Plant life exhibit in Shenandoah National Park.

It was a big year for me. I turned 50, and my third book, Cycles of Life-Herbs and Energy Techniques for Women, was released in hard cover. It was also a great year for biking!

I have been riding motorcycles as a passenger since 1967. About three years ago, my youngest child left home, and I thought it was time to put more time into my own social life. So I answered a singles ad in a local paper that was from a man looking for a lady with whom to “ride into the sunset.” That sounded exciting to me. Well, Michael Berman and I hit it off, and we have been riding into many sunsets, first on his 1984, and now on his 1999 two-toned mint green Gold Wing.

We are as different as two people can be! When I first met Michael, I don’t think he had eaten a green vegetable in years, while I am a “health food fanatic”as he puts it. Since I do all of our food shopping,when he looks into the fridge, he has a choice between an organic apple or a carrot for a snack, instead of half a package of Chips-A-Hoy cookies and bag of potato chips, which would be his first choice.

The end result of my influence has been that he looks fantastic, and has already passed the tightest loop on his belt buckles. He also can run up and down the stairs at work without being winded, and all of his friends and family members are saying that he looks much younger!

Last spring, on our way to Americade in Lake George, New York, I was inspired to write this article. Amidst 100,000 or so bikers, I was able to observe certain overriding characteristics of the crowd. The most outstanding thing was the energy and enthusiasm that permeated the atmosphere—lots of laughing and smiling. Many people were dressed in sexy leather duds, regardless of their age or physique, and loving every minute of it! Some folks had journeyed thousands of miles to participate. There was a great deal of camaraderie and respect for others.

In my field, holistic medicine, we focus on the importance of the “triune” of health, which consists of the body, mind and spirit. Bikers, on the whole, excel at having a fantastic, high level of mind and spirit balance. However, when it comes to honoring the body, that’s a different matter. A majority of the people, both male and female, were overweight, and many expressed a grimace of pain as they got on or off of their bike. A lot of conversation seemed to focus on health problems—especially conditions that made motorcycling painful, such as arthritis. Their indomitable spirit shone through, however, when they quickly replaced that grimace with a smile, emanating the determination and joy of arriving at an event on their beloved motorcycle.

I wanted to write this article to let all Gold Wingers know that many of us can remain pain free well into advanced age without the side effects of prescription medication. It does takes a little knowledge, along with some motivation and determination in choosing the right food, moderate exercise, along with a few other natural healing techniques, such as massage and hydrotherapy. Fact is, I wrote a whole book on this very topic, called Arthritis, The Alternative Medicine Guide.

Many Wingers I have spoken to about this say,“But how can we eat healthy on the road? All that is readily available is fast food!” So, here is a description of a beautiful week-long, 1,285-mile summer road trip, and how I managed to eat healthy and exercise the whole way!

The secret is to have healthy snacks like organic almonds, soy milk, dried fruits, a few carrots, packed in the bike—just enough for a day at a time, which we often use to snack on at the side of the road.

I also pick a lot of edible and medicinal plants and“weeds” along the way, just as our ancestors did as they travelled the beautiful highways and byways across our great country in years gone by. Native Americans, Europeans, Afro-Americans, Asians, and all of our collective ancestors were aware of these plant friends still available to us today.

Healthy eating also includes choosing restaurants where you can get broiled or baked fish or chicken, along with a green lettuce salad. Leave off the bread and fried food if you want your waist and aches and pains to disappear! If the thought of stopping on the side of the road for a quick snack of dandelion and wild elderberries makes you grimace more than the pain in your knees and lower back, you may still find it interesting just to be able to recognize and identify the plants that you are driving past as you Wing along the road.

We headed out of New York on the Belt Parkway, over the Verrazano Bridge, and then to the Garden State Parkway in New Jersey—all roads I suggest bikers avoid if possible! After sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic, we decided to take the next exit to escape the traffic, and headed west on a New Jersey road that quickly became farm country. Blueberry farms had “pick-your-own” signs, and wildflowers lined the sides of the road. We rode for about an hour, and then stopped for the night. In the morning I found beautiful elderberry trees lining the back parking lot of the hotel. Wow, what a delicious breakfast!

Elder trees grow throughout Europe and North America. Their berries range in color from red to black. Only the blue/black berries are medicinal. This plant has a long history of use as both a food and medicine in many countries. In England, for example, it was a common belief that the elder was a favorite tree of witches who enjoyed residing among its branches. To disturb such a tree was thought to incur a witch’s wrath.

To this day, many British still refuse to cut an elder tree down or burn its branches. In Denmark, the tree was said to house Hylde-Moer, “The Elder Tree Mother,” who would haunt anyone found harming the tree. In addition, many believed that an elder tree was a symbol of “good luck.”

As a food source, elderberries are commonly made into jams, jellies, chutneys and wine. As a medicinal, the fruit is often prepared as a syrup. For example, the “Duke of Monmouth’s Recipe” was made with elder syrup and other herbs, and was used for sciatica. Native Americans used different parts of the plant for infections, coughs and skin conditions. Today, elder can be found listed as an “official medicine” in the Holland pharmacopeia, and was listed in the past in the pharmacopeias of both England and the United States. Elderberries contain vitamins A, B and C, plus various flavonoids including quercetin, and can help prevent or disarm a cold or flu.

As we started down the road towards our next destination, Moonlight Bay Bed and Breakfast in Rock Hall, Maryland, we passed one of my favorite stop offs, a Fresh Fields health food store. Here you can find all kinds of organic, delicious, prepared foods. I bought some cherries, a salad and some yogurt, while Michael chose a roasted turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread, and energizing ginseng tea, that we stashed in the bike for lunch. Mind you, he would have been just as happy with KFC, but since I requested that we stop at Fresh Fields, he chose healthy food which he has found to taste just as good, if not better!

We took the New Jersey Turnpike across to Maryland, then 95 South onto 290 South to 213 South, and finally 20 South, to get to Moonlight Bay. It is truly one of the most beautiful and relaxing places I have ever been. Nestled on the shores of Chesapeake Bay, the town of Rock Hall has a long and romantic history as a fishing village. Moonlight Bay B&B is run by Dorothy and Robert Santangelo, who have created an ambiance of luxury harmonized with a warm and friendly atmosphere. The breakfasts are pleasing to look at, as well as healthy to eat, and Rock Hall is the best place to dine on fresh crab dishes of all kinds. We enjoyed travelling around on the back roads that surround the old town, which lead to beautiful waterways and wildlife preserves.

After relaxing in Rock Hall for two days, we headed over the scenic Chesapeake Bay Bridge to Route 50, then Route 66, across Maryland into Virginia, where we picked up Skyline Drive at Fort Royal. The plan was to stop at Luray Caverns, and then continue down the Blue Ridge Parkway south. Skyline Drive is an incredible motorcycle road, complete with breathtaking scenic views, picnic areas, and trails that go down to babbling brooks and waterfalls. The ten-dollar fee gets you a pass that can be used every time you get back on the road for a week. The only downside is that traffic moves slowly, especially if you get behind a slow-going Winnebago! Another hazard for motorcycles is deer that run onto the road at any time without warning, day or night. As always, I watched the side of the road for medicinal weeds, and found one that has been been used for centuries for mild mood depression—St. John’s Wort.

Saint John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) grows in open fields and waste areas. It is widely distributed in Europe, North and South America, Asia and Australia. The flowers are used as the medicinal part, and are ready to harvest close to St. John’s Day—June 24—in England. When harvesting your own, check the edges of the yellow flowers with a magnifying glass for tiny black dots, which contain some of the desired active constituents. The species name, perforatum, describes the tiny perforation-like holes that can be seen through the leaves if they are held up to the sunlight. When the bright yellow flowers of St. John’s Wort are crushed, they exude a bright red liquid. This was thought to represent the beheading of St. John The Baptist. St. John’s Wort has been used throughout recorded history. In ancient Greece it was considered an excellent remedy for menstrual cramps, wound healing, headaches, sciatic and nerve pain. It was also hung above the doorway to dispel evil spirits. During the Crusades, the Knights of St. John treated battle wounds with crushed flowers and stems. St. John’s Wort is most well known in the U.S. as a treatment for mild to moderate depression. I have my own theory on how this remarkable herb works I call The Sunshine Theory.

Depression is a “dark” state of mind. People who are depressed feel “blue.” In fact, one particular kind of depression, seasonal affective disorder (SAD), is directly linked to lack of sunlight, and can be helped by exposure to light. Light is “captured” by the body as biophotons, which enhance the absorption of the sun’s rays. The ancient Druids believed that because St. John’s Wort blooms near the Summer Solstice (the longest day of the year), it is imbued with the highest intensity of sunlight. Perhaps that’s why St. John’s Wort can help you have a “sunny” disposition! Be sure to tell your health care practitioner if you are using St. John’s Wort, especially if you are taking prescription drugs.

After we enjoyed our tour of Luray Caverns, it was time for dinner. We cruised through Luray, looking for a restaurant. It appeared that the only places in town were a greasy-spoon diner or a few fast food establishments. Then I saw an interesting Grand Old Inn, called The Mimslyn. It had a sign outside saying “fine dining.” Michael wasn’t up to spending an extravagant amount on dinner, and when you are from New York, “fine dining” comes with a high price tag. But, since there were not many places to choose from, he agreed to stop in and look at the menu. Well, in Luray, Virginia, “fine dining” means about $15 total per meal. And it definitely was fine! He had pork chops that were thick and juicy, and I had a pastry filled with asparagus, spinach, mushrooms and cheese. The salad was dark green lettuce and other organic baby greens, and to top it off, they even had herb tea and tempting desserts—although we passed on those. The Mimslyn Inn, built in 1931, gives you the feeling of being transported back to a time when the abundant heritage of Virginia was unfolding. Great stop-off point for a motorcycle trip!

The next morning we left Luray and got back on Skyline Drive, headed for some ancient healing baths in Warm Springs, Virginia. Along Skyline Drive, the Shenandoah National Park has postings about local plant life. Of course, I never pass up an opportunity to learn more about local plants, so we stopped at a roadside rest to get a closer view.

We got off at the Waynesboro exit, took 64 East to 81 South to 64 East again, until we found Route 39, a small back road that goes through Bath County, Virginia, right to Warm Springs. Along the road, the beautiful white tops of Wild Carrot, also called Queen Ann’s Lace, decorated the roadside.

Wild Carrot (Daucus carota) is referred to by many names, including “Birds Nest.” (In fact, it is the main ingredient in the oriental “Bird’s Nest Soup.”) Queen Ann’s Lace grows throughout most temperate regions of the world. It can be seen along roadsides and abandoned fields. It grows over a two-year life cycle. In the first year, the leaves look just like the feathered leaves of garden-variety carrots. The root is a pale yellow, with a carrot-like flavor, and can be used in soups and stews. The distinctive umbrella-shaped flower appears during the second year, and gives the plant the name “Queen Ann’s Lace.” It refers to the elaborate lace collars Queen Ann was known for, and the tiny purple-red flower often found in the center of all the tiny white flowers is said to represent the loss of her head!

Small, oblong brown seeds can be gathered from the flower tops in late fall, after they dry and curl up into the “birds nest.” Folklore claims that using a strong tea made from these seeds helps to prevent pregnancy if taken soon after sex. Scientific investigation has found that certain chemical constituents in this herb cause the release of sex hormones from the pituitary gland, although no study has been done to confirm its contraceptive effect, so don’t depend on it!

We got to Warm Spring Inn and settled down for some serious “de-stressing.” The entire area is steeped in rich historical tradition and was a favorite hangout of Thomas Jefferson and George Washington, who referred to it as “the back country.” Warm Springs Inn is a former courthouse and jail built in the early 1900s. Our room cost $50, and was clean and picturesque. The innkeepers are European and give the place a continental flair, including art-nouveau antiques and a delicious menu of freshly cooked dishes, including a special German pancake for breakfast. Michael enjoyed an aged sirloin steak, and I had mushrooms stuffed with crab meat, green and yellow squash, and a baked potato. Everything was perfect!

While we were eating, we noticed another motorcycle parked outside, and the rider noticed our Gold Wing, too. We started talking over dinner, and it turned out that Doug is the designer of “the ultimate electric vest” (www.gr8designs.com), which uses a special heat-conducting material, instead of just using wires through the vest. I tried one on, and put his card in my holiday gift wish file.

Directly across the street are the Jefferson Pools, where I had a wonderful massage, and we soaked in separate men’s and women’s bathhouses. In 1761, Thomas Jefferson designed these unique octagonal buildings to house the “curing baths” still fed by a bubbling warm spring that delivers comfortable 96-degree water filled with healing minerals. The concept of “taking of the waters” is widely recognized throughout Europe and Japan as one of the best treatments for aches, pains and ailments of all kinds. In fact, physicians in those countries will often write a prescription for a visit to a bathhouse.

I make it a habit to visit natural hot springs all across the country. They are usually very low priced (the Jefferson Pools bathhouse is $12 per visit), since they are not “in favor” with Americans today. As I settled in for my bath session in the soothing, warm, healing waters, I experienced a deep sense of connection to the thousands of people who since 1761 have visited these springs.

After a delightful respite that night, we continued on Route 220 from Warm Spring to nearby Hot Springs, Virginia, where the lavish luxury resort, The Homestead, is located. This super-fancy resort seems a lot less biker friendly than the more picturesque and comfortable Warm Springs area. The water in the Homestead is delivered into individual bath tubs in a spa area, instead of the more organic and authentic original Jefferson Pools. After a quick walk through town, we left Hot Springs on Route 220, and experienced one of the best motorcycle roads we have ever been on. Route 220 between Hot Springs and Covington is five miles of pure biking bliss. The road is smooth and sassy, and is a continuous, slightly downhill banked path with one S-curve after another!

From Covington, we took 64 west and 81 south to Natural Bridge, a national historic landmark in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Although this is a commercial tourist spot, it is a remarkable site, with great historic significance. Thomas Jefferson purchased the awe-inspiring Rock Bridge from King George III in 1774 to preserve it as a mountain retreat.

Unfortunately, we were coming to the end of the time we had to travel, so we headed home on Route 81. Of course, I continued to eat healthy by stopping in local health food stores in a few towns on the way, and opting for local restaurants over fast food rest area establishments.

A word about exercise: motorcycling is fun and exhilarating, but it is definitely “sitting.” What I do to keep in shape on the road is to take long walks every day, do some yoga and stretching in the morning and evening, and some “isometrics” while we are riding. Isometrics can be done by pressing parts of the body against an object—such as your butt muscles against the bike seat, your arms on the handlebars or passenger grips, your thighs into the sides of the bike, etc.

While we were heading back home on Route 81, we started to pass a lot of Gold Wings. Folks were coming home from Wing Ding in Greenville, SC. Everyone we spoke to had enjoyed a great weekend.One couple had a two-toned metallic green Gold Wing like ours, and had just purchased a matching trailer at Wing Ding—great find!

In closing, I wish you a year of happy, healthy Winging!