Biking Wye Island NRMA

On Friday, April 14th, I took a drive to Wye Island Natural Resource Management Area for a biking adventure. Our family has walked a few trails here over the years, but today was my first solo visit for some mountain biking.

There are several trails to pick from, and aside from the gravel roads, the trails are either grass or dirt. While today was dry, I can see how rain and wet trails would make a biking trip nearly impossible, or if it is attempted, a torturous effort… so my advice is to wait a few days after it rains to bike this natural area. That said, the grass trails did make it a challenging ride. The grass trails are slow and will make you work hard, and then afterwards the gravel road will give you speed. The 9.26 miles took about an hour at a good pace. I parked at the second parking area as you drive in (or the third if you count hunter check-in lot) and took the asphalt road down to the head of Dividing Creek Trail, which is basically all grass. After that, I traveled the gravel road to grassy Holly Tree Trail… and then on to the gravel road again to Ferry Point Landing Trail. After arriving at the beach, I turned around and took the gravel road straight back to my Jeep. It would be easy to add-on more miles with more trails for a longer ride.

History of Wye Island

For over 300 years, Wye Island was privately owned and managed for agricultural use, including tobacco and wheat farming. Two of the most noteworthy owners were William Paca and John Beale Bordley. Both men inherited their parts of the island through their wives, daughters of Samuel Chew. Mr. Paca, third governor of Maryland and one of the signatories of the Declaration of Independence, owned half of the island north of Dividing Creek. Mr. Bordley, a distinguished lawyer and jurist, owned the island’s southern half. In the 1770s, Mr. Bordley gave up his law career to devote his life to farming, experimenting, and writing. Fields once devoted to tobacco now produced abundant wheat. Bordley strove to make Wye Island totally self-sufficient. Orchards and a vineyard were planted; blacksmith and carpentry shops were built, as were looms, a large windmill, and even a brewery. Source: MD DNR

Wye Plantation

Just outside of Wye Island are the historic fields of the private Wye Plantation (not to be confused with Wye House, which is another private location). The University of Maryland’s Agriculture Program for Angus Cattle is along the road to Wye Island as well.

The Neighborhood

This part of the Eastern Shore has many attractions, including convenient nearby restaurants on Kent Island and Kent Narrows and the Queenstown Premium Outlets. A trip to Wye Island NRMA can be a fun trip for the whole family in addition to a recreational adventure. The management area also has spots for picnics, fishing, kayaking and canoeing. During fall and winter, this is a popular area for hunting.

A great “listen while you walk” interview: Dr. Hyman talks about brain health and diet

In order to enjoy the outdoors, we need maintain the health of our body and brain. Whether it’s hunting, mountain biking, sailing or a pleasant walk in the woods, we are only as good as our last meal and a restful night’s sleep.

Video by Mark Hyman, MD

Description: “At every meal, we make choices of what to feed our bodies—and our brains. Too much sugar and refined carbs, not enough good fats, inadequate intake of the right nutrients, and exposure to toxins can have a negative effect on our brains and even contribute to disorders ranging from brain fog to depression to Alzheimer’s. Nutrients are the fertilizer for the brain. When we get the right kinds, our brain can flourish and grow, even generating new cells in older age, long after science previously thought was possible. In this episode of my new MasterClass series, I am interviewed by my good friend and podcast host, Dhru Purohit, about using diet and lifestyle to support brain health. We also talk about why it’s important to treat the body when it comes to treating brain issues, and I share my own experience using Functional Medicine to heal my own brain.”

Deep Healing Music 528 Hz

Feed your brain with healing music and fresh air…

From the study “Influence of various intensities of 528 Hz sound-wave…” in the National Library of Medicine: According to the current study, sound waves with 528 Hz frequency in 100 dB intensity induce testosterone production in brain by enhancing StAR and SF-1 and reducing P450 aromatase gene expression. Frequency of 528 Hz also reduces total concentration of reactive oxidative species in brain tissue. Prolonged exposure to this sound wave showed reduction of anxiety related behaviors in rats. The results reveal that reduced anxiety is related to increased concentration of testosterone in brain. This study may lead to ascertain a possible therapy in which sounds may be utilized to reduce anxiety in individual.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30414050/

Three Wise Men discuss fasting and diet

Today is Fat Tuesday, the day before the 40 days of Lent. “Lent is the Christian season of spiritual preparation before Easter. In Western churches, it begins on Ash Wednesday. During Lent, many Christians observe a period of fasting, repentance, moderation, self-denial, and spiritual discipline” as per the Learn Religions website. That said, many cultures practice fasting, etc. and there are those who fast on a regular basis throughout the year for a healthy refresh of their body and mind.

I think many readers will enjoy the videos below. The reason for this blog post is to share what I have learned about fasting in relation to a general healthy diet and a cleanse for my body of toxins and fat, specifically for my heart and liver. In terms of a cleanse, the so-called Keto diet, not unlike the Paleo diet, seems to be an excellent choice. After the cleanse, the specific activity of choosing healthy proteins, fats and carbs appears to be the best option to avoid disease.

One irony I have learned is that we need to eat a lot of healthy fat (and fewer carbs) on a regular basis in order to purge stored fat from around our organs and throughout the body. Intermintant fasting in a healthy way, as described by the three wise men below, can involve a strategy to cleanse and lose weight. These men are very different – a chiropractor, a cardiologist, and a spiritual guru – but they have remarkable similarities in their recommendations, philosophy and scientific reasoning. Remember to consult your own physician before begining a new diet regimen.

Dr. Eric Berg DC – Chiropractor

A quote from his website: “My main passion has been and continues to be teaching people about health-related topics, including Healthy Keto® and intermittent fasting as a basic long-term eating plan. I love dissecting complex health problems, breaking them down so they are easy to understand, and connecting symptoms to a real cause… In my 30 years of practice in Alexandria, Virginia, I had the opportunity to personally work with over 40,000 people using natural methods, nutrition, and the healthy version of the ketogenic diet (Healthy Keto®).”

Dr. Pradip Jamnadas, MD, MBBS, FACC, FSCAI, FCCP, FACP – Cardiologist

From Dr. Jamnadas’ YouTube channel: “The founder and Chief Medical Officer of Cardiovascular Interventions, P.A. in Orlando Florida where, since 1990, he has been repeatedly recognized in local publications as a Top Doctor performing thousands of interventional procedures in hospital and outpatient settings. As a consultant cardiologist with a large diversified inpatient and outpatient practice he is noted for his passions for teaching and illuminating prevention for cardiovascular disease. He is also a clinical assistant professor of medicine at The Florida State University and University of Central Florida.”

This second video is a lengthy talk and deep dive into how to prevent disease with a healthy diet. Dr. Jamnada’s audience here are South Asians, but as he says, this information applies to everyone. One important take-away that is seldom discussed: So-called “vegetable oils” (Canola oil, corn oil, cotton seed oil, palm oil, etc.) are over processed killers that should be eliminated from one’s diet immediately, and he explains why.

Sadhguru – Spiritual Guru

From his YouTube Channel: “Considered among India’s 50 most influential people, Sadhguru is a yogi, mystic, bestselling author, and poet. Absolute clarity of perception places him in a unique space, not only in matters spiritual but in business, environmental and international affairs, and opens a new door on all that he touches.”

See this blog’s decription of a modern Hunter Gather movement.

Self implies Other

This was not just another dog walk. It was a reboot – at one of my favorite spots for long contemplative walks: Greenbury Point in Annapolis.

What is nice about this loop behind the Greenbury Point Nature Center is that along the way, there are reflective quotes posted …by such greats at Ralph Waldo Emerson. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Waldo_Emerson

My walking buddy

You will often come across fellow travelers along these paths: couples walking together, parents with their kids or just folks walking their dogs. But anytime I have been there, it has not been “crowded”. Those who walk here are respectful, and there is seldom any litter.

My video on YouTube

If you desire a visit, just Google Map “Greenbury point nature center” and enjoy your discovery.

#savegreenburypoint on facebook will reveal just how loved this area is by the community.

Winter Solstice Deer Hunt

It’s been tough to get into the woods this season, with the wet weather and my work schedule, but I was able to dedicate yesterday and today to some deer hunting. The experience gave me a first and some discoveries.

Always hunting for meat first, antlers second, I was content to get what I could these two days. Yesterday was a little rough – in the morning I shot and missed a doe, about 45 yards away. It’s muzzleloader season, so there is no quick follow-up shot. Even though my rifle has iron sights, it is normally my most accurate weapon. After waiting until about 10AM, I left with a plan to return.

After some Christmas shopping, I returned to sit for a couple hours and saw nothing… except for the deer scared off as I walked to my stand.

This morning I was up in my stand nice and early, and as expected, a herd came by at 7:40AM. I had a decent line on them, but they were farther away than I like. About four walked by, and there appeared to be just one left for me. He entered my shot zone and I shouted “meh” – and he stopped, as they usually do. That’s when I shot. He dropped right there.

I took out my range finder and discovered it was a 71-yard shot. Even with an excellent shoulder shot to the lungs, my deer typically run a few yards and fall. How is it that this one fell right where it stood? I soon found out.

The sense of relief after shooting a deer, after hours of sitting, not to mention the driving to and from, is always a calming moment. It’s as if all the planets, the sun and moon aligned perfectly just for me. When the deer hits the ground, all is right with the world, at least for one day.

Walking towards the deer, I was not sure what to expect. Today was a first. As it turns out, even though I aimed for the lungs, for whatever reason, the bullet hit the young buck in the ear for a clean head shot. He died instantly. Apparently, my aim was high and to the left – or he quickly moved his head. Whatever happened, I was glad for the quick kill, which is always my priority… and why my preference is to hunt with a shotgun or rifle.

Today’s harvest was very smooth. I strapped the deer to a tree for the “field dressing” (removing organs) and then dragged him in my plastic sled to the farm road. My shot was down hill into a ravine with a creek, which gave me a nice flat path to a convenient spot for a return with my Jeep. Dragging about 100 lbs. up and down hills and over fallen trees is not a good time. Unfortunately for today’s harvesting effort, this deer was on the smaller side, although “every cloud has a silver lining” and the lighter weight made this morning’s drag less tiring.  Today is the first time I removed a deer from the woods along this creek, and hope to take this same route next time.

My hunts usually end with big does hitting the ground. It’s rare that I have an opportunity to harvest a large buck and today was no different. There is still time, although it looks like there will be only one more morning for me in muzzleloader season, with the rest of the opportunities reserved for my crossbow in January. The good news: today I have discovered new deer paths and a superior spot to place my second stand, plus an easier exit out of the woods. There is always a silver lining.

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