Active NorCal September/October

Northern California’s Sport, Fitness and Outdoor Magazine

™

September/October 2014 - Issue 5

Falling for Norcal

A Dog Owner’s Best Friend Flying Saucers Spotted Over NorCal The Haunted Upper Sacramento

Great Local

Motorcyle Rides

10

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Active NorCal Online Find exclusive content at ActiveNorCal.net Like us on Facebook Active Norcal

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Shasta Living Streets Active NorCal is all about promoting active lifestyles, and bringing the community together to make the North State a better place to work

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September/October Digi Edition

Print is great and it’s nice to have a hard copy in front of you, but did you know you can also view every edition of Active NorCal on your laptop, tablet or smartphone for free on our website? Just visit activenorcal.net and click on the digital editions tab to see all of our content in a digital format.

Mt. Shasta Winter/Summer

We can’t get enough of Mount Shasta, but we can’t decide what’s better—winter Mt. Shasta or summer Mt. Shasta? activenorcal.net

September/October Active NorCal

1

contents

September/October 2014 Features 16 Two Wheels and Tatoos

When someone says they ride motorcycles because they get better gas mileage, you can be pretty sure they are lying. They are riding for thrills. Let’s start up our engines, strap on our helmets and cruise through ten great rides in NorCal.

Departments

pg. 16

4

Publisher’s Note

6

Local Sports

10

Just for Fun

14 Fitness

pg. 10

22 Cover Story:

A Dog Owner’s Guide to NorCal

The relationship between humans and their tail-wagging friends drifts back to the mists of time, and the designation “man’s best friend” has been universally accepted. We think it’s safe to say that pups and active lifestyles go hand-inhand, so we put together a guide for any dog owner to navigate through NorCal.

Including:

10 Places to Take Your Mutt 5 Dog Training Tips Dog Etiquette Keeping Your K-9 Safe Haven Humane Society

pg. 22 activenorcal.net

pg. 38 28 Landmarks 32 Fishing 38 Health 40 Humor

Cover photography by Nigel Skeet

September/October Active NorCal

3

Publisher’s Note

How the Ice-Bucket Challenge Changed the World On August 18th, I voluntarily took a large cooler full of water and ice, and dumped it on my own head. I was far from alone in doing this.

Thousands participated in this “viral” challenge and, in doing so, positively shifted the direction of one unassuming non-profit organization.

If you have lived in a cave for the past month, the Ice Bucket Challenge is simply the act of dumping a bucket of ice water on your head.

You follow up by challenging others to do the same within 24 hours, or donate to ALS research (ALS Association, ALSA.org). The campaign has grown exponentially every day, if only due to the fact that people enjoy watching friends and family get dowsed with almost frozen water.

On July 31st of this year, former Boston College baseball player Peter Frates completed the first ever Ice Bucket Challenge to raise money for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

Frates, who suffers from ALS, did it from his wheelchair, then challenged a few friends and celebrities (NFL quarterbacks Matt Ryan and Tom Brady) to follow suit in order to “strike out” ALS. That challenge began a phenomenon the likes of which very few charitable organizations have seen before.

As of August 25th, the ALS Association had received $79.7 million in donations, compared to $2.5 million during the same time period last year. Celebrities, professional athletes and politicians have joined in on the challenge.

Extreme Ice Bucket Challenges began to surface (see the video of a local maniac doing an epic Ice Bucket Challenge on ActiveNorCal.net), with buckets of water being dumped on heads from helicopters and construction equipment.

I know we are in the midst of severe drought, so be creative. I saw one woman belly flop into the ice-cold Sacramento River. (Note: I accomplished my Ice Bucket Challenge on my lawn during my legally scheduled watering day.) Or just freaking donate!

This is far from the first time people have engaged in acts of physical lunacy for charity. Individuals have participated in charitable Polar Bear Plunges for over a century. There are thousands of walks, runs and races dedicated to charity every year. But this is the first viral challenge. This is the first time people were challenged to raise money and awareness in front of a group of their (online) peers. Only a jerk wouldn’t respond, right? After all, it’s for charity!

Make no mistake about it—This is a marketing campaign that changes everything. The Internet and social media give all of us a platform to speak our mind. And in some weird way, this campaign made its participants accountable. It’s sort of like being confronted at a charity dinner—How could you not donate?

I predict we have not seen the end of viral charitable challenges. In fact, this may be just the beginning. Maybe we could have a different challenge for a different charity every week? The more creative the challenge, the more donations the charity is bound to receive.

Simply hosting a charity dinner or doing a sell-a-thon should be philanthropic acts of the past. Let’s get creative. Let’s get crazy. Let’s get active!

Zach 4

Active NorCal September/October 2014

activenorcal.net

Publisher Zach O’Brien

Editor

Chip O’Brien

Content Manager Ross Lawrence

Sales Manager Kevin Reinhart (530) 355-3018

Art Director Adrienne Rosone

Active NorCal is published bimonthly by Active NorCal, 1350 Placer Street, Redding, CA, 96001, (530) 247-7330, Copyright 2013.

All rights reserved.

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local sports

The Ultimate Alternative Keeping Competitive Cool

By Ross Lawrence

6

Active NorCal September/October 2014

istock.com

All you need to play is a Frisbee, an open field and a few people. Ultimate Frisbee is definitely a sport greater than the sum of its parts. The game combines the running of soccer, the passing and throwing of football and the fast-paced nature of hockey. Ultimate Frisbee is picking up momentum in the North State largely due to the efforts of Redding Ultimate Association. At Caldwell Park most Wednesday nights of the summer and fall you’ll find a group of passionate (and exceptionally talented) athletes darting across the field enjoying ultimate under the lights.

The founding members of Redding Ultimate Association used to show up on Wednesday evenings at Caldwell Park thanks to donations from a local church that paid to turn on the lights. In later years they scrounged up enough money to pay for the lights themselves.

“About five years ago we started paying for the lights ourselves,” recalled Redding Ultimate Association founding member Don O’Connell, “but that didn’t really work out. So, about three years ago we organized, came together with the city, and now we’re in the Activities Guide.

We have board meetings and a travel team called Discos Calientas, and we host tournaments.”

O’Connell discovered the game in 1989 after seeing a flyer about ultimate at San Francisco State. Having quit playing traditional sports like hockey and baseball, O’Connell was intrigued by ultimate

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Unlike sports such as hockey where the spirit seems to be to get away with whatever you can, ultimate is a game where you try your best to avoid making a foul. because of his experience with disc golf.

The game represented a means for him to continue playing sports and stay active after high school.

“One thing I’ve noticed as I’ve grown, is you lose a lot of athletes from high school and college,” O’Connell noted. “As you get older and a little more calm, you don’t necessarily want to be cut-throat competitive. Ultimate is a great alternative that keeps you athletic as an adult.”

A contrast to most traditional sports, many flock to ultimate because of its equality. Even if you’re not a standout player or you’re just getting into the game, you’re going to have plenty of opportunities to participate. During any given match, every player on the field has

the chance to play quarterback, to have a great play or two and leave thinking, “Wow, that was an awesome thing I did!”

“As a co-ed sport, you’re encouraged to play a lot, and people will throw the disc to you regardless of your gender. In other sports there’s not quite the same dynamic,” said ultimate participant Monica Fugitt. “I think ultimate scares a lot of women away because they think things like, ‘I can’t throw a Frisbee,’ but anyone can throw a Frisbee. You just have to get out here and try it out.”

Unlike sports such as hockey where the spirit seems to be to get away with whatever you can, ultimate is a game where you try your best to avoid making a foul.

This aspect adds to the honor and sports-

manship of the game, but also makes it more welcoming to those that don’t want to leave frustrated or slighted by the other team. There are no referees in ultimate.

Even if there’s a disagreement about a foul call, there are detailed rules for dealing with the situation, which maintains the integrity and laidback nature of the sport.

“In a lot of team sports, win or lose, you get angry with the other team because of either their personalities, or how they played the game,” said O’Connell.

“Ultimate is the only sport I know of that clearly says fouls are wrong, which makes it much less likely that you’ll leave frustrated with your opponent.”

Going into the future, Redding Ultimate Association hopes to draw more par-

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Active NorCal September/October 2014

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Ultimate Frisbee Basics 1. The game is played on a rectangular field similar to a football field. Regulation fields are 70 yards by 40 yards, and the end zones are each 25 yards deep.

2. In order to score, a team must complete a pass in its opponents’ end zone (like football). A team is rewarded one point for a score.

3. To begin a match or to restart a game after a score, each team lines up across

ticipants, especially young people. There are youth leagues around the country, but no youth team exists yet in the North State. In order to remedy this, members of Redding Ultimate have volunteered at local schools to expand the reach of ultimate. Fortified by a group of people crazy about the game, you can be sure that Redding Ultimate Association and ultimate Frisbee will continue to expand in NorCal. Looking back on my experience playing under the lights at Caldwell Park, it’s hard to match the thrill of catching the disc to score, or making a score-preventing block in the end zone. Even as a novice, I left with the satisfaction of knowing I had made a contribution.

NORCAL

its respective end zone line. Then, the throwing team or defensive team (much like the kicking team in football) throws or “pulls” the Frisbee down the field to the other (receiving) team.

4. An officially sanctioned game has seven active players per team, but informal pick up games can accommodate many more participants.

5. The disc may be advanced down the field in any direction by passing it to a teammate. A player in possession of the disc cannot run or walk to advance the disc. The thrower or person with the Frisbee has a ten second period to throw it before it is marked dead, and turned over to the opposition.

6. Possession of the disc is changed when a pass is not completed as a result of it going out of bounds, being intercepted, blocked or dropped. The defensive team immediately takes possession of the Frisbee, and goes on offense when there is a turnover.

7. Teams can have several substitutes on the sidelines at any given time. Inactive players (subs) can replace active players after a score, or a timeout.

8. There is no physical contact allowed between opposing players. Screens and picks are forbidden. If there is contact, a foul is called.

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September/October 2014 Active NorCal

9

just for fun

Flying Saucers Sited in NorCal The Never Ending Challenge of Disc Golf

By Ross Lawrence

I arrived at Enterprise Park on a hot Monday morning to meet members of the NorCal Nexus Disc Golf Club, not knowing at all what to expect. It struck me that seven or eight people were already sitting beneath the trees at the first tee box getting ready for a round. As I approached, I was greeted warmly. Speaking with some of the disc golfers I quickly realized that this large, Monday-morning congregation was nothing out of the ordinary. Disc golf is much more than a passing hobby—it’s an obsession. It’s part of life and has motivated a large group of like-minded locals, young and old, to band together and make the NorCal community a better place.

There was a time when the Enterprise Park disc golf course was an aging, overgrown ruin complete with vulgar graffiti and frequented by people with no interest in playing a round. NorCal Nexus resurrected the park transforming it into a pristine recreation area. In fact, the Enterprise course was voted cleanest disc golf course in the North State last year by Northern Flights, another local disc golf organization.

“One day we were just sitting out here at Enterprise talking about how fed up we were with the park not being family oriented, not being clean and not being friendly,” recalled charter member of NorCal Nexus Justin Barrett. “So, during all those weeks when it was raining last winter, we started the club, cleaned up all the trash, got rid of the graffiti and made it place where everyone wants to come and play now.”

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Active NorCal September/October 2014

Started with the goal of making the local disc golf course a clean, safe place, NorCal Nexus has expanded by hosting league nights Tuesdays at 6 p.m. and Sundays at 9 a.m. With only about five members at its inception this past April, NorCal Nexus now has more than 60 members.

The organization has even made charitable donations of disc golf equipment.

Noticing that Shasta Meadows School

activenorcal.net

lacked the proper gear, the club teamed up with Play-it-Again Sports to donate $150 worth of discs for the kids.

“Our goal is to have an event this September, and hopefully we can raise enough money from that to give more charitable donations and make some bigger improvements to Enterprise that we haven’t been able to yet,” said Barrett. “I want this club to be an organization by

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Active NorCal September/October 2014

A small patch of concrete typically marks the tee box on each hole of a disc golf course. Players aim for the chain baskets, the equivalent of a regular golf hole.

the people and for the people. I want every single person to have input, and also, to have a great time.”

NorCal Nexus’ meteoric rise to prominence makes you wonder what causes people to get so fanatical about disc golf in the first place. Many love it because it remains a sport that can never truly be mastered, much like regular golf or surfing. Even if you play the same course over and over, it never gets old. For some, disc golf is an almost meditative experience. Once you’re on the tee box, you don’t have to think about anything except the game. Others enjoy the social aspects of the sport, which are manifested in players trading discs (like trading baseball cards).

“My buddy brought me out to play one day, and it was like skipping rocks. It was so fun,” said Enterprise local Dustin Barry.

“I used to be a fisherman, but I sold all my tackle so that I could buy all my disc golf stuff; I have three bags of discs now—you get really into it, it’s almost like collecting baseball cards.”

Spending time with the Enterprise locals and watching them play was a unique experience. I had never met a group of people so talented and passionate, yet also so laid-back and inviting.

With coaches screaming at their players in football, and many athletes taking sports so seriously, they forget to have fun. I found it refreshing that, despite spending inordinate amounts of time practicing, the members of NorCal Nexus manage to stay grounded and carefree.

“I think there’s a stigma about disc golfers that they’re slackers, but just like any other sport you have to put in a lot of time and effort to get good,” stated local professional disc golfer An-

activenorcal.net

drew Ramos. “Disc golf is just like regular golf. It all comes down to patience and composure. It’s competitive, and that’s what I like about it.”

Despite not having the widespread exposure of some other sports, disc golf ‘s almost ridiculous local following makes you realize the special atmosphere surrounding the sport. Discs are cheap and durable. Most courses are free, and at Enterprise at least you’ll find some of the nicest people around doing their best to get new people into the game. Whether you’re three or eightythree, there’s a spot for you out on the disc golf course.

NORCAL

Places to play 1. Enterprise Park: An 18-hole course with a variety of different holes. It was voted cleanest course in the North State by Northern Flights Disc Golf Club. It features a tricky wooded section, which adds to the difficulty level, there’s plenty of shade and you’ll always find friendly locals looking to play with someone new.

Off of Victor Ave. in Redding just west of the intersection of Bonnyview Ave. and Rancho Rd. 2. Anderson River Park: An expansive 18-hole course with a mixture of trees, open spaces and beautiful surroundings. The course is great for intermediate players and provides a nice environment for nighttime (light up) disc golf.

From the North St. exit off of I-5, head east to Stingy Ln. then take a left on Rupert Rd. The park is on the right.

3. Sacramento River RV Park: Large, professionally designed course with great views of the Sacramento River.

Golfers must pay $5 to play the course, but it’s easy to follow, and possibly the best course in the area.

Get off of I-5 at the Knighton Rd. exit, then head west to Riverland Dr. 4. Edgewater: An 18-hole course in Henderson Open Space along the Sacramento River. It’s a decent course that provides scenic views of the river, but needs maintenance. It’s generally safe, but not a “family-oriented” area; it’s not recommended you visit by yourself.

In Redding, take Cypress Rd. to Hartnell then turn right onto Parkview Ave. 5. Upper Bidwell Park (Chico): A great course with rugged terrain, and stunning views of Big Chico Creek Canyon. This “advanced” course is huge, and has great variety. When visiting Upper Park, be sure to wear sturdy shoes, and watch out for poison oak.

activenorcal.net

September/October 2014 Active NorCal

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fitness

Reaping Rewards

Overworked Moms Can Be Fit Moms

By Annette Bryant

14

Active NorCal September/October 2014

istock.com

The last thing busy moms need to hear is that we need to work out daily to remain healthy and better our chances for a longer life. Who has an extra hour to devote to revving up your heart rate when you’re barely able to comb the kids’ hair before school?

Besides, exercise is grueling, and if you could find the extra time you might do something a lot more pleasant. Right?

The good news is studies show that even short daily workouts reap real benefits for physical and mental health, and they can be fun. Harvard Medical School recently studied the health habits of more than 650,000 people over 40, and they found that even a modest amount of exercise provided great health benefits. People who walked briskly for 75 minutes a week (11 minutes a day) lived 1.8 years longer than those who didn’t exercise. Those who worked out the recommended 150 minutes a week (22 minutes a day) added 3.4 years to their life. If you make that workout a vigorous one, say jogging, you would double the benefit in the same period of time.

So, can you find 11 minutes a day? Busy moms must get creative and incorporate their revving up into everyday activities.

Walking or jogging with your dog first thing in the morning can be motivating and a real pleasure for your pet. Years ago my daily regimen started just that way; two chocolate Labs on a leash, 6 a.m. every morning for a 15-minute walk (which they forced into a jog) that made me feel better than I ever had.

Not at first, of course, but over time that little bit of exercise gave me so much energy and helped me shed a few pounds. In 15 minutes I could burn 100 calories, 3000 a month, or nearly 12 pounds a year.

Once I got in the habit, I couldn’t stop. I’d get home from my jog with the dogs, wake the kids and make breakfast. Before I poured the first glass of orange juice I would get down on the floor and do 10 push-ups; from my knees at first, but ten seconds later I was ready to start breakfast. In between each stage of preparing breakfast I would do ten more push-ups or twenty crunches. By 6:30 a.m. I had breakfast made and 30 push-ups and 50 crunches under my belt, not to mention a 15-minute jog and two happy dogs. Heading in to take a shower I would stop and do a couple of stretches and two yoga poses. By 7:30 a.m. I had the kids up, dressed, fed and ready to roll out the door. My workout for the day was finished.

If that specific scenario doesn’t work for you because maybe your kids are too young to leave alone while you jog, get creative with your 15 minutes of aerobics a day. Try running in place while watching the news, dance to your heart’s content to your favorite tunes, jump rope, anything to get your heart rate up and your endorphins making you feel great and ready to start the day. Those crazy Labrador Retrievers got me started on a lifelong journey of daily exercise.

What’s your inspiration?

NORCAL

activenorcal.net

Chiropractic is Giving Cheerleaders Something to Cheer About

Hamstring injury pain is a common occurrence among professional football cheerleaders.

Now there is a proven, effective, non-drug treatment.

Each year, cheerleaders, professional athletes, and other sports enthusiasts experience repetitive movements that cause disabling injuries. Hamstring injuries — typically the result of a pull, strain or tear to the muscle — are amongst the most common injuries affecting cheerleaders.

But there’s good news: New research published in the authoritative Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, (March 2011), found that specific hamstring exercise intervention provided by a Doctor of Chiropractic may result in significant relief of hamstring injury-related pain.

The season-long research involved 43 professional football cheerleaders who all received exercise intervention.

“After the season closed, we found that those who had reported hamstring injury-related pain between June and September showed a significant decrease in pain after receiving treatment,” says Dr. Jay Greenstein, the lead author in the study. “Doctors of Chiropractic have extensive training in treating a variety of sports injuries through spinal adjustments, soft tissue techniques and rehabilitation — without the use of drugs or surgery.” So whether you’re a professional athlete, a weekend warrior, or anything in between, you too can experience the benefits of Chiropractic.

Find your own Doctor of Chiropractic and reason to cheer at: www.calchiro.org.

on the road

&

TWO Wheels Tattoos

16

Active NorCal September/October 2014

activenorcal.net

BY Chip O’Brien

When someone says they ride motorcycles because they get better gas mileage, you can be pretty sure they are lying. While that might be an acceptable strategy when addressing the little old ladies of the garden club, anyone who’s twisted the throttle on a two-wheeled rocket ship and felt the torque of a powerful engine threaten to wrench your arms from their sockets knows better.

activenorcal.net

September/October Active NorCal

17

Ten “Great” NorCal Motorcycle Rides Favorite Sport Bike Rides

The book “Destination High-

age and motorcycle prefer-

ways, Northern California” by

ence. Younger riders tend to

Brian Bosworth and Michael

love the thrill and exhilaration

Hwy. 299 West from Redding

Sanders lists 334 different

of powerful sport bikes, which

to the Pacific coast

“great” rides in NorCal. The

are best suited for carving

website motorcycleroads.

curvy roads at higher speeds.

Hwy. 3 from Hwy 36

com lists 60 rider-contributed

For them, things like scenery

“great” rides in California,

are secondary to the thrill fac-

many of which are in the

tor of the road. Older riders

North. Lonelyplanet.com lists

tend to favor cruisers better

Rt. 1 along the entire Califor-

suited for straighter roads, a

nia coast among the ten best

slightly slower pace and more

motorcycle rides in America.

emphasis on scenery. Now

So, how do we narrow that down? First, what is “great?”

Generally speaking (very), people who love riding street

(South and West from Redding) North through Hayfork to Yreka Hwy. 89 through Lassen Volcanic National Park (Warning: Speeding tickets very expensive)

Favorite Cruiser Rides

that we’ve managed to anger

Hwy. 299 East from Redding

Hwy. 36 from Red Bluff to

both groups, here are a few

to Burney

Lassen Volcanic National Park

so-called “Great” NorCal rides

Hwy. 20 West from Williams

Hwy. 44 from the North

for each.

to Fort Bragg

entrance to Lassen Park to

motorcycles fall into two

Hwy. 36 to Susanville

categories split along lines of

Hwy. 97 from Weed North to Klamath Falls, Oregon Hwy. 89 from the North entrance to Lassen Park North to I-5 Mills to Alturas

18

Active NorCal September/October 2014

activenorcal.net

istock.com

Hwy. 299 East from Fall River

T

hanks to Hollywood and abundant sunny weather, motorcycles are deeply engrained in the California psyche. Who can forget Peter Fonda, Jack Nicholson and Dennis Hopper in Easy Rider? Even before that was bad boy Marlon Brando’s The Wild One. Tough guys like James Dean, Steve McQueen, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Clint Eastwood have all been seen on two wheels while forever tattooing themselves into the California persona.

NorCal is flush with people who prefer to enjoy the amazing natural beauty of our North State on two wheels rather than four. Even on those blast-furnace days of summer when you might do just about anything to stay near an air conditioner, you see them roaring down the highways with the sun glistening off their tanned hides. You see them rumbling down Hilltop Drive on tricked out Harleys, or in formations of several sleek crotch rockets leaning hard into the curves of Hwy. 299 East like Blue Angels in tight formation.

Aside from a few weeks of insane heat in the summertime and some liquid sunshine (precious little lately) during winter, there aren’t too many bad days to be riding a motorcycle around here. A number of NorCal highways are rated as some of the “Best in the West” for motorcycles (See Ten Great Rides).

We reached out to each of Redding’s four major motorcycle dealers to shed some light on the popularity of motorcycling in the North State: “We have some of the best roads in the nation,” said Jerry Standridge, Sales Manager for Lee’s Honda-Kawasaki-Polaris, “and an incredible variety of roads.” West of Redding Standridge prefers Hwy. 36 between Red Bluff and Fortuna. “The coast is two or three hours max,” he added. “Head over on those hot summer days. Leave early and come back late.” He also favors

the smaller roads between Hwys. 299 and 44 East of Redding. “Head East and go through little towns like Shingletown, Manton and Whitmore,” he said. He also touted riding through Lassen Park, and all the way to Susanville.

Steve McCarley, owner of Redding Yamaha Sea-Doo, knows why motorcycles are so popular in the North State. Simply put, it’s the combination of scenery and weather.

“We’re at the tip of the Valley,” McCarley stated. “In any of three directions you can get up to 800-6,000 feet pretty quick where the weather is cooler. We are three hours from the coast and three hours from San Francisco. You can ride highways 101 and 1 at the coast, or highways 299, 36 or Hwy. 3 inland. (This June I joined Steve and a large group of riders as we made our way down scenic byways East of Redding to Red Bluff, then on to Platina and Hayfork before heading back to Redding.)

Another of McCarley’s favorites is Hwy. 20 from Williams all the way to Fort Bragg.

Speaking of the recent trend toward three-wheel motorcycles in a variety of configurations, “These are popular with a lot of older riders,” McCarley said. “The three-wheelers are super-safe and stable while offering the feel of a motorcycle.”

Well, some more than others.

“We were just discussing the other day,” McCarley mused, “where is the line between riding and driving?” With the recent popularity of very sophisticated three-wheelers, the answer isn’t readily apparent.

The Can-Am Spyder has two wheels in front, a third in the rear, and has handlebars and a dashboard much like a motorcycle. The new Polaris Slingshot has the same wheel configuration; only the front end looks like it’s been chopped off an automobile. It has a round steering wheel instead of handlebars.

So, when are you riding (like on a motorcycle) and when are you driving (like in

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The Big Bike Weekend website includes videos of police officers doing incredible things with motorcycles and displaying skills most of us wouldn’t even dare dream of.

September/October Active NorCal

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The growing segment of adventure bike enthusiasts adds a new dimension to the sport, as do ventures into the world of three-wheeled bikes of different configurations.

a car)? “I don’t have the answer for that one,” laughed McCarley, “but there’s a line in there somewhere!”

Ernie Wright, owner of Redding Harley-Davidson, stated, “Our average rider is probably 50-55 years old, is a homeowner with a family and uses the bike mainly for weekend touring. They can run to the coast to get out of the heat, over to Lake Almanor or out Hwy. 44. We are 40 miles from the foothills to the East or West. We are in a great starting place to ride most anywhere.”

“Spring and fall are the best times for riding,” continued Wright, “but that’s probably true most anywhere?

The Motor Company (Harley-Davidson) makes some great hydration vests that sell well here in the summer, and in places like Arizona.”

“Here (in NorCal) we can ride more often in winter than you can a lot of other places,” Wright said. “You get a good, dry 60-degree day in winter, and you can ride.”

As far as trends are concerned, Wright described how older riders are willing to buy “more motorcycle” (larger, heavier bikes). These are also the riders sometimes venturing into three-wheelers with more stability, weight and comfort than two-wheeled motorcycles.

“Adventure bikes are cool,” said Craig Fator, owner of Fator’s Motorcycles, “and very big right now. They can go just about anywhere.” Referring to a popular class of motorcycles (also called dual-sport) designed for both on and off-road use, they are just as much at home on dirt trails as they are on pavement.

Speaking of trails, NorCal is also home to the immensely popular Chappie-Shasta OHV (off highway vehicle) Area ten miles northwest of Redding. Managed by the Redding BLM (Bureau of Land Management) Office, Chappie-Shasta boasts 200 miles of roads and trails covering 52,000 acres. According to the U. S. Department of Agriculture website, elevations in the OHV Area range from 600 feet to 5,000 feet, including stunning views of Mount Shasta, Lake Shasta and the Trinity Alps.

In addition to Hwy. 36 West, Fator also loves to ride

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Hwy. 36 between Red Bluff and Lassen Park, and Hwy. 49 from Nevada City all the way to Truckee and Lake Tahoe. When asked about managing the summer heat on a motorcycle, he mentioned there are only about four weeks (usually July) when it’s just too hot to ride. When asked about managing the winter rain, he responded, “Rain? What rain?” -Point well taken.

A fun way to grasp the scale and vitality of the NorCal biking community is noting the popularity of Redding’s Big Bike Weekend, scheduled this year for October 10-12th. Their website (bigbikeweekend.com) describes some of the fun events planned in the vicinity of their host hotel (Holiday Inn on Hilltop Drive) as well as on area roadways. Not all of the events are directly related to riding motorcycles, but the fact that sponsors evidently know their tribe well is born out by the grand popularity of the annual soirée. Activities include bike shows, a ladies self-defense class, a strongman competition with an appearance by Ken Shamrock (voted The World’s Most Dangerous Man by ABC News), and the Cal-Neva Training Series sponsored by the Redding Police Department (RPD).

The Big Bike Weekend website includes videos of police officers doing incredible things with motorcycles and displaying skills most of us wouldn’t even dare dream of. For those of us who have tried riding motorcycles through those seemingly innocent orange plasticconed courses a time or two, the skill and skill of these law enforcement riders borders on the unbelievable.

They’re so good in fact, that their performances might as well be saying, “Don’t even try” to would-be motorcycle felons. Frankly, I’m glad they’re on our side.

The final event of the day is the RPD Remembrance Ride, where visiting motorcycle officers from all over the state are invited to ride along with up to 500 other motorcycles along the 30-mile route ending up back at the Holiday Inn. Even if motorcycles are not your thing, witnessing at least part of this is inspiring and strangely moving; all that chrome, the rumble of hundreds of motorcycles that you can actually feel coming up through the pavement, headlights ablaze for as far as the eye can see. It’s a beautiful thing.

While no real men actually want to be seen as Hollywood-handsome tough guys with the power to control massive horsepower, ahem, while laughing danger in the face, motorcycles are likely to remain popular in the North State. The growing segment of adventure bike enthusiasts adds a new dimension to the sport, as do ventures into the world of three-wheeled bikes of different configurations. These are just a few reasons why motorcycling is likely to remain an active and thriving activity in the North State.

Truth is, you may have also misjudged those little old ladies of the garden club. These days it’s hard to know how many might be sporting body piercings and tribal tattoos under those gardening smocks.

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September/October 2014 Active NorCal

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Cover Story

A Dog Owner’s Guide to NorCal

By Zach O’Brien

Owwwww! Oww Oww Owwwwwww! The wild howl of a dog is primitive in nature, yet undeniably connects with the primitive drives lurking in all human beings.

The love affair between humans and their tail-wagging friends drifts back into the mists of time, and the designation “man’s best friend” is universally accepted.

There can be many reasons to own a pup—security, companionship—but one cannot deny that at the very least, a dog can provide its owner unconditional love.

And it’s safe to say that pups go hand-in-hand with active lifestyles. After all, it’s those “puppy eyes” that get you going for a run in the morning, or a hike in the afternoon, or a relaxing walk in the evening.

Everyone has their own routine, but creatively “mixing it up” can increase happiness and healthiness for both your dog and yourself.

INSIDE

10 Places to Take Your Mutt 5 Dog Training Tips Dog Etiquette Keeping Your K-9 Safe Haven Humane Society 22

Active NorCal September/October 2014

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September/October Active NorCal

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10

Places to Take Your Mutt

These ten locations are proof that NorCal is truly man’s best friend’s best friend:

Whiskeytown Lake Where do you begin? Any of the many trails, especially the ones that conclude at a waterfall, are prime locations for a mutt.

For any athletic pooches wanting a challenge, you can summit Shasta Bally. I’ve seen dogs up there.

Mary Lake The cruise around Mary Lake is easy for any dog as you can roam at your own pace with opportunities to stop and enjoy the water at any time. The trail is less than a mile long, and there are disposable bags and water fountains along the route.

Sacramento River Trail There are so many options at the Sacramento River Trail to enjoy exercise along the river, and the cooler air that surrounds it.

Bicycle, skateboard, rollerblade, walk or run; It’s all good on this trail.

Benton Dog Park Located adjacent to the Benton Air Park, this dog park has a large surface of grass and shade, and has numerous water fountains for doggy hydration. Make sure your mongrel can handle being social with others, as you will surely encounter some company at this popular location.

Bechelli Open Space (Turtle Bay East Open Space Area) Located at the very north end of Bechelli Lane in Redding, this park is located where Highway 44 intersects with the Sacramento River. Leashes aren’t required and you can roam the trails until you find a calm spot in the river for your pooch to take a dip.

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Active NorCal September/October 2014

Anderson River Park This park is so big that you can typically find a large area just for yourself and dog friend. Leashes are required in some areas.

There are some great trails with an abundance of shade for a relaxing walk.

Turtle Bay While you will need to keep your dog leashed up at this location, all four entrances to Turtle Bay provide great trails. While other locations identified under the Turtle Bay umbrella (Sacramento River Trail, Bechelli Open Space), it is worth noting that Turtle Bay has some great places to hang out with your dog, including the Sundial Bridge.

Bidwell Park (Chico) The vastness of Bidwell creates so many opportunities to get active with your dog. Whether it’s the trails/swimming holes in Upper Bidwell Park, or the relaxing, shaded areas of Lower Bidwell Park, dogs are welcome everywhere. For a relaxing day, try going to One Mile or Hooker Oak Park. For the adventure seekers, hike deep back into Upper Park (past Salmon Hole) to find an empty swimming hole. Watch out for rattlesnakes.

DeGarmo Park (Chico) Located on the south end of Esplanade in Chico, this park has a large recreation area and dog park where you can have a social time off leash. Maintained by the City of Chico, this place is typically a very clean and well-kempt environment.

Mt. Shasta Dog Park Located adjacent to Shastice Park in Mt. Shasta, this park provides much for a family to do in a day, especially one with a pup.

Your fleabag likes to play in the snow? Welcome to paradise!

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5

Dog Training Tips

By Andrew Figueroa—Wooftraining.com

1

1. Have a Positive Relationship with your Dog—This is crucial. Your dog should be your friend, not someone you’re constantly battling with. Giving your dog love and attention at the right times is really important. After all, isn’t that what having a dog is all about?

2. Clear Communication—When you say something to

2

your dog, the dog needs to understand the command. That comes with practice, a little bit of training, and consistency.

Sometimes, you just need to do something fifty times in a row every day for a week before your dog really understands what you’re trying to communicate. Your dog needs to understand what’s expected.

3

3. Teach Respect—Your dog needs to be motivated by your relationship in order to conquer bad behavior. Most of the time, that’s when the dog is running away with its back turned. When you say “come,” they need to respect that and come back to you, even if there’s a distraction. You have to set yourself up for success.

4. Encourage Calmness—It’s weird to say, but you have teach your dog to be bored. Sometimes the dog just has to sit there and do nothing. Teach them how to be bored and

4

relaxed, and they won’t react in public when there’s a lot of stimulus. What’s a good way to do that? Just a repeated down command, and try to keep them there for a half hour, forty-five minutes. Do that over and over. Then start doing it in public. I brought my dogs to the front of Walmart, and I have them just sit there. I do that with the service dogs that I train. They just lay down, and they don’t do anything.

Eventually it gets to the point where the dog takes a nap.

They will wear themselves out just by keeping their heads up. You have to control the dog’s energy level.

5. Leash Train—On a leash, you don’t want your dog pulling you around. I don’t recommend those retractable leashes that have your dog zipping in and out, going around posts

5

and bars. You want your dog to follow you. When leash training, constantly walk away from the dog when he’s on the leash. Teach them to follow by constantly leading, and they’ll eventually learn. That takes practice. If you’re walking the same direction as your dog and the dog is pulling you, then he is going to think he’s leading you. You can just go back and forth back and forth, and that can be effective.

Equipment is really important. Electric collars and training collars are great. You have to have a collar that gives the dog a bit of input. A Martingale collar, a type that tightens if the dog pulls sort of like a choker, can be helpful too.

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September/October Active NorCal

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Dogs Need Etiquette Too

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Active NorCal September/October 2014

Keeping Your K9s Safe Travel—Transporting dogs from point A to point B can be a chore.

Many people have their own routines for doing this, especially in NorCal’s sometimes-vicious summer heat. Always keep your dog’s well being in mind first.

On the way out to the lake, you may have to make a pit stop at the grocery store for supplies. This creates a dilemma, since you typically can’t bring your dogs inside with you. Simply rolling down your car windows might not be enough, as the car’s temperature could still reach upwards of 120 degrees. One trick is to bring two sets of keys, leaving the car and air conditioning running with the doors locked while you are inside. This plan could thwart any break-in attempts while keeping your K9s cool and comfortable.

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Safety—Rattlesnakes should be a worry for any dog owner during the summer in NorCal. Rattlesnake vaccinations for dogs are recommended where dogs are likely to come in contact with snakes, and rattlesnake aversion training could save your best friend’s life. During rattlesnake aversion training, they actually have a rattlesnake present and teach your dog to stay away from it using an electric collar. The snake is usually in a box, or its mouth is taped, but it’s still rattling. The training can be extremely effective.

istock.com

Don’t be a rookie. Use these tips to project professional doggy expertise: Leashes—Most dog-friendly areas still require they stay on leashes. Some dogs are well trained enough to be off a leash, but this certainly won’t help if they encounter another dog. You never know what the reaction will be. Roaming without a leash, you need assurance that dogs come back when called. You could come across people who aren’t expecting a furryfriend. If they react in fear, you never know how a dog will react.

Cleanliness—Clean up after your dog. Any trail or park can be a terrible experience if it isn’t maintained properly. Disposable bags are great, but you can also be creative and use anything to clean up after your four-legged friend. Get a stick, coffee cup (disposable, I hope) or leaf to pick up the poop and get it off the trail, maybe 10 to 15 feet away.

This way no one will step on it and it will decompose properly.

Haven Humane Society Unfortunately, not all of our K9 friends have a great home. The plight of a homeless dog can be a difficult one, but with the help of the Haven Humane Society we can work towards providing a healthy home for all of NorCal’s itinerant dogs.

Unfortunately, our local Haven Humane locations are typically full with dogs looking for homes. People sometimes overbreed dogs without the foresight to care for them properly or being able to afford them. So instead of looking for that perfect newborn puppy, adopt!

When adopting, you should test the dog on a couple different things. First, test its response to other dogs. Socialization with other dogs and humans is important. You have to test taking away food, taking away toys, and make sure that they aren’t going to bite. You also should test to see if the dog is territorial or aggressive. Try the “squeeze test,” which is basically a forced hug. You don’t want them to struggle away or freak out.

A good test to do with the shelter mutts is to take them to a field near the shelter and see if they want to stay with you. If it just wants to run away, it’s not going to have a strong relationship with you from the start.

Go to your local shelter and adopt your new pet today.

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September/October 2014 Active NorCal

27

Landmarks

Revisiting Childhood An Afternoon at McCloud Falls

By Ross Lawrence

My God the heat! It was a typical summer afternoon in NorCal. A few wispy clouds dotted the blue sky, and on this particular Wednesday I had been tasked with driving around the North State and snapping pictures of outdoor landmarks. Though I relished the fact I’d be away from my ergonomically challenged office chair for a while, I had a full list of destinations that did not afford me much time for exploration. Armed with my trusty camera and GPS, I pulled into my first stop of the day: Lower McCloud Falls.

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Active NorCal September/October 2014

In the parking lot I took a brief jaunt to the railing overlooking the falls. With a slightly aerial view, I saw families and day trippers relaxing on the rocks next to the falls, as well as more adventurous types leaping into the swimming hole below. Lower Falls is the smallest of three waterfalls at McCloud (about 10 ft high), but likely the most popular considering its proximity to the parking lot and campgrounds. Its large swimming hole is very popular on hot days.

You’ll also find anglers fishing from the rocks at Lower Falls and hopefully

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A thrill seeker at Lower McCloud Falls jumps into the cold swimming hole below. The feet of many jumpers have shaped natural diving boards out of the rocks around the water over time.

Mount Shasta Area Newspapers Wednesday, August 6, 2014 Page 12

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not hooking two-legged fish. The McCloud River is a world-class trout fishing destination. For me, any “complete” experience at McCloud would include the smell of trout cooking in a frying pan and hours spent unwinding in the refreshing pool below the falls. Though generally a great weekday stop, the lower area tends to get crowded on weekends during vacation months. So, if you’re not one for huge crowds I’d recommend taking the moderate hike up to Middle Falls, or fishing in the quiet water above Upper Falls.

After taking in Lower Falls and getting a shot of someone diving into the pool below, I headed up the paved trail to Middle Falls determined not to deviate from my schedule. The easy to moderate, smooth trail that follows the river upstream stretches about 1.2 miles from Lower Falls to Middle Falls. On the brief hike I noticed plenty of joggers and families with small children as the route is far from daunting and offers some great views of the river and falls below.

Once you’re close to Middle Falls, you can either take a somewhat steep, dirt trail down to the swimming hole below, or continue a little further on the paved trail to the overlook, and take in the sights.

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Active NorCal September/October 2014

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An aerial view of Middle McCloud Falls. The hike down to the falls is strenuous but the crystal-clear swimming hole at the bottom is well worth the trek.

From above Middle Falls, you can catch glimpses of Mt. Shasta, Castle Crags and other mountains to the west.

Though pressed for time, and starting to suffer from the intense NorCal heat, I felt that I would regret missing the chance to photograph the falls up close; so I started down the trail to Middle Falls. I don’t recommend wearing flipflops (or taking shortcuts) on the hike down. The dirt trail, which has loose rocks and dirt in some sections, can be unforgiving for those with the wrong footwear. Most of the problems I faced on my hike stemmed from my desire to take every steep shortcut down. I was covered with dirt and grimacing from a mildly twisted ankle when I finally arrived at the falls.

Emerging from the heavily wooded trail, the view of the waterfall was incredible. Greenery frames and mingles with the falls creating a perfect setting for the crystal clear swimming hole below. The soothing sound of the water cascading into the pool as well as the cool breeze

coming from the falls virtually force you to stop and take it all in.

Finding myself in a wonderful natural setting equipped with huge fallen tree trunks, large rocks, small cliffs and a swimming hole to cool off in, I found myself feeling like a kid again. I had a blast jumping from rock to rock in the water seeing how far out I could get without falling in (like the “don’t touch the hot lava” game I played as a child). After getting in touch with my childhood instincts, I tightrope-walked to the edge of a fallen tree reaching far out over the water and spent a while just surveying the scene like an owl resting on its perch. Coming to the realization that my schedule was becoming compromised, I forced myself back to the day’s duties.

Upper Falls is only about a quarter mile walk from Middle Falls. Due to the steep cliffs on three sides of Upper Falls, you cannot really interact with it in terms of swimming, or exploring. However, the overlook provides some great views of the massive waterfall below. Be wary if you

bring young ones to the overlook because the railing is short in some areas. It’s a long fall down. Peering down into the pool from the top of the falls I couldn’t help imagining James Bond or some other action hero making the death-defying leap (although, I would strongly advise against doing so).

Energized from several hours of fun and beautiful scenery, I made the walk back to the parking lot. Holding out for as long as possible, thoughts of deadlines and work returned and I hit the road again.

In a world of rigid rules and schedules, it can be hard to find time or the right place to relax completely. Moments of pure freedom and joy when you decide to “scrap the plan” and just relax seem hard to come by after childhood. What I’ll always love about visiting McCloud Falls is that no matter how many people are there, ultimately it’s just you in a gorgeous natural setting getting to know the world (and yourself) all over again.

NORCAL

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Fishing

The Haunted Upper Sac

BY Chip O’Brien Photography by Craig Nielson/ Shasta trout guide service

Thankfully, no invisible or bony hand ever reached out to touch my shoulder on dark evenings while fishing the October Caddis hatch on the upper Sac. Yet the Halloween season and unusual nature of this intriguing fall fishing could easily evoke such musings. I’d give in to the daydream entirely, except I just hooked another fish.

Perhaps “haunting” is a better word. It’s almost dark and the entire world is in shadow except for the fleeting ghosts of ungainly caddisflies bobbing up and down in the air like so many fluttering Duncan yo-yos. The distant, vacant droning of truck traffic on I-5 merges with the sweet music of river water tripping over rocks, punctuated again by the eager splash of a trout ruining a caddisfly’s evening, forever. The October Caddis hatch on the upper Sac (especially above Dunsmuir) is phenomenal and well worth stumbling around in the dark for a few evenings this fall.

Like flying Jack-o’-lanterns, the bugs themselves are even orange in color. If you haven’t

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Active NorCal September/October 2014

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Compatibility information can be found, and the application can be downloaded, at:

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Even though the bug activity peaks around the time you can no longer see your hand in front of your face, you don’t have to wait until dark to start fishing. experienced it, you’ve been missing some of the most memorable seasonable fishing the North State has to offer.

First, let’s get the lingo straight. This is not the same part of the Sacramento River that flows from beneath Shasta Dam and through downtown Redding. In angler nomenclature, that is called the lower Sac. The river above Shasta Lake is the upper Sac, and the best part of it for this hatch is between Lake Siskiyou and Dunsmuir.

When the October Caddisflies return to the river to lay their eggs, it’s unbeliev-

able the river doesn’t turn into an angling three-ring-circus. The great thing is that it doesn’t.

What is an October Caddis? These are large, moth-like insects that crawl out of those large tubes you see glued to the rocks all over the upper Sac. It’s one of the biggest bugs in the river, and to a trout it must seem like a 16-ounce sirloin after living off popcorn most of the year.

In the fall (September into November) it crawls out of the water on rocks or sticks or anything else sticking out of the river,

becomes a winged insect and takes flight.

The fluttering adults resemble moths that are over an inch long. On most fall evenings blizzards of females return to the stream to deposit their eggs back into the river, and the trout are waiting.

If you’re not a fly fisher, the October Caddis hatch might seem rather underwhelming. What’s all the excitement about anyway? First, it’s one of the most enjoyable and active ways to get out there and celebrate the fall season. Trees along the river are sporting orange, gold or

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yellow leaves, and the weather is usually quite mild. The days are getting shorter and it’s a beautiful time to be outside.

If you’re already into fly-fishing, you will need some big (size #8-10) dry flies.

There are dry flies designed specifically to match this hatch, and a number of good, all-around attractor dry flies that will also fit the bill. A visit to the Ted Fay Fly Shop in Dunsmuir or The Fly Shop in Redding is a great idea where you can pick up any needed flies or equipment and up-to-date advice as well.

Like in most sports, you can spend a small fortune on equipment if you want to, but you certainly don’t have to. Most fly shops offer moderately priced outfits that work very well. It’s amazing how many garage sales end up with fly-fishing equipment in them. If you are new to the sport, it’s also worth the money to hire a local guide who knows fly-fishing and knows the river to get you off to a good start.

You don’t have to cast very far when the bugs are in the air. For most situations, fifteen feet is often close enough.

Just drop your fly in every little pocket (around boulders) or any deeper spots you find. These areas almost always hold trout.

The fish are primed, so they often strike just as the fly lands on the water. Be ready.

Probably the best area of the river to fish the October Caddis hatch is around Cantara (watch out for falling trains) between Mt. Shasta and Dunsmuir. From Mt. Shasta, drive south on Old Stage Road, which is just West of I-5. Turn right on Cantara Loop Road and park at the end of the road. The river is close by. It was in 1991 that a railroad car full of poison fell off the Cantara Bridge killing all plants, bugs and fish all the way down to Shasta Lake. Now, more than twenty years after the spill, the river is fully recovered and well protected.

This upper-most section of the river also carries some of the strictest angling regulations around. Anglers may only fish with barbless, artificial lures or flies (no bait), and all angling is on a catch and release basis only. If you want fish for dinner, swing by Safeway on the way home.

Angling regulations downstream are somewhat different, so always make sure you know the rules for the section of river you are fishing.

Even though the bug activity peaks around the time you can no longer see your hand in front of your face, you don’t have to wait until dark to start fishing.

You should also understand that the certainty of insect hatches is not up there with death and taxes. Some nights the hatch is profuse, insane, and ridiculous; other nights it is nearly non-existent.

Don’t be concerned if you don’t see billions of dancing October Caddisflies around the stream. The fish will still be looking for them.

Fishing the October Caddis hatch on the upper Sac will always evoke images of corn maize hanging on front doors, pint-sized ghouls trudging door to door in search of treats and the sound of a trout scoring a treat of its own on the surface of the river. I’d give in to the daydream entirely, except I just hooked another fish.

NORCAL

THAT’S THE WAY WE ROLL! It’s the fastest sport around.

It’s roller hockey and it’s tons of fun!

Right now Redding Hockey is offering a free learn to play program for kids 5-14 beginning October 13, running for 6 weeks on Monday and Tuesday evenings.

Free loaner gear is available on a first come first served basis.

Roller hockey is one cool sport played indoors at Big League Dreams

For more information or to register, go to REDDINGHOCKEY.COM activenorcal.net

September/October 2014 Active NorCal

35

nutrition

Quick and Fun Healthy Lunches for School

BY ANNETTE BRYANT

It’s September, and that means life has just gotten more hectic for families with school-age kids. Balancing school with all the other family activities and schedules can be overwhelming. It’s tempting to cut corners and merely get by, if only to keep your sanity until next June. Of course, some corners are meant to be cut. But the quality of the foods we serve our children should not be one of them.

The problem is, who has time to worry about healthy lunches? The kids are picky eaters anyway. Isn’t it better to get

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them to eat something than to have to worry about protein, carbs, fiber and food groups?

The secret to getting kids to eat healthy lunches is to make them delicious and fun. But working parents cringe at the idea of spending hours preparing and packing lunches, let alone making them fun and balanced with the right nutrition. Here are some helpful tips to get your school lunch packing chore under control, and meet the test of being a really good parent.

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The “Bento Box” became popular from its use in Japanese cuisines.

Packing school lunches this style can help parents separate food groups. This way, all of the food groups will be quickly and easily accounted for.

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Active NorCal September/October 2014

The first thing to remember is that lunches (as with all meals) should include protein, fruits/veggies and carbs in the form of whole grain and fiber.

Guidelines for these are .45 grams of protein per pound for an 8 year old, 130 grams a day of carbs, 19 grams of fiber, 2.5 cups of vegetables and 1.5 cups of fruit, so when packing a lunch your goal should be to include one third of all of these. But don’t run and get a calculator for the kitchen counter. Read labels and familiarize yourself with these values by portion.

Before long it will become second nature.

But what can you do to make all of this easy on you?

Plan ahead, make ahead and be creative. Start with protein. You can include items like peanut butter, turkey lunchmeat, hummus, cheese sticks, nuts or yogurt, or you could put boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs in the crockpot on Sunday. Cook them on low for four hours and you’ll have the makings of some fun protein meals throughout the week.

Make a bowl of chicken salad by dicing some chicken, adding chopped celery, dried cranberries, crushed pecans and mayo. Make three or four servings to use a couple of days. Next you can cube some chicken and store in the fridge for making quick kabobs with cheese and grapes, or just keep some sliced chicken to make a wrap or a sandwich on whole grain bread or a tortilla. You can make it fun by preparing a sandwich with peanut butter or chicken salad on whole grain bread and use a cookie cutter to make a shape out of it like a heart or a star. The kids will love it and they will be the envy of their classmates.

Fruits and veggies can also be prepared days earlier

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Try some of these bento ideas: Mini whole-wheat bagel with peanut butter and raisins Carrot and cucumber slices with ranch dressing dip Grapes and strawberries Yogurt Chicken salad on whole wheat bread (cut to heart shape) Cherry tomatoes and broccoli Applesauce Low fat granola bar Chicken, cheese and grape kabobs Carrots and celery sticks with dip Whole grain crackers Apple slices One square of dark chocolate

by slicing strawberries, pineapple, apples (use lemon juice to keep them from browning) and melon, or wash and prepare grapes, berries or cherries in advance so you’ll only need to grab them from their containers to put in the lunch. Raw carrots, tomatoes, celery and broccoli can be prepared the same way, but when including asparagus, green beans, beets or other vegetables it is better to steam them first and store them in the fridge. Make fruit kabobs. Send dipping sauces for the veggies. Put popcorn in a Ziploc bag (whole grain, high fiber). All of these will make lunch a lot more interesting and fun.

Make your kids’ lunches even more interesting with a clever display of what they are about to enjoy.

Bentos are those square or rectangular-shaped dishes found in sushi restaurants with little compartments to separate dishes, and they aren’t just for sushi anymore. Make your own bento with the divided plastic containers you can buy at any food store, and create your own masterpiece for your child’s lunch every day. Bentos are easy to use and a simple way to include all the food groups. Plus, they are reusable.

To make life even simpler, buy a dozen or so plastic containers for storing your lunch supplies. You can even number them to indicate whether it is for protein, carbs or fruits/veggies. Use these containers to store items like whole-wheat mini bagels, nuts, popcorn, raisins, fruit cups, applesauce minis, hummus tubes and other non-perishable items. Create similar containers to put in the fridge with fresh food for easy access and quick packing. Your kids can even help pack the lunch by selecting the proper number of items from each numbered container.

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September/October 2014 Active NorCal

39

humor

iPhone Apps for Oldsters

by Chip O’Brien illustration by caitlin O’Bryant

When one of my high school English students told me I was “tech-toodled,” I didn’t know whether to send her to the principal’s office or give her an “A” for originality. “What does that mean,” I demanded. “I just made it up,” she declared with pride oozing out from between her words. “It means you’re technologically challenged.” Yet the magic of technology keeps wiggling its way ever deeper into our lives.

When I was a kid and learned about magic wands, I knew they were just pretend, the stuff of fairy tales. Today nearly everyone has one in their pockets or purses, only we call them smartphones.

Cinderella’s fairy godmother never asked her magic wand to do half the things Siri does for us every day (and might have washed your mouth out with soap for the other half). But, like the rest of us, even Siri could sometimes use a little help from her friends.

Here are a few proposed smartphone Apps for those of us flirting with techtoodled-ness, useful applications for those of us who were teenagers when there were still such things as phone boothsiSee: App provides assistance for finding misplaced eyeglasses and sunglasses.

For tougher cases, the program’s learning feature remembers the last several places you left them, offering helpful audio suggestions like, “Check on top of your head, stupid.” iDia (“I did it again.”): An App designed to combat walking into a room and realizing you have no idea why you’re there. A quick tap on the menu reveals a list of supportive options like- “Looking for things:” The dropdown list includes your glasses (link to iSee), wallet and something to write with. (Designers chose to leave cellphones off the list for, ah,

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Active NorCal September/October 2014

obvious reasons.) The other option category is “Avoiding Things:” A checklist of things commonly hidden from including, “Boss,” “Spouse,” “Kids,” and “Jehovah’s Witnesses.” If neither one of these unravels the mystery, a tap on the “Other” link reveals a final list including, “I wanted to check Facebook unseen,” “Peanut M&Ms are hidden close by,” or “Sneaking a nap.” iNag: For the few women (and all men) who have trouble remembering birthdays and anniversaries, this App stores the appropriate information and sends helpful reminders over and over again until each is turned off manually. Names, dates, number of years, etc. is easily accessed, along with what gift you gave for

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the last three years running. As families grow, the App has the ability to expand, embracing not only spouses, children and close friends, but grandchildren and great grandchildren as well. There is also a handy link to a list of local loan sharks, gambling casinos and banks in the Cayman Islands to assist with financial planning.

Technology may continue to be a blessing and a curse, especially for those of us starting to accumulate a little snow on our roofs. But have no fear. The next time you are accused of being “tech-toodled” by some snot-nosed iGeneration know-it-all kid, you can tell them there’s an App for that too. It’s called “iKnow.”

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Proof that kindness is the best medicine.

2013/2014 Consumer Choice Award If you’re looking for a hospital with a proven track record for community preference, you don’t have to look far. Mercy Medical Center Redding received the National Research Corporation’s 2013/2014 Consumer Choice Award. Because providing health care with kindness means everyone wins.

Learn more at redding.mercy.org.