Breathe Magazine

a life inspired

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IndianSummer The Great Outdoors

THE

Cider Trail CRAFT IN OUR REGION

Tailgate Time OUR GUIDE TO THE BEST SPREAD IN TOWN

Woodworks by Joseph Thompson, 6,700-mile Triathlon, nude makeup

september 2012

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breathe magazine

table of contents features

editor in chief Marissa Hermanson marissa@readbreathe.com

15 Indian Summer

contributing writers Angela Bekkala Colleen Oakley Jennifer Schingle Amelia Walton

Embrace the great outdoors this fall

27 The 6,700 Mile Triathlon

copy editor Beth Waldman

Two women's spontaneous cross-country trip

art director Megan Jordan

29 The Old & New

senior designer Amanda Powers

Design with Joseph Thompson Woodworks

associate designer Lauren Walker

contributing photographers Amanda Powers Megan Jordan

The Cider Trail 15 30 Our guide to hard cider in the region

IT director Craig Snodgrass

digital media coordinator Chase Lyne

publisher Charles Leonard charles@readbreathe.com

president Blake DeMaso blake@readbreathe.com

account executives Dusty Allison: dusty@readbreathe.com Martha Evans: martha@readbreathe.com Leah Woody: leah@readbreathe.com Nick Noe: nick@readbreathe.com Amy Allison: amy@readbreathe.com

business manager Melissa Gessler

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distribution manager Chuck Grigsby chuck@readbreathe.com

contact us 116 West Jefferson Street Charlottesville, VA 22902 434.817.2755 56 College Street, Suite 303 Asheville, NC 28801 828.225.0868

departments 5 Editor’s note

© 2012 Summit Publishing, LLC. To carry Breathe in your store call 434.817.2755.

cover

7 Beauty Go nude this fall

Amanda Powers & Megan Jordan ©Breathe Magazine, readbreathe.com

8 Fitness Back strength

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10 Tailgate Guide From food to gear, what you need for game day September 2012

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editor's note

Taste of Fall

Join us Breathe Magazine’s September Issue Cider Tasting Whole Foods Market, Charlottesville 1797 Hydraulic Road Charlottesville, Va. Tuesday, September 25, 6 to 8 p.m.

Local cider tastings • Door prizes Live muisc • Light hors d’oeuvres Meet the editor

We Hope To See You There! presented by the charlotesville whole foods market

&

breathe magazine

“Oh boy,” I said to myself as I took a giant leap off my perch and swung clumsily out over the Jackson River, falling smack into the water. “Try it again. Pull your legs up. Use your arms!” our kayak guide encouraged as I sauntered out of the water to give the rope swing another go. Again, I made an ungraceful flop into the river. The water was icy, and I wasn’t very good at rope swingin’, but boy was this fun!

This is what summer is for: trying new things. Fun things, like rope swinging into a chilly river. As summer comes to a close, here at Breathe we are going to continue the outdoor fun. The Southeast can get pretty steamy over the summer, and as we approach autumn we are embracing an Indian Summer with our idea of epic exploits – tailgating, cider tasting, kayaking, canoeing, biking, hiking and fly fishing.

So take our cue: go outside, take a breath of fresh air and we’ll see you in October!

visit our facebook page to add yourself to the guest list

Marissa Hermanson Editor-in-Chief September 2012

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PROMPT CARE IS NOW MEDEXPRESS URGENT CARE

Charlottesville has big news in urgent care.

WE TREAT INJURIES AND ILLNESSES FOR ALL AGES. + Just walk in. + always a Physician on site. + Most insurance accePted but not required. + X-rays, labs, ekgs, ivs, Minor surgery.

Prompt Care is now MedExpress Urgent Care. Known for our unique brand of compassionate care that puts the patient first, MedExpress is proud to be here serving you and your family. We treat illnesses and injuries, with no appointments needed and a doctor always on site, we’re also excited to open a second MedExpress location soon to provide you with more ways to receive great care.

Open Every Day 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

NOW OPEN SEMINOLE SqUARE

1149 Seminole Trail Next to Burger King ® 434-978-3998

facebook.com/medexpress

PANTOPS

260 Pantops Center Next to Verizon 434-244-3027

medexpress.com

Beauty

Go nude!

Fall may be a season of colorful, changing leaves, but when it comes to your makeup, neutral is in.

— Colleen Oakley

Set the Tone

Just because you’re dealing with neutrals doesn’t mean just any beige will work with your skin tone. Beauty expert Todra Payne, founder of healthybeautyproject.com, offers her handy cheat sheet for this fall’s biggest trend in makeup. Fair: Go for beige hues with a hint of pink. Medium: Look for cool nudes with undertones of blue and purple. Dark: Think warm caramels and brown shades.

Everyday Minerals Waffle Cone Blush ($7.99) everydayminerals.com Primitive’s Pearl Lip Treatment in Juneau ($20) primitivemakeup.com

100% Pure Pigmented Tinted Moisturizer ($32) and 100% Pure Healthy Flawless Skin Foundation Powder ($26), 100% Pure Mascara in Dark Chocolate ($18) 100percentpure.com

SAVE!

Get 10% off Primitive’s Pearl Lip Treatments for the month of September. Use the promo code Breathe

Eve Liquid Lipstick ($15.95) eveorganics.net

SpaRitual Soil Nail Polish in Back to Your Roots ($10) zappos.com

Physician’s Formula Shimmer Strips in Nude ($10.95) physiciansformula.com September 2012

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fitness

Back in business — angela Bekkala

Your mother was right (as usual) when she told you to stand up tall and don’t slouch. A woman with her shoulders down and her back straight shows confidence, strength and beauty. Strong back muscles are essential for good posture. Upper back muscles pull your shoulders down and back, helping you stand tall instead of hunched. Good posture is also an easy and fast way to shed some weight. Then there’s the added benefit of looking great while wearing halter tops and backless dresses. After all, a strong back is very sexy.

The Plan

Do these five back exercises two to three days a week along with cardio and exercises that target the rest of your body and you will have a strong, beautiful back in no time at all.

Bent Over Row 1. Hold onto either end of a resistance band, and step onto the middle of it with both feet so your ankles are directly underneath your hips. (For an added challenge, add a dumbbell in each hand.)

Lean forward, bending at the hips with a slight bend in your knees. 2. Keep your back parallel to the floor, and let your arms hang down. From here, pull both elbows up so they’re in line with your torso. Be sure to keep your elbows in and pointed upward. Then slowly lower your hands back to the starting position to complete one rep. 3. Complete three sets of 12 reps.

Standing Reverse Fly 1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, keeping a slight bend in the knees.

With straight arms, hold the resistance band (or weights) in front of you with your hands slightly lower than your shoulders. 2.

Pull your abs in tight as you open your arms out to the sides, focusing on the shoulder blades squeezing together. Slowly return your arms back to starting position. 3. Do three sets of 12 to 15 reps.

Shrug 1. Stand with your feet hip-width apart and your arms at your sides, holding weights or standing on a resistance band, an end in each hand.

2. Start with your shoulders relaxed, and as you exhale, shrug them up toward your ears. Hold the position for a few seconds before relaxing your shoulders as you inhale. 3. Do three sets of 12 reps.

Superman 1. Lay your belly down on the mat. Extend your arms above your head. Keep your legs straight. 2. Lift your upper back and legs and hold for five seconds, squeezing your glutes.

Lower back down. 3. Do three sets of 12 reps.

what you will need: 1. Valeo Stretch

Bands, valeofit.com, $16.99 2. Manduka Pro Black Dragon yoga mat, manduka.com, $104 3. Gaiam Sculpt Stability Ball, gaiam.com, $20 4. Altus Dumbbell Set, bodybuilding.com, $46

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Back Extension on Stability Ball 1. Place your torso on the ball and roll forward until you have both hands on the floor. Your legs should be straight behind you, toes on the floor about shoulder-width apart. 2. Lower your torso down with your hands behind your head — basically you are wrapping your upper body around the ball. 3. Lift your torso up until you form a straight line with your hips and legs. Lower back down to complete one rep.

4. Do three sets of 12 reps.

We’re for

Emma O’Rourke Scottsville Kidney Cancer Survivor 2009

When you’re young and fighting cancer, you deserve as many people in your corner as you can get. That’s why we’re for a team approach. One where Dr. Kimberly Dunsmore and the top minds in medicine all work together to get Emma, one of our neighbors, back to the playground and the joys of simply being a little girl. UVA. We’re for Charlottesville, and more importantly, the people who live here. | uvahealth.com

survival guide Take! Bamboo Chair $159.95; snowpeak.com

Go anywhere wine glass $12.95 (4 pack); govinowine.com

Black leaf queen quilt $249; munyshop.com

Leather Head Handmade Football $150; kaufmann-mercantile.com

2-Piece Chip and Dip Set $15.95; crateandbarrel.com

tailgate season We’re ready for football season, and even more so the pre-party — cracking open beers, flipping burgers and playing games as we anticipate kickoff. Whether you are at the stadium or on the sofa, tailgate in style this season. – MH

Superior Servers $30 each; ladiesandgentlemenstudio.com Seersucker Napkin $72 (set of 4); kimseybert.com

Stag horn bottle opener $110; jackspade.com

picnic at ascot Portable grill, $50; picnicatascot.com

Classic Vacuum Bottle 2.0 Qt. $40; shopstanley-pmi.com 10

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the archive boot $298; madewell.com

Virginia Diner Salted Peanuts $12; vadiner.com

CLICK HERE! to enter our tailgate essentials giveaway!

Egg Platter $19.95; crateandbarrel.com

Belle Picnic Tote $560; mooreandgiles.com

CHEERWINE 24 COUNT CASE $21.95; cheerwine.com

mixology?

It may be one of the oldest sodas in the South, but it still tastes delicious! Go to readbreathe.com for our Cheerwine cocktail recipe!

Schoolboy blazer in wool herringbone $218; jcrew.com

9" Bambu Round Compostable Plate $25.99; sustyparty.com

Shovels & Rope: o' Be Joyful album $13; shovelsandrope.com

preppy plaid bow tie $68; forage.bigcartel.com

Colonel Can Caddies $142.50 (set of 4); colonellittleton.com Hermetus Bottle Opener & Resealer $8.70; kaufmann-mercantile.com Set of 2 Batangas Bread Baskets $32.90; crateandbarrel.com September 2012

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Guilt-Free shopping/Cooking/entertaining We’ve banned more than 100 artificial ingredients to make life easy...

It’s our unparalleled quality standards that make our ‘all natural’ better than the average Joe.

FREE COOKING HELP FROM OUR COOKING COACH, TAYLOR FREE SHOPPING & RECIPE HELP FROM OUR HEALTHY EATING SPECIALIST, BECCA

Keepin’ it real. Making it easy.

That’s your Whole Foods Market.

1797 Hydraulic Road • 434-973-4900 • wholefoodsmarket.com

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survival guide FOOD

a healthy take on game day food Pass the veggie sloppy joes and spicy black bean burgers, please! Football fare that is light, wholesome and downright delicious.

vegetarian gluten free vegan More recipes on page 14. For other healthy recipes go to readbreathe.com.

Recipes by Jennifer Schingle

Spicy Black Bean Burgers Makes about 4 burgers

1 (16 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed ½ red pepper, chopped ½ onion, cut into wedges 3 cloves garlic, peeled and roughly chopped 1 egg 1 teaspoon chili powder 1 teaspoon cumin 1 teaspoon onion powder 1 tablespoon Sriracha (or your favorite hot sauce) 1 cup panko bread crumbs, divided 2 tablespoons olive or canola oil A small handful of cilantro, finely chopped Burger buns and your favorite condiments 1. In a mixing bowl, mash the black beans with a fork or a potato masher. 2. Use a food processor to chop the onion, garlic and red pepper until very fine. Stir the mixture in with the beans. 3. In a separate mixing bowl, combine the egg, cumin, onion powder, chili powder, Sriracha and cilantro. 4.

Add to the bean mixture and combine well. 5. If the mixture has a lot of liquid, strain with a cheesecloth or let strain through a colander with very fine holes. Once the excess liquid has drained off, return the bean mixture to the bowl and stir in half the bread crumbs. 6. Use your hands to form the patties. Coat the outside of the burger patties in the remaining bread crumbs. Heat the oil in a skillet on medium high heat. Cook burgers in the pan until heated through and slightly browned on both sides. 7. For a Southwest theme, top them with salsa, avocado, jalapeños, hot sauce and sour cream. For a more classic approach, add ketchup, spicy mustard and pickles.

September 2012

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survival guide FOOD

Vegetarian Sloppy Joes Makes 4 sandwiches 4 Kaiser rolls or hamburger buns ½ block firm or extra firm tofu, drained well 2 cups mushrooms, finely chopped ½ onion, finely chopped 2 garlic cloves, minced 1½ cups cooked pinto beans (or a 14 oz can, drained) 1 can tomato paste

½ teaspoon dried oregano 2 tablespoons soy sauce 1 tablespoon Sriracha (or your favorite hot sauce) 2 tablespoons molasses (or honey) 1 teaspoon black pepper 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1. Use a food processor to crumble the tofu. Pulse a few times until it is broken into small, pebble-sized pieces. 2. On the stove top in a large pot, heat olive oil, onions and garlic. Stir a few minutes until onions are translucent. 3. Next, add in the mushrooms, tofu, pinto beans, oregano and tomato paste. Stir for about three minutes. 4. Stir in the soy sauce, vinegar, Sriracha, molasses and black pepper. Allow to cook for a few minutes. Add more spices to suit your taste. 5. Spoon the sloppy joe mix onto a Kaiser roll and top with your favorite toppings.

Spicy Lime and Cilantro Coleslaw Makes 4 to 6 servings ½ head of cabbage, shredded 1 cup cilantro, roughly chopped ½ jalapeño, deseeded and chopped (use a whole pepper for more heat) ½ cup plain yogurt (whole or non-fat) zest and juice of 1/2 lime ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)

877-750-4636 1. Shred half a head of cabbage, or use a package of pre-shredded. Set aside. 2.

In a food processor, combine lime juice and zest, cilantro, cayenne and jalapeño until it blends into a dressing.

Transfer to a mixing bowl and add the salt and yogurt.

Whisk together until creamy.

3. Add the cabbage and toss until well coated. 4. Chill in the fridge for 30 minute to an hour. 5. Garnish with cilantro and a bit of lime.

www.blowingrock.com

Study Somatics in Depth Pacifica Graduate Institute’s M.A./Ph.D. Program in Depth Psychology with Emphasis in Somatic Studies Neuroscience has now convincingly demonstrated the functional unity between mind and body. This validates one of the foundational principles of depth

Light potato salad

psychology—an understanding

Makes 6 to 8 servings 3 small red potatoes, diced 1 cup grape tomatoes, cut in half 1 cup chopped green beans, cooked ½ cup red onion, finely chopped ½ teaspoon celery seed 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard 1 tablespoon mayonnaise (sub in vegan mayo to make it a vegan dish) juice of 1 lemon, divided ¼ teaspoon black pepper ¹⁄³ cup almonds, sliced 14

1. Boil potatoes on the stove in salted water until tender but not mushy. Drain and chill until potatoes are cool to touch. 2. In a mixing bowl, whisk mustard, mayo, celery seed, black pepper and the juice of half the lemon.

3. Pour the dressing mixture over the potatoes and stir until coated.

4. Next, add in the green beans, tomatoes and onions. Toss to combine and be sure that all the veggies get coated evenly. 5.

Next, add the sliced almonds and the rest of the lemon juice. Stir well. 7. Garnish with a wedge of lemon and a few sliced almonds.

that there are forces of the psyche that stimulate the body’s capacity to heal itself.

This new paradigm has led Pacifica to offer this exciting new degree program specialization.

An Accredited Graduate School with Two Campuses near Santa Barbara, CA

805.969.3626, ext. 305

|

www. pacifica.edu

readbreathe.com PGI_Somatics_BreathMag.indd 1

3/23/12 5:07 PM

Indian Summer The great outdoors.

Just less than two hours from Charlottesville, Va., and four hours from Washington, D.C., sister towns Warm Springs and Hot Springs, nested in the Allegheny Mountains and George Washington National Forest, make Bath County an ideal locale for an outdoor adventure and rejuvenating retreat this fall.

by Marissa Hermanson September 2012

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Free time? Be sure to listen to a chamber concert at Garth Newel Music Center (403 Garth Newel Lane), halfway between Warm Spring and Hot Springs. The main season runs from April through end of October. The Garth Newel Piano Quartet plays classical, jazz and blues throughout the year.

Garthnewel.org

Day One Arrive at Hot Springs around noon and lunch at The Homestead’s Casino (1766 Homestead Dr.). Order the trout sandwich. After all, with the Jackson River meandering through Bath County, it’s fresh and there’s plenty where it came from. Stay at Meadow Lane Lodge and Cottages (646 Meadow Lane Trail), just 4 miles from Warm Springs. The resort sits on 1,400 acres, has 2.5 miles of private fishing on the Jackson River and 15 miles of trails traversing the resort’s land.

Spend your afternoon mountain biking along the ridgeline of Warm Springs Mountain Preserve (9,000 acres of pristine forest) to the top of Flag Rock with Natural Retreats Outfitters. Your guide, most likely a Bath County local, will take you on a guided 7-mile bike ride on easy terrain with some uphill pedaling and will educate you on the flora and fauna of the region. Your trip will end at a pavilion at the Flag Rock Overlook where you can enjoy 360-degree views – West Virginia ridgelines on the western horizon and the town of Staunton on the eastern horizon. Standing atop Flag Rock, you’ll understand why the Algonquin tribe named these mountains Allegheny, meaning “endless.”

Get dinner and drinks at the historic Inn at Gristmill Square’s Waterwheel Restaurant (124 Old Mill Road) in Warm Springs. Cozy up to the tiny bar in the restaurant’s wood-paneled Simon Kenton Pub and order cocktails before heading out for dinner on the back deck overlooking the Warm Springs Run. To start, order the chanterelle mushrooms, which grow wild and in abundance in Bath County, or the littleneck clams. For entrees, try the pan-seared salmon wrapped in Proscuitto, rack of lamb or Pan-roasted chicken. End with the sour cream maple cake with whipped cream.

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Meadow Lane is situated on the historic Fort Dinwiddie, established in 1755 during the French and Indian War, named for Virginia Governor Robert Dinwiddie and later visited by George Washington in 1775.

Day Two

Wake early and head out to the Jackson River to fly fish and watch the mist roll off the lush Alleghenies. Spend four to five hours on the river with a casting lesson, learning the basics of the rod and reel and catching brown trout in Meadow Lane’s private fishing holes. Just after noon, enjoy a picnic lunch and bottle of wine. You might even get lucky and see some of the mink and bald eagles that nest along the Jackson’s riverbanks.

Head back to Warm Springs for a massage or facial at the Inn at Gristmill Square’s Warm Spirit Spa. Enjoy a combination of hot stone, deep tissue and Swedish massage to relax your muscles after two days of outdoor activities.

After replenishing, pick up some gourmet snacks and wine from the Milk House Market in the historic Old Dairy Barn (46 Old Dairy Road) and take a 30-minute jaunt to Lake Moomaw (VA 39W to State Route 600) to watch the sun set over the mountains from Bolar Beach. The 2,530acre lake is surround by 43 miles of the George Washington National Forest.

Pack what?

Not sure what you need to pack. Go to readbreathe.com/ indiansummergear for our top picks.

Day Three In the morning, grab a kayak or canoe for a guided tour of the Lower Jackson, 10 miles below the Garthright Dam (25-minute drive from Warm Springs). Be sure to wear your swimsuit.

When you see the rope swing, you’re going to want to jump in! The kayak trip ends at Petticoat Junction right off Jackson River Road (State Route 687) in Covington.

After a morning of paddling, be sure to soak at the clear, perfectly 98-degree Jefferson Pools (11 Bath St.) in Warm Springs, which is considered the oldest spa structure in the country. Spend an hour in the ladies warm mineral springs.

(Those who are shy, beware: it’s bathing suit optional.) The springs have been around for more than 9,000 years, and they were turned into a spa resort in the 1750s. In 1818, when Thomas Jefferson was 75, he visited the springs to help with his rheumatism and spent his time in the Gentlemen’s Pool House. The Ladies Pool House opened in 1836. Open daily April through October. Open on weekends from November through March.

September 2012

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Who knew one of Virginia’s most historic places could be so delicious?

Now you do!

The many flavors of Rockbridge County help make it a favorite destination on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Visit us.

For your free travel guide call toll-free: 877-453-9822 or visit: lexingtonvirginia.com.

An amazing bridge spans the waters.

And the waters bridge the generations.

Humpback Bridge was built in 1857 so horse drawn carriages could cross Dunlap Creek. Today, families flock to the Alleghany Highlands to kayak, fish, jetski and swim in the clear waters of our lakes, rivers and streams. History over the water, good clean fun on it. It’s uniquely Alleghany.

www.visitalleghanyhighlands.com 540-962-2178 · 888-430-5786 Like us on

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A Juried Fine Art Exhibition

Looking for Unique Shops, Family Fun, and a Weekend Getaway?

FREE admission to 150 artists from across the country. One of the East coast’s finest shows of original art for the past 40 years.

Sample wine from some of the areas best wineries.

Travel through the Meems Bottom Covered Bridge to begin your fun adventures.

The Meems Bottom Bridge is the longest covered bridge in Virginia and the only one crossing the Shenandoah River. The bridge is just one of our beautiful scenic spots!

Shenandoah County is located 90 miles southwest of Washington, D.C. in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley.

www.shenandoahtravel.org

888-367-3965

s t a u n t o n , VA

It’s Cooler in theValley.

TRY OUR COOL CLIMATE VARIETIES

Staunton Subaru

GEWURZTRAMINER, RIESLING, PINOT NOIR, LEMBERGER

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Ox-Eye Vineyards

VISIT OUR TASTING ROOM AT 44 MIDDLEBROOK AVE., STAUNTON, VA FOR DETAILS, VISIT OXEYEVINEYARDS.COM

Staunton Subaru

All Subaru vehicles are built in zero landfill plants, where 100% of the waste is recycled or turned into electricity.

We like to peacefully co-exist with nature.

Come to the Shenandoah Valley to visit Historic Downtown Staunton and stay a night at the Stonewall Jackson Hotel (stonewalljacksonhotel.com) for free, courtesty of Staunton Subaru, when you purchase a new orStaunton Certified Pre-Owned Subaru Subaru.

For more info contact Jessi at 540.213.1852.

297 Pletcher Lee Jackson Hwy

Staunton, VA 24401

Staunton Subaru 800-296-3465 www.stauntonsubaru.com 297 Lee Jackson Hwy Staunton, VA 24401 800-296-3465 www.stauntonsubaru.com Offer ends 10/31/12.

Discover a whole new way to experience the Blue Ridge.

A work of art, framed by nature.

Abingdon is well known for its exceptional arts community.

Discover what inspires so many local artists. It’s the breathtaking natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Explore the famous Virginia Creeper Trail on foot, bicycle or horseback.

Paddle the cool, clear waters of our rivers and lakes. You just might reel in a trophy catch.

Come play in the most colorful place in Virginia.

www.upperjamesriverwatertrail.com

Equipped with over 30 Destinations, your choice of rivers, lakes and streams, a boatload of Virginia State Parks, Key Fishing Locations, our Online Fish Locator and more--This site is where your next adventure begins.

www.abingdon.com

888-489-4144 · 276-676-2282

WHERE THE FISH ARE!

fishvirginiafirst.com

now upload your pictures and videos

Pack the Gear and the Cooler And We Will Handle the Rest September 2012

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The National D-Day Memorial Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest Blue Ridge Parkway-Peaks of Otter Smith Mountain Lake & State Park The Bedford Wine Trail & Historic Centertown And Much More! www.VisitBedford.com . 1-877-447-3257

Franklin County, Virginia Music, Arts & Heritage in perfect harmony! The Eastern Gateway to the Crooked Road Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail and the Round the Mountain Artisan Trail.

Go to VisitFranklinCountyVA.org for more details.

September 2012

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2FWREHU 5LFKPRQG 9$

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Women’s Only Event PLOH UXQ MRJ ZDON

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HERA Women’s Cancer Foundation

ZZZ UXQOLNHDJLUO N FRP You’re Invited to a concert featuring

AARON TIPPIN On Saturday, September 29, 2012 Event begins at 8:30 p.m.

FREE ADMISSION MOUNTAIN HERITAGE FESTIVAL VILLAGE In Historic Downtown Whitesburg, Kentucky Contact: Lee Anna Mullins 606-633-9644 www.mountainheritagefestival.com

The Mountain Heritage Festival will be held September 24-29, 2012 and has been designated by the Kentucky Travel Industry Association as one of the 10 BEST Festivals in Kentucky.

Paid for by in part by the Letcher County Tourism and Convention Commission and the Kentucky Department of Tourism.

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readbreathe.com

the mile

triathlon

by Amelia Walton

We all know that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single footstep, but for two women in Western North Carolina, the journey of a lifetime began in two sea kayaks. Friends Liddell Shannon and Kara Sweeney have spent the last year paddling, biking and hiking their way across 6,700 miles of the United States, driven, so to speak, by a desire to absorb as much of the natural world around them as possible.

The adventure-seeking friends were working together leading teenagers on backpacking and kayaking trips at a camp called Adventure Treks in Alaska when Liddell asked Kara if she would be interested in hiking the Pacific Crest Trail the following April. Kara readily agreed, and they started planning for their big hike. Liddell wasn’t sure she would be able to wait until the following spring to get the adventure party started; and after daydreaming about a paddling trip that would traverse 1,784 miles of the waters between the mountains of Asheville, N.C., and the Gulf Coast of Louisiana, Liddell called Kara and asked, “What if we started our trip sooner and do this crazy paddling trip when we finish with work in October?” It didn’t take much convincing, and soon the girls were making plans to meet in Asheville.

They spent three months paddling down the rivers of the Southeast, camping along the rivers or meeting up with friends occasionally for a hot shower and a chance to re-load supplies.

When asked about planning the trip, Liddell says that they didn’t overthink it.

They talked to some friends who had done the route in the ’90s, checked out the slideshow of pictures from the trip and started looking at maps and talking about gear. This refreshing approach to adventure travel defines the tone the women have set for their year-long trek.

Where some might need six months to plan even one leg of a yearlong journey, Liddell and Kara rely on instinct, training and spontaneity to get them through. The fact that they make it sound so utterly doable tells you pretty much everything you need to know about these remarkable women.

The spontaneity that defines Liddell and Kara’s approach to preparation is also what brought the bike leg of the journey into being. On the last night of their paddling trip, Kara wasn’t able to sleep, and she realized that it was because she wasn’t ready for the adventure to end. The following morning, she looked at Liddell and said, “What are we going to do until April? I’m not September 2012

27

ready for this to be over!”

While some people might be thinking about taking a twomonth-long nap between January and April after spending three months in a tent or in sea kayak, Liddell and Kara decided the sensible thing to do would be to ride their bikes from the Gulf to the Pacific Crest Trailhead.

Energized by the prospect of this next adventure, the girls took a month to regroup and purchase a new bike for Kara; and 30 days later they were off on part two of their epic journey.

At this point, it’s natural to wonder how two women are able to afford to spontaneously decide to take to the water, roads and woods of the United States on what seems like a moment’s notice. When asked about this, Liddell is quick to say that she and Kara are very similar in the way they both treat living hyperfrugally like a game. They delight in living on as little as possible and get a thrill when they can stick to a budget of about $5 per day each for food. They used borrowed gear for the paddling trip; they don’t eat out at restaurants when they hit towns along the way; and, best of all, Kara points out that their only bill in life is for their cellphones. Specifically, Kara says, “It’s fun for us to see how little money we can spend because, as an example, my sister spent more on one month of rent than it cost for the entire paddling trip — and that was just for her rent! A lot of times when we’re going to bed or waking up in such beautiful places, we love to joke, ‘We have such cheap rent,’ which always makes us laugh, but it’s true.”

After making their way 2,200 miles from Louisiana to the Pacific Crest Trail in San Diego on bikes, the two women finally set foot on the trail that started the whole adventure; and they’re planning on completing the 2,650 miles between San Diego and northern Washington this fall. While it is certain that both women have a lot of knowledge to share about how to execute a journey like this, the most compelling piece of advice that they have is in their no-nonsense approach to just getting outside and going for it. Where it could be overwhelming to talk to two people who know so much about human-powered travel, after talking with Liddell and Kara, it’s almost guaranteed that the itch to walk out the front door and find an adventure will set in, because they make it sound not just possible, but incredibly fun.

Sometimes, the very best advice about outdoor adventures has nothing to do with what shoes to buy or where to go, and everything to do with the spirit that you bring to the trek. These two explorers seem to instinctively know that there’s no better gear than the desire to delight in all that nature and the power of the human body can offer. As Liddell says, “Anyone can go outside and play, whether that’s for an hour playing tag or a yearlong human-powered trip. You just have to want to do it”.

Learn more about Kara and Liddell's trip and follow them as they complete the last leg of their epic adventure! broadadventures.tumblr.com

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Husband-and-wife design duo Joseph and Katie Thompson, owners of Joseph Thompson Woodworks, complement each other in design aesthetic, woodworking philosophy and even in conversation, finishing one another’s sentences.

This just happens to be what they are good at: balance. Balance is what makes their furniture design so unique. They merge old-school carpentry techniques with modern design, creating a happy union of the old and the new.

“We have a unique balance,” Katie says. “As far as aesthetics go, we collaborate very well. Our design styles match really well. We both like simple, clean, elegant and form.”

Katie and Joseph collaborate on furniture design, making sure the piece jives with the client’s space and taste.

“And if everything is good from there, Joseph starts building and I supervise,” Katie says, and her husband chuckles affectionately. “We both collaborate on almost every element of each design, although Joseph does most of the building.”

The couple, currently working out of Orangeburg, S.C., and soon to move down the road to Eutawville, uses traditional woodworking methods to build custom furniture with clean, simple lines, ranging from coffee tables and stools to larger pieces like conference tables and

even gun cabinets.

“We are known as transitional. We use traditional methods, but also with a little flair of modern,” Joseph says. “It’s really our take on tradition. We put our own fingerprint on our pieces.”

For his old-school carpentry approach, Joseph uses handsaws and chisels to create dovetail, mortise and tenon joints to keep the furniture together, as opposed to using modern-day fastening devices.

“These joints are beautiful. They are strong. They are going to last for generations," he says. “It’s the wood-towood joint you see in really old furniture.

That’s the reason why it’s still here.

It’s made to expand and contract with the seasons and it allows the wood to breathe.”

Joseph fell in love with furniture design after taking a ship cabinetry class at the Silva Bay Shipyard School in British Columbia. After finishing boatbuilding school and driving his newly built sailboat back home to Georgia, he decided he wanted to hone his furniture building skills, so he went back to school to be a furniture craftsman.

Katie and Joseph’s furniture designs have been seen on display in galleries and exhibits throughout the Southeast.

One of Joseph’s recent creations, a hanging sculptural piece called “We Grow Together” will be on exhibit at the Target Gallery in Alexandria, Va., Sept. 8 through 30 for the galleries 25th anniversary celebration. Joseph’s sculpture is a Cypress crosscut section that he and his father harvested from two thousand-yearold trees that grew together.

“I get so focused on something being functional, but it’s nice to do something that doesn’t necessarily have a purpose, but is just beautiful,” he says.

“Our first instinct is, ‘What can we turn

this into? A table? A stool?’” Katie adds.

“There wasn’t really anything that we could justify doing to this piece because it was already naturally so beautiful.”

As with the “We Grow Together” sculptural piece, Joseph believes that the wood he harvests has a specific purpose.

“Sometimes we can take it a little too far by changing something that is already beautiful. If we do something with a natural edge, there is a fine line where you can almost mess up nature.”

Joseph is careful not to let this happen.

“In the back of my mind, I know it’s not the right time. There is something about this piece that is going to speak to me about a certain piece of furniture or sculpture,” he says. “I’m not just going to cut it up and make something out of it.

It has a specific purpose and we are just waiting for it to come out.”

Katie and Joseph connect with their materials, whether the wood is freshly harvested or reclaimed. They believe each piece has a story and has led a full life, and they want its beauty to shine through with its new purpose.

“The reverence for the material, the design we put in to each piece,” Joseph says. “It’s an honor to work with each material and to do it justice and give it life to carry on.”

– MH

September 2012

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The Cider Trail

Old Hill Cider Timberville, Virginia Old Hill Cider’s blend of apples is heavily based on Albemarle Pippin, Stayman and Winesaps. Shannon Showalter’s orchard, which has been in his family since the mid-60s, is just 30 minutes north of Harrisonburg, Va. The 40-acre orchard produces 26 varieties. Showalter is releasing his hard cider this fall but has been fermenting cider as a hobby for more than 20 years. The farm boasts more than just cider – pick-your-own apples and sweet cider, as well as apple cider donuts. Fun for the whole family. oldhillcider.com

Hard cider producers are an emerging group in the craft beverage industry. Just wander down the road and you’ll find quite a few cideries popping up across the Southeast.

by Marissa Hermanson

Albemarle CiderWorks North Garden, Virginia The Shelton family runs Vintage Virginia, an apple tree nursery, and ferments their own hard cider at Albemarle CiderWorks, just south of Charlottesville, Va. The family business started as an orchard in 2000, and their cider business launched in the summer of 2009. They sell five ciders in 750 ml bottles. Two blends, Jupiter’s Legacy and Ragged Mountain, and three varietals, Royal Pippin, Old Virginia Winesap and Virginia Hewe’s Crab. Bottles are distributed throughout Virginia in Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads, Richmond, Charlottesville and Staunton. albermarleciderworks.com

McRitchie Winery and Ciderworks Thurmond, North Carolina After working in the wine industry in California and Oregon, husband and wife Sean and Patricia McRitchie moved to North Carolina to start their own cider operation. They started selling hard cider in 2007, and you can find it bottled and kegged throughout the Asheville, Charlotte, Raleigh and Durham areas.

They have been sourcing their apples from outside Asheville, but after planting their own orchard twenty miles from the Virginia border, they hope to be crushing apples come 2013. mcritchiewine.com

$4.78 After living in New Zealand for the past decade, John Washburn moved back to his property in Nellysford with the wild idea to start a cider company. He came back with a big dream and cider partner Brian Shanks, a New Zealander who is well-versed in cider production and has helped launch cideries around the world.

Bold Rock started serving cider back in May and now distributes 350 ml six packs from Galax to Leesburg to Virginia Beach. facebook.com/boldrockhardcider

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Go!

Virginia’s inaugural Cider Week kicks off November 12.

Weeklong events will include cider dinners, pairings and mixology throughout the state. Visit ciderweekva.com for more info on events.

Windy Hill Orchard and Cider Mill York, South Carolina Windy Hill started pressing hard cider back in 1996 when they produced so much sweet cider that they didn’t know what to do with it. The orchard and winery also has pick-your-own apples, sweet apple cider, apple pies, apple butter, fresh-made caramel apples and apple donuts, as well as their hard cider in 750 ml bottles. They grow seven varieties, but their mainstays are Stayman’s Winesap and Russet Golden, as well as and the hugely popular Galas and Pink Ladies. Windy Hill cider is available at the orchard and throughout the Carolinas. windyhillorchard.com or yorkcider.com 30

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Million cider sales in 2011

Bold Rock Hard Cider Nellysford, Virginia

Hard craft cider producers across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic

Foggy Ridge Cider Dugspur, Virginia Twenty-five minutes outside of Floyd, Va., Foggy Ridge has been growing apples specifically for cider production since 1998 and has been selling hard cider since 2006. They grow varieties such as Harrison, Hewe’s Crabapple, Roxbury Russets and Ashmead’s Kernel. They sell four bottled ciders – their dry Serious Cider, bestselling First Fruit, Sweet Stayman and Foggy Ridge Handmade. They also make two port ciders – Pippin Gold and Pippin Black. Perfect for after-dinner drinks and mixing into cocktails. foggyridgecider.com

Resources: Cider Guide, Brewers Association

Distillery Lane Ciderworks Jefferson, Maryland The Miller family grows more than 45 varieties of cider apples on 9 acres of their 95-acre farm near Frederick, Md. Distillery Lane offers nine hard ciders including Kingston Black, The Jefferson, Celebration Cider and Limited (a coveted release of about 100 bottles per batch).

This month, Distillery Lane will release Encampment Hard Cider to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War Battle of Crampton’s Gap. The cider company’s farm was used as an encampment for Union soldiers during the Civil War battle. Be sure to swing by cider company Sept. 14 to join in the fun. distillerylaneciderworks.com

Southeast States made the Top 10 list for cider case sales in 2011 No. 4 Virginia, 91,266 cases No. 5 North Carolina, 78,530 cases No. 10 Georgia, 44,293 cases

Castle Hill Cider Keswick, Virginia

Blue Bee Cider Richmond, Virginia

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After apprenticing under Chuck Shelton, the cidermaker at Albemarle CiderWorks, Courtney Mailey decided to open her own urban cider company in Richmond.

Slated to start crushing apples this month, Mailey then hopes to sell Blue Bee Cider in Spring 2013. Blue Bee is located next to Legend Brewing Company in the Old Manchester District. Mailey currently leases orchard land in Nelson County, Va., but will start planting an urban orchard on the cidery premises in late fall 2012. bluebeecider.com

Craft cider producers in the United States

A historic barn used to auction cattle now is the home of Castle Hill’s cider fermenting facility, tasting room and events space.

Castle Hill started serving cider in their tasting room back in July 2011 and they now have five ciders – one still and four sparkling. The Gravity is the still cider and the petillant ciders are Levity, Terrestrial and Celestial – all sold in 750 ml bottles. In the Charlottesville area, you can find Castle Hill at Feast, Greenwood Market, Beer Run, Market Street Wine Shop, Foods of All Nations and Belmont Butchery. castlehillcider.com

Fishing Creek Cider Company Whitakers, North Carolina Seven miles east of the small town of Whitakers, N.C., fatherand-son duo Michael and Anderson O’Brien will start bottling and selling their hard cider this fall. After experimenting with hard cider for the past few years, the O’Briens are now going whole hog with their hobby. They grow more than 35 varieties on their eight-generation family farm (also purchasing apples from North Carolina and Virginia). They are giving tribute to their forefather with his name, L.L. Draughon, and picture on the cider’s label. The first batch released will be a limited supply of 100 cases of 750 ml bottles. fishingcreekcider.com

Potter’s Craft Cider Free Union, Virginia Not too far outside of Charlottesville you can find old college buddies Tim Edmund and Dan Potter, of Potter’s Craft Cider, bottling their Farmhouse Dry cider in their two-room production facility, an old horse veterinary clinic that they renovated to accommodate their booming cider business. These homebrewers turned their hobby into a viable business venture in fall 2010, and since their cider has been picked up on keg and in bottles by bars, restaurants and groceries throughout Central Virginia. You can find them at Blue Mountain Brewery, South Street Brewery, Citizen Burger Bar, Miller’s, The Local restaurant and Charlottesville’s Whole Foods. Their second varietal is aging in Laird's Apple Brandy Barrels and will be released this fall. potterscraftcider.com

Apple wines

Not a hard cider fan? Try these wines and see if they suit your palate.

2011 Apple Wine, Mountain Cove Vineyards, Lovingston, Va. 45% mix of Red and Golden Delicious with 30% Granny Smith, 15% Winesap and 10% Fuji Mountain Apple Wine, Hill Top Berry Farm & Winery, Nellysford, Va. Semi-dry wine made with a blend of apple varieties. Makes great spiced mulled wine and pairs well with pork.

Mill Hill Apple, Wintergreen Winery, Nellysford, Va. Refreshing and crisp wine made from Virginia apples. Great with pork, barbecue, smoked meats and cheeses.

swing by!

Carter Mountain Orchard is open Mid-August through November. They have several pick-your-own varieties and their country store boasts apple butter, jams and jellies, fruit syrups and pancake mixes. Stop by the bakery for fresh, hot apple cider donuts and apple pies. cartermountainorchard.com

September 2012

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