Mild Winter Hiking

With that said, I don’t do treadmills nor their related gym equipment (ellipticals, stairmasters, ect, …).  Hiking is a much better means of fitness than any machine.  Gyms are indoor boxes.  The air in them is conditioned.  Except for the televisions and people working out, the scenery in the boxes never changes.  All treadmills have buttons to push and settings to adjust making the user’s body a slave to the machine.  It is true that such equipment in such boxes are useful when outdoor conditions are unfavorable.  However, many people use bad weather as an excuse not to go to the gym as if it weren’t an enclosed, air-conditioned (or heated) box.

I am a bit spoiled because I work at a park and live near a couple of good trails.  I think fresh air is more healthy than enclosed spaces with those high-tech air refresher things.  The trails are surrounded by trees and have features such as streams, marshes, bridges, and other sights that keep the workout interesting.  The presence of birds, squirrels, and other critters tend to liven things up as well.  Sometimes it is best to go at a slower pace.  Other times, it is good to pick things up a bit.  My brain, body, and self-discipline dictate what, when, and how much I do per work out.  When the weather is colder, I wear a couple of layers of clothes.  A rain or snow day need not throw me off track.  I can make up for it when conditions improve.

Better Than TV

If you are able to hike for cardio fitness, I recommend the following steps:

• start with a trail that doesn’t have many quick changes in elevation.  gradual slopes or one or two hills are sufficient even for veteran hikers who just want to burn a few calories.
• Walk the trail at a slow pace first to familiarize yourself with it.  Know where it may get a bit muddy, icy, and other issues.  It is good to have more than one trail to hike so that you have an alternative place to go.
• Make sure your footwear has good traction.
• Use hiking poles to add some upper body motion to your hiking.
• Dress appropriately.  Use sunscreen, bug repellant and other things needed for any outdoor activity.

Greater Challenges Await

Reflective Presence of the Other

But, I have been blogging for myself.  In fact, I have been rather consistent with this for over a month.  The Modern Monastic Order of Saint-Simon of Cyrene (http://stsimonsorder.wordpress.com/) is a marriage of my passions.  Each week, I post one of my images.  The post is a summary of my sermons.  I usually make the post on Sunday mornings and upload my latest on the Facebook page for my church.  I have been getting some good feedback from many who have seen the entries.

I write under the name of my Second Life avatar, Cyprian Bluemood.  Cyprian is a priest of no particular Christian denomination.  I send him to a variety of churches (mostly orthodox) for prayer and music clubs.  The idea of a monastic order came when the monastery he was a member of shut down.  I believe om real life, we need more people devoting themselves to quiet prayer.  I spend an hour in worship each morning, take an “Emmaus Walk” for 30 minutes after work, and use the Book Of Common Prayer for my nightly prayers.  Perhaps after my term as PBA Moderator, I will turn this modern monastic order into a real life ministry.  But, for now, the blog will do.

Bethel Alone

As for the Baystride Images Journal, don’t worry.  I will have some things up soon.  I may do a sunset excursion next Sunday.  I have been given a green light to hit False Cape next month.  So, I am far from done with this blog.  But, until then, feel free to read and comment on my more sacred side.

Taskinas Creek Valley ( John Gresham/DCR)

 http://www.virginiaoutdoors.com/article/more/3314

1) Maritime/Vir-Mar Trail (False Cape State Park) – Getting into False Cape is an adventure on its own (no private vehicles).  But, for a truly wild beach trek, this trail is hard to beat with its untouched sand dunes to the Atlantic and sunsets on Back Bay.  Call the park office to plan your trip around a ranger guided program and you may be able to crash at the Wash Woods Overnight Education Center.

2) Crabtree Falls (George Washington National Forrest) – Yeah, it can get crowded on warm weekends, and for good reason.  It is the tallest waterfall east of the Mississippi and has gorgeous views.  The trail has a challenging combination of stairs and switchbacks.  I prefer starting from the bottom (plenty of parking off of Rt 58) and hiking to the top and back.  Resist the temptation to play in the rushing water.  Too many hikers had fallen to death here.

Sanderlings blitz at the Bayshore Trail

3) Bay Shore/Winter Water Trail (Hughlett’s Point Natural Area Preserve) – This Northern Neck jewel has one of the largest panoramic views of the Chesapeake Bay.  When permitted (some very rare bird and insect species are protected here), you can make a complete loop from the beach to the lower end of bayshore.  Nearby Dameron Marsh Natural Area Preserve has no trails.  But, has some interesting observation points and a kayak launch.

4) Wahrani Nature Trail (New Kent Co. Parks & Recreation) – Forget your stairmaster.  This frequently overlooked spot on the side of the road to the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula playgrounds (Rt 33) packs plenty of elevation changes.  Use caution here because you may have to share some real estate with mountain bikers.  It is a great place to warm up for mountain hikes.

5) Cold Mountain (Appalachian Trail)/Hotel Trail (George Washington National Forest) – Take the AT in and out from the parking lot for the marvelous panoramic views.  Take the Hotel Trail for views of Mt. Pleasant and cool running creeks.  Make a day of an almost 6 mile loop.  Camp overnight.  Do whatever you can.  But, this place is fantastic!

6)  Mattaponi/Woodstock Pond Trail (York River State Park) – Taskinas Creek Trail will reopen in 2012.  But, don’t let that be an excuse to ignore fossil beach, the observation deck, and the spillway view between the pond and river.  You can make it a double loop hike, or connect to Backbone to reach the trails deeper in the park.

Humpback Rock rewards the hiker

7)  Humpback Rock (Blue Ridge Parkway) – If you have never hiked a mountain, this is a good one to start with.  If you have done it before, this is a good one to visit.  The unique rock formation is almost like a window on the Shenandoah Valley below.  There is a connection to the AT for more advanced hikers.

8)  Herring Creek/Mattaponi Bluffs Loop (Zoar State Forest) – Aylett, Virginia may be the best kept secret for adventure east of I-95.  This hike allows you to explore and play in cool, refreshing waters.  There are trails at the main section of the state forest and you can launch a canoe or kayak down to the Aylett boat launch (or further) for a great float trip.

Thanks to all of you for visiting Baystride Images in 2011.  I pray that you and your families will have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Sincerely,

John R. Gresham, Jr.

Surfing Sanderling

We all need some means or another to relieve stress in our lives.  Employment or lack of it can be a heavy burden on our minds.  Spouses and children sometimes get on our nerves more than bosses or coworkers.  Throw in the bills, needed home repairs, car problems, appliances breaking down, and poor performances by a favorite sports team (Liverpool, why can’t you win the premiership?) and one can easily slip into a depressed state.  My stress is as bad as some and worse than others.  An ill wife, and working two jobs that I love, but don’t pay very much can really kick a guy.  When life kicks me, I need only to click the “on” switch on my Pentax K200D on an outdoor adventure.

Some may boast in “Retail Therapy.”  In this economy, I don’t see how that is possible anymore.  Consumerism is one of the great failures of our society.  Those who think they can purchase their way out of the blues are only kidding themselves and will wind up broke and blue.

Professional therapist and clergy are helpful in many cases.  There are situations where mental illnesses are diagnosed and someone should work in conjunction with a psychiatrist.  People of faith can be pointed into scriptures and prayer that give comfort and healing to worried souls.  My wife is bipolar (and has multiple sclerosis) and relies on someone who is well-educated and trained.  I hit up a fellow minister whom I trust and will let me vent my frustrations.

But, there is something so satisfying about capturing an interesting image of the natural world.  It is a pleasure enough to admire the rush of a  waterfall, an eagle’s expert fishing skills, or a gorgeous sunset along a beach.  There is no way to collect such grandeur in a mere 10 megapixles.  And yet, those 10 megs possess the ability to stir up the memory of what was seen, heard, and felt at that moment.  I can take them back to show others how beautiful the world is outside of our satellite TV and off of our Blackberries.

I don’t claim to be great at the craft.  I enjoy the pursuit of collecting beautiful images.  Over the years, my persistence has paid off in employment and meeting other photographers.  But, I cannot forget the healing power of preserving a portion of a magic moment.

Rooted Sunrise

Coburn Hall/Dr. Alix B. James Chapel

As a proud Virginia State University Alum, I used to laugh at the lyrics of Virginia Union’s Alma Mater.  “You are God’s gift to humanity?”  Get Real!  Oh, their basketball program was great.  Almost every African-American preacher was educated there.  And there were some good brothers from the Gamma Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha.  But, other than that, VUU was that school on Lombardy Street.  State had my major, a campus completely separate from nearby cities, solid academic programs, a fine band and (okay, I wasn’t always the most devout Christian) the finest cheerleaders.  As far as we Trojans were concerned, the Panthers were of little.

I had to swallow a little bit of my orange & blue pride as I prepared for ministry at VUU.  And not yet earning my Master of Divinity (I did complete my Church Ministry Certificate through their Evans-Smith Leadership Training Program), I still found myself having to sing the Alma Mater with those lyrics.  I would go home and quickly repent by singing ”Hail State.” But, the history of Virginia Union University give a special meaning to the words.

During the antebellum period, slaves about to be sold to the deep south were held at the Lumpkin’s Jail in Richmond.  Virginia had become the leading slave breeding and market state for the large cotton plantations.  Families were broken up as human beings  who had been in the state for 100 years or more were considered no better than horses or cattle.  The jail was a house of some of the greatest tears and sorrows in world history.

Dr. Angelo Chatmon Dean of the Chapel

After the Civil War, the American Baptist sought to create a school of higher education for freedmen.  Lumpkin’s Jail was given to a black woman as an inheritance. In the cells where men were beaten and women were raped, people were studying science, Latin, mathematics, and other subjects.  The place of violent horrors became the hallowed halls of learning.  Redemption of a dehumanized population, to take a place of evil (it was known as the Devil’s Half-Acre) and turn it into a house of virtue is a blessing that can only come from the Lord.  Every college and university has a prideful history.  Few have one as compelling as Virginia Union.

“Panther Pride” may not have been too evident as VUU football team was crushed by Va State in a cold, rainy Petersburg homecoming game.  But, for the alumni and friends who know the roots of the burgundy and silver, we cannot help but to be glad that God gave us such a special gift.

The Center of the Universe

Before supermarkets, truck stops, convenience stores, and “Wally-Worlds;” communities were served by local markets.  They were small and did little if any advertising.  Most of the shop owners lived nearby, some right beside the store.  The prices were marked up only to make a small profit.  Some owners let customers run a tab to be paid at the end of the month.  There were a few chairs by the wood stove where a traveler or local could eat a sandwich.  Farmers brought feed and seed.  Sporting supplies and hardware could be found just down from the canned goods.  The country store had a little bit of everything.  Despite the modernization of the economy, these nostalgic little stores still exist thanks to merchants who enjoy serving their neighbors more than getting rich.

Jim Hall’s Store sits at the intersection of Rts 30 and 626 some “ump-teen” miles from West Point.  It’s crossroads location is a magnet for all who reside in or drives through lower King William.  My church is right across the field.  So, I like to grab a barbecue and some chips for lunch on my days at the office. Crabs and oysters are available  in season.  I also get news about how the shad are running in the spring.  Expect a little of anything out of Jim Halls from rabbit feed to fresh bacon.  He’ll put it all in the same bag for you.

Marsh Morning

Marshes are not high on most people’s list of “Places To Visit.”  In fact, most folk avoid them like the plague.  The sight of acres of cordgrass is enough to make one itch.  In speaking of itching, gnats and biting flies can be too thick to see through.  They don’t call them wetlands for nothing.  The ground is little more than mud mixed with quicksand.  It takes a rather peculiar person to willingly spend time in such places.

Well, I must be among the strangest of people.  I look for marshes to explore and capture images of.  From the freshwater stretches of tidal rivers to the numerous creeks that feed The Bay, marshes is where I find the most bird action and great landscape subjects.  These unique places are very accessible and can provide plenty of solitude for those willing to venture into them.

Taking Off

Yes, bugs are a reality in a marsh.  But, chances are you are going to use bug spray or some other sort of repelling device at a backyard barbecue.  Use the same stuff and you’ll be fine.  For those hiking the Chickahominy Wildlife Management Area down to Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge/False Cape State Park, cottonmouths are another concern in the spring and summer.  Don’t be afraid.  But, use your head; stay on the trails and if you see a snake you cannot readily identify, don’t go near it.

Taskinas Trail Overlook

Dress according to the season.  Lightweight long sleeves add extra protection against biting bugs in warmer months.  Waterproof

Approach the shorelines slowly and look all around you.  Herons may have a tendency to fly away quickly making a very loud and annoying call of distress.  Look down as you walk.  Fiddler crabs are often scurrying back in their holes when a person is approaching.  They don’t know the difference between us and birds that may find them delicious.   Where possible, wade or paddle to cover more ground.

I took a quick trip to the New Point Comfort Natural Area Preserve in Mathews recently.  I got there just before sunrise to try to get some sunrise color on the cordgrass and maybe some egrets.  Because I had arrived early and made little noise, about a half-dozen clapper rails came out to feed along the observation pier where I was standing.  I am sure they saw me.  But, they didn’t see me as a major threat and went about their business.  Nature is at it’s best in early silence.

Clapper Rail Feeding

To learn more about these unique places, please click the links from this article in the Virginia State Parks Blog.

Ranger Scott Pearson with a downed Tree

Weekend plans ruined.  Days without electric power.  Trees down everywhere.  Sadly, a relative was killed.  These are just some of the results of Hurricane Irene’s visit.  Even though it wasn’t the category three monster that we all feared, it was more than enough to make us realize how fragile our day-to-day living can be.

Park Manager & Chief Ranger making plans

Plans were made and events were advertised for fun-filled Saturdays at York River State Park from the end of August up to the first of October.  I was especially looking forward to Labor Day weekend with a kid’s fishing tourney and fossil hike.  Our observance of Estuaries Day was to be on the 17th of September as not to conflict with the Virginia State and James City County Fairs.  But, without electric power to run our toilet pumps, we had to cancel.  Even if service is restored by the 10th, there are still other factors which will delay any major events at the park until October.  We did a great job of clearing trees and debris from the trails and parking lots.  Special thanks to Ben and Brett from Sky Meadows State Park for coming down to help us.

Homecoming Sunday and Revival Services at Trinity Baptist Church also had to be postponed.  This is a very special time of worship in southern black churches where friends and family return to the communities that reared them for spirit filled preaching and singing.  Of course, food is a major draw in these events (and we got some sisters who can “throw down” making deserts).  Instead of waiting to reschedule the services, I took time to revive myself.  I confess, my prayer life was slacking a bit from my normal morning discipline of stretching, reading, and writing my personal journal of faith.  While I am certain the men and woman of God that were to preach for us could have stirred up something in me to get back on track, I am glad the Holy Spirit cannot be hindered by high winds or downed trees or power lines.

We tend to expect things to go well for us without interruptions of our conveniences.  But, Irene (and the earthquake that started in Mineral, VA) ought to remind us that our existence can come to an end at any time.  This is not to say we shouldn’t have goals and try to achieve them.  But, we should calmly assemble proper material and spiritual back-up in life when things go awry.  Take advantage of rest time, communicate with those around you, meet and work with a neighbor; do these things take electric current?  No, just a willingness to store and maintain them as one would a generator or propane grill.  Use them from time to time before harsh weather strikes to build familiarity and skill.