel out a good chunk of couch time for the adventurous or curious at heart.

Topographical variation abounds here, from mountains to piedmont to sea. North Carolina cyclists and state officials have taken full advantage of all the sights and experiences North Carolina boasts along the way by working together to map out nine independent bike routes totaling 3,000 miles of well-marked bike lanes. Routes are all strategically spotted with ‘Share the Road’ signs and small green rectangles notating ‘Two-Wheelers Only’ lanes.

There’s nothing like being a part of the scene you’re passing through. And cycling along under a creamy, burnt-orange sky at sunset from a sweet downtown B&B to a sea oats-lined beach access, or zipping along the Blue Ridge Parkway in October through colors that rival a Kandinsky painting is sure to invoke unrivaled visceral pleasure.

No Lycra? No worries. North Carolina routes are designed for both the beginner and the experienced cyclist, ranging from 120 miles to 700 miles in distance at various elevations. Cycling somewhere in this great state, no matter how far you decide to go, what kind of bike you have, or how equipped you are, is the point here.

Lisa Edwards (pictured below), three-time cross-country cyclist and long time North Carolina resident, first recommends just starting, and then, starting slowly.

“Wilmington is probably the best place to start in North Carolina. It’s flat, for one. But, so are the Outer Banks. The wind is just so fierce in the Outer Banks. And it’s not like that in Wilmington. You may have some wind, but you’re going to get relief one direction or the other.”

And the great thing about starting in Wilmington is that you’re starting in one of the most beautiful spots in North Carolina. The river to sea bikeway is your best bet here. It’s a well-marked, 20-mile route starting at Riverfront Park in downtown Wilmington and ending at Johnnie Mercer’s Pier in Wrightsville Beach.

There are many shorter treks, many of which incorporate designated routes in and around North Carolina cities, which is how Edwards started her cycling journey—the Outer Banks being one of her favorite (if more challenging) trips.

“You’ve got to start small,” she says, “then keep branching out.” And pretty soon, you could find yourself, as Edwards did, traversing the state in segments, en route from Manteo, in the northern potion of the Outer Banks, to Murphy, in the southwestern corner of the state—roughly 700 miles from point to point.

Edwards says that touring North Carolina and elsewhere has changed her life for the better since she started cycling seriously in 2003. The greatest gift, she says, has been a renewed faith in humanity.

“One of my favorite things about touring is the people,” she says. “I’m constantly reminded that there are so many good people in the world. The hospitality and the kindness of random strangers continues to blow me away.”

One of many such stories was her North Carolina loop trip with a couple of friends. They rode into Bath, NC, in the northeastern part of the state, while cycling a section of the NC-designated Ports of Call route one evening looking for a place to stay when they happened upon some parishioners at St. Clair Church of Christ. Before they knew it, they found themselves at a potluck dinner at a small church festival, and later, inside sleeping in the cozy church quarters.

Bath is just one of the charming coastal towns boasting good people on the Ports of Call route. From Edenton and Bath, to history-rich New Bern, Wilmington, and the quaint fishing village of Southport, a leg or two of this 300-mile ride is so worth it.

If you decide to explore Bath, near the mouth of the Pamlico River, it won’t take long. It’s less than a square mile in size—a tiny, but super-pretty spot on the map. Cycling to New Bern is a trek, with the Aurora-Bayview ferry ride across the Pamlico, so plan to arrive late, and consider staying at one of Pollock Street’s many charming B&Bs. After a hearty breakfast and a stroll downtown where the Trent and Neuse rivers meet, a quick ride (or walk along the Riverwalk) to the majestic Tryon Palace is recommended. It’s a historic site not to be missed if you’re in the area.

The trip from Maysville, at the edge of the gorgeous Croatan National Forest (great campgrounds for those super-adventurous, tent-packing cyclists), to Wilmington and then on to Southport is one pretty back road after the next, flanked with farms, pine forests, and small, Southern towns.

Extending the trip from Wilmington to Southport via the Fort Fisher Ferry is a borderline must. Dinner at Provision Company at the docks in Southport is all ambiance in this quintessential fishing village. If you have time to spare, the ferry ride to Bald Head Island will take you to a sanctuary of natural beauty, with no gas-powered vehicles allowed. Warning: jumping on a sail boat, paddle board, or kayak could occur at any moment here, so give yourself a little time to explore.

Another popular route, one of which Edwards has taken advantage of, is the Southern Highlands route. But, it’s not for the faint at heart.

While Edwards started small 14 years ago, cycling is now her life. She has more bicycles in her living room than furniture, and rarely gets in a car. Three of her four children have cycled across the country with her, and she has worked in a bike shop for 13 years. So, needless to say, she knows her stuff and a little elevation doesn’t scare her.

The Southern Highlands route is all Blue Ridge mountains at varying degrees, starting in one of Edwards’ favorite places, Brevard, NC. The good news is, its mostly downhill from there to Lincolnton, 120 miles away.

“I love waterfalls,” Edwards says. So, she’s in heaven on the section of this route that runs through Pisgah National Forest to Brevard. Looking Glass Falls is definitely the most popular, but there are dozens just a quick hike away from where you park your bike at trailheads.

The mountains to sea trail, running through the northern section of the Blue Ridge, is Edwards’ favorite mountain route, where she and her husband, Robert, have taken time out for hiking, whitewater rafting on the French Broad, and daytrips to places like Cashiers and Franklin. When she’s not on the Blue Ridge, she’s dreaming about it.

Edwards is a diehard camper and an on-the-trail chef, but she and Robert have been known to treat themselves to a B&B or two. She highly recommends the Big Lynn Lodge in Little Switzerland just off the Blue Ridge Parkway.

“Sometimes you just need some pampering,” she notes.

Given that Edwards is a paniers-toting (bags that attach to the bike), tent-carrying, MSR Simmer Lite stove-cooking, gear-heavy cyclist, she has spent tons of time in state parks and has found that they don’t have to be in the mountains to be breathtaking.

“It’s kind of surprising, but Umstead State Park in Raleigh is really gorgeous,” she says. The Mountains to Sea route runs through it, and cycling the walking/bike trail (the Greenway trail) that runs through the park, Edwards says, is a must.

There’s so much to explore, culturally and otherwise, in the Triangle area. So, if you’re up for roughing it at the William B. Umstead State Park campground, go for it. If not, there are tons of B&B options in the area.

Again, you don’t have to be a gear-head or have a bike like Edwards (a custom Litespeed® touring bike) to ride these routes, but spending some time at a bike shop and chatting up someone like Edwards is always a great move. And while North Carolina routes are bike-friendly, err on the cautious side by throwing in your Niterider® front and rear lights, and your Take a Look® mirror for your glasses. For more information on how to do it Edwards-style, check out crazyguyonabike.com and the cyclists-hosting-cyclists social site, warmshowers.org for places to crash or tent-camp along the way.

The most important thing to remember when biking North Carolina, no matter how or where you decide to do it, is to lean in and enjoy the ride.

You Can  Teach an Old(er) Brain New Tricks. How to keep your Brain healthy.

By Jan Cullinane. Previously published in the 2016 Fall Issue.

Old Thinking: Crossword puzzles and Sudoku are great for our brain, perhaps staving off dementia.

New Thinking: Crossword puzzles and Sudoku make us better at crossword puzzles and Sudoku.

Old Thinking: We cannot produce more brain neurons (nerve cells) or connections among brain cells. Our brains are static.

New Thinking: Our brain continues to make new nerve cells throughout our lives in the part of the brain called the hippocampus, which is involved in memory, learning, mood, and emotions. And our brain can re-organize itself, creating new pathways and connections among brain cells.

According to the Alzheimer’s Organization, one in nine people in the United States over the age of 65 have Alzheimer’s disease, and about a third of people aged 85 and older do. Armed with this newer research that our brain can make new neurons and new connections, what can we do to help save our brain?

What Hurts

First, let’s talk about what hinders the creation of nerve cells (called neurogenesis) in the brain. Aging (can’t do much about that one—starting around the age of 40, we lose about 5 percent of our brain volume/weight every decade). Chronic stress, not getting enough sleep, diets high in saturated fat, and excessive alcohol consumption have a negative effect on cranking out those new brain cells.

What Helps

Eating and Drinking:

• Moderate wine or beer consumption
• Dark chocolate with at least 70 percent cacao
• Antioxidants in fruits and vegetables (such as those found in blueberries, apples, strawberries, broccoli, and grapes) and in herbs and spices (think oregano, turmeric, thyme, and rosemary)
• Omega 3 fatty acids (e.g. salmon, tuna, edamame, olive oil, walnuts, pecans, and macadamia nuts)
• Cutting your calories by 20 to 30 percent (that one doesn’t sound too fun to me!)

Moving: Aerobic exercise (including brisk walking) is the winner as far as exercise is concerned. Not to say that weight-lifting or interval-training isn’t good, but the research points to aerobic exercise as the best bet when we’re talking about neurogenesis.

Thinking: Here, novelty is what counts. Get your brain humming by learning a new language, sport, game, or instrument; by traveling to an unfamiliar place; by reading about a subject that is outside of your normal wheelhouse; by creating a new recipe; or by attending a play or lecture that really makes you think. In other words, take yourself off auto-pilot and challenge yourself.

Sex: Need I say more?

I do want to point out that most of this new research about neurogenesis involves experiments on rats. Although we obviously look different, rats and humans have the same organs and organ systems which function in a very similar fashion. Rats are mammals like us, and their brains are built like ours, although of course on a smaller scale. Rats are a good model for manipulating exercise, novelty, food, sex, and the environment and applying the results of the research to us. And when the research is complete, their brains can be studied and the number of new brain cells counted. (That wouldn’t work so well in humans.)

Can we build a better brain? The answer appears to be yes, so let’s start integrating some of these concrete suggestions to grow more brain cells today.

Jan Cullinane is an award-winning retirement author, speaker, and consultant. Her current book is The Single Woman’s Guide to Retirement (AARP/Wiley).

Utah Might 5. National Park. parks.

by JG Walker. Recently published in the Fall 2016 Magazine.

“The Mighty 5” isn’t a new action hero movie that the grandkids are clamoring to see. It’s the muscular nickname for an awe-inspiring collection of five national parks in southern Utah that will have you and the grands gasping in delight. Luckily for us all, some of the most unique natural monuments and spectacular high-desert vistas to be found anywhere in the world have been protected here for current and future generations to enjoy.

All of The Mighty 5 National Parks of Utah have on-site campgrounds, and some have guest lodges located within the parks. Each has its own Junior Ranger program designed to inspire and educate kids of all ages about the region’s geology, flora and fauna, as well as its human history from the original Native American inhabitants to the hardy frontier pioneers who settled, but never tamed, this beautifully wild land.

So whether you’re thinking about an autumn adventure with the grandkids this year or planning ahead to the spring and summer vacation seasons in 2017, don’t overlook Utah’s Mighty Five.

Arches National Park

Arches National Park is home to more than 2,000 rock arches and pinnacles that have been carved from the native sandstone by wind and rain over millions of years. The park features 14 trails that range from easy 20-minute walks to challenging hikes of more than seven miles of sculpted landscape.

Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon National Park features a rich diversity of scenic wonders, from geologic highlights like “Thor’s Hammer” and “The Amphitheater” to pocket canyons that serve as an unspoiled habitat for Pronghorn antelopes, prairie dogs, and eagles. The ranger-guided programs include spectacular hikes along the Rim Trail and special evening explorations beneath the starry skies.

Canyonlands National Park

Canyonlands National Park has more than 300,000 acres of buttes and valleys carved by the Green and Colorado river systems. The Native American rock art panels in Horseshoe Canyon and river rafting beneath soaring rock formations are but two of the park’s highlights.

Capitol Reef National Park

Capitol Reef National Park offers more than 200 miles of hiking trails and off-road vehicular tours that take you to the park’s most photogenic sites. Rock climbing, bicycle tour, and horseback excursions are among the other activities that visitors can enjoy.

Zion National Park

Zion National Park is 230 square miles of scenic delight that includes colorful mountainsides and vibrant hidden ecosystems. Take the ranger-guided hike on the Zion Narrows Trail along the Virgin River or view the park’s wonders from the comfort of your car on the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive and the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway.

All of “The Mighty Five” are managed by the National Park Service, and you can find out more about them at NPS.gov/Utah. The state’s official tourism website—VisitUtah.com—is another great resource for planning your trip, with information about other area attractions and weather conditions, plus links to a variety of accommodations choices near the parks in friendly southern Utah towns like Moab, Cedar City, and St. George.

Little-Known Tips for Success

By Jan Cullinane. Previously published in the 2016 Fall Issue.

Congratulations! You’ve decided to pick up stakes and relocate. Perhaps your peer group has moved away, or you are divorced or widowed and your current community no longer fits your social or financial needs. You may long for a warmer climate, or you want your living quarters on a single level. Whatever the reason for the move, the FOR SALE sign is going up. As a single looking to relocate, you are not alone. In 2015, according to the National Association of Realtors, single women purchased 15 percent of homes in the United States and single men purchased 9 percent of homes. So, singles are very active in the real estate market.

We’ve all heard the basics for selling your house: remove clutter; make sure it’s squeaky-clean and has “curb appeal;” depersonalize it so people can envision it as their home; update/slap on fresh paint if necessary; ensure everything is in good working order; price it right; hide signs of pets; and ask a friend if your home passes the “smell” test.

But following are three lesser-known tips to help you sell your house.

Know Who Decides
It’s women who are the driving force of home purchases, influencing or deciding which home to purchase an astounding 91 percent of the time. Takeaway: you need to be sure that your home will appeal to women.

Research indicates women look for storage (think partitioned drawers in the bedroom for makeup, kitchen pantries to hide small appliances, and customized closets that make organizing effortless); flexibility (having a room that could also be used as an exercise room, craft room, or office); security (outdoor lighting, security systems); flow (for entertaining and informal conversations); low maintenance (high efficiency windows and appliances): and retreat (places to relax and unwind).

Before putting your home up for sale, consider these areas, and implement where possible to appeal to women who largely wield the decision-making power.

Picture Perfect
Nine out of 10 people use the Internet when searching for a home. Therefore, online photos of your home are critical. But, in addition to the quality, the number of pictures makes a difference as well. According to StreetEasy, a NY Real Estate Company, there is a “sweet spot:” 11 to 14 good online pictures. Listings with photos within this magic range have six times as many contacts (defined as a potential buyer contacting an agent) as listings without any pictures. In contrast, one to three photos makes it only twice as likely a contact will happen and four to 10 pictures makes it five times more likely (again, compared to having zero pictures). Don’t go over 15 photos: StreetEasy’s research shows the number of agent contacts starts to decline over 15 photos, possibly because of viewer fatigue.

Virtual Staging
You’ve heard of staging, where a professional re-arranges, brings in, and/or selects some of your furnishings to show your home to its best advantage. But did you know you can virtually stage an empty residence, using computer-generated images or pictures of real furniture?

Virtual staging is a cost-effective way to help you market your vacant home online, costing perhaps a few hundred dollars, compared to a heftier sum for physical staging, particularly if furniture and accessories have to be rented. But, you need to ‘fess up: if you’re virtually staging your home, be sure that information is clearly and conspicuously reflected in the online listing, and disclose to potential buyers that your home is either empty or furnished differently.

Does staging result in higher offers? According to a 2015 National Association of Realtors (NAR) analysis, over half of realtors working with buyers say prospective buyers do offer more money for staged houses than similar homes that are not staged.

The Power of Words
Words can sell, or not. According to Zillow, these words are GOOD to use: luxurious, impeccable, captivating, updated, and upgraded. And here are words to AVOID because of what the potential purchasers picture in their heads when they read these words: cute, charming or cozy (small); classic (old); up-and-coming neighborhood (high crime rate); needs some TLC, investment, or opportunity (dump).

When listing your house, think “nest nooks” rather than “man caves” and try to appeal to what women want in a home, use 11 to 14 good photos for your home’s online presence, consider staging, and choose your words wisely. You, too, may shortly see the “SOLD” sign on your home and join the single women and single men who are purchasing one of out of four houses.

Jan Cullinane is an award-winning author, speaker, and consultant. Her current book is The Single Woman’s Guide to Retirement (AARP/Wiley).

Moonshine flows out of the past and into the mainstream.

By Fanny Slater published in the 2016 Fall issue.

Remember those rowdy 20-something parties where you’d empty every juice in the fridge and a generous helping of clear, high-proof liquor into a bathtub filled with ice? Yeah, me either. But that was kind of the point.

If you’re familiar with this mind-altering backwoods beverage rooted in the peaks of Appalachia, then you know it’s not the new kid on the block. As of recent, moonshine—also dubbed hooch, white whiskey, and white lightning—has exited the past and resurfaced in the present with the same look, same kick, and same appeal it possessed back in the day.

So what’s with the hype?

It might be the cryptic word itself. It might be the lure of outlaw status (as the original hooch was characterized by its illegality). It might be the excessive potency which, via several swigs, arms you with the ability to sing karaoke or think you can fly. Regardless of motive, everyone from bar patrons to bartenders to restaurant owners are on a mission to infuse this distinctive spirit into their world. For those who aim to retail, the lack of barrel aging, cost-effective manufacturing, and quick production make moonshine an ideal product. Craft distilleries are hopping on the trend faster than

Millennials are putting down their Budweisers and picking up Ballast Point.

Pardon my Jerry Seinfeldness in the following inquiry, but what’s the deal with the funny name? Devised from the (super boring) era of Prohibition, the term “moonshine” signified that this secretive, late-night concoction was prepared by the light of the moon. Let’s talk ingredients. Moonshine is made with un-aged (uber harsh tasting), corn-based white whiskey and is commonly mixed with sugar and fruit. And just as with your standard vodkas, rums, and bourbons, “plain” is only the beginning.

Ole Smoky, based in Tennessee, has been one of the major advocates for pushing the moonshine movement forward. Packaged in their signature mason jars, you can sip Ole Smoky Moonshine in every flavor from original to cherry to apple pie to peach. A word to the wise: several of these varieties weigh in at 50 percent-abv, so you might want to drop your dignity at the door. In the Carolinas, Piedmont Distillers leads the game with nearly 10 variations and a nationally distributed brand. For the hipster, Negroni-slinging mixologist, there’s Jacob’s Ghost brought to you by Beam. This moonshine sings a slightly different tune as it’s aged for one year—creating a flexibly flavored, less intense punch in the face.

But can we legitimately call this lawfully-approved spirit “moonshine”? If your grandpa was forced to quietly distill his batch at midnight, but you can grab a jar at the corner store, is it really the same thing? At the end of the day, as long as a bottle provides its promised buzz—us humans are more likely to concern ourselves with pizza toppings rather than historical technicalities.

Today, cocktails permeated with moonshine are offered in upscale bars, grocery stores, chain restaurants, and taprooms all over the country. Stroll through a liquor shop and you’ll be greeted with shelves of the stuff whose packaging stands out like a colonial woman in a line of swimsuit models. Between the farm-to-table movement, nostalgic trends galore, and a drive toward artisanal, handmade, craft everything—it’s clear that this drinkable DeLorean isn’t traveling back to the past anytime soon.

Sweet and Crispy Apple Moonshine Chicken Recipe:

YIELD                        4 servings

Ingredients:

2 tbsp  neutral oil (such as vegetable or sunflower)
1½ lbs bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
1½ lbs bone-in, skin-on chicken breast halves
1 tbsp  unsalted butter
2 ea      medium shallots, rough chopped
½ c      sliced cherry tomatoes
1 c       sliced fresh pineapple
1 c       apple-flavored moonshine
½ c      low-sodium chicken stock
1 tbsp  fresh parsley, rough chopped
pinch   kosher salt and coarse black pepper

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400°F.

In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Generously season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper on both sides. Working in batches so you don’t overcrowd, sear each piece until crispy (about two minutes per side), and then set aside on a plate.

Reduce the heat to medium and add the butter. Add the shallots, tomatoes, and pineapple and season with salt and pepper. Cook until the shallots are translucent, about three minutes.

Add the moonshine to the pan and scrape any browned bits from the bottom. Add the chicken stock and simmer for five minutes. Transfer this mixture to a baking dish and top with the chicken pieces and all of their juices. Place the dish in the oven and bake until the chicken is cooked through, 35 to 40 minutes.

Remove the chicken pieces from the pan and arrange them on a platter. Pour the sauce over the chicken and garnish with the chopped parsley.